The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-13
coat OIL INSPECTION AGAIN
Audi Altera,n rarte,n.

Edifo, Democrat Your issue of the seventh
instant contains an article ON the subject q
coal oil inspection. written from CONNER.
cial standpoint On the presumption thai
you will allow fail. play in the discussion o.
This question, the following is offered in reply
to the communication referred to:
II is admitted that the public need protec,,
tion from the unrestricted sale and use o.
nieation proposes to put sewers, penalties upon
such acts. while dispensing with a systematic
inspection. The execution OF such law
would be nobody's business. and 1t Is perfectly
plain that nobody would try to make 1t 50.
Even with the inducenent of a mOiety Of
the psnalty as proposed. no person having
the necessary knowledge and skill with in
str,lments to test oils would undertake the
want IL an authorized. systematic inspection
and marks to indicate plainly to purchasers
and consumers the quality Of the oil 1t is
alleged that marks may be changed by q dis
honest dealer. and this Ia true under the ex-
listing law. but bill now before the Legisla-
ture provides severe penalties for tampering
with marks.
It is alleged that an inspection fee Of one
fourth cent per gallon has injured the trade
Of our merchants by diverting 1t into other
channels This complaint comes with poor
grace from our oil merchants, who took adj
vantage of the quarter-cent inspection fee to
raise the price of inspected oils one half cent
per gallon Az to the loss Of country trade,
oils along the tributaries of the Mississippi
river on account of the direct communication
with st. Louis and Cincinnati, which com.
menced soon after the war and has increased
ever since. NWNg sH8 a
II il alleged that our trade suffers from the
fact that inspection fees are eSacted nowhere
in the State outside Of New Orleans This is
defect Of the existing law, which has been
provided for In the bill already referred to.
Complaint Is made because this bill seeks
to double the inspection fees in order to make
up a small deficiency. and because the Board
Of Health takes the fees. 1t would be incon-
venient to carry out a rate fixed between one
fourth and oHe-half cent gallon; and 1t is
clear that the latter rate will be found unpro-
fltable in all parts of the State outside OF New
Orleans. The duty of inspection was i'm
posed on the Board Of Health at New Orleans,
because they are the, acknopwleedged conser-
which arc at peril with the unrestricted sale
and use of dangerous products, and because
that body is eminently qualified. to make
choice Of a suitable person to discharge this
proper performances Of the work, they cannot
be blamed for experimenting the collection
and disbursement of the fees.
The operation of the present law has demon.
strated the necessity OF gauging as well as in
speeting tho contents Of coal oil packages
from the fact that both gauge marks and test
marks have been found too high. az the pre-
vailing rule on barrels branded at the North
1T is not to be expected That our mefchants
will take the trouble to correct these errors
and consumers are not in situation to do so
The growth Of Pittsburg and Cleveland upo1
the profits Of the coal oil business has evi
IDENTIFY inspired our half dozen coal oil dealers
our beloved city, provided only it can EMO,
the blessings of free trade in petroleum prod
ucts. Let 1t not be forgotten that the manu-
featuring rather than the commercial inter
ests Of those cities in petroleum are the ones
most involved In their prosperity.
1t should be observed that the coal oil laws
of Ohio and Pennsylvania, which are COM
mended for our imitation. were enacted rather
in the interest of the wealthy corporations
which have grown strong on the profits Of
manufacture and trade. than for the protec-
tion Of consumers Of petroleum products. II
considerations of commercial profit rather
than public safety are to prevail in legislation.
1t is questionable whether the people of those
States are not paying too dear for the pros
perity of their boosted cities and 1t is TO be
hoped that the Legislature of the State of
Louisiana will not consent to Initiate such .
policy.
Respectfully. your obedlent servants.
BOARD OF HEALTH,
Pro Bono PuBL1Co.