St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1880-02-07
An Imposition.
New Orleans Daily States. ]

would seem as il it were the the aim of
certain class to lnterpose every
obstacle in the way of the growth and
progress of the material, commercial
and industrial interests OF the place.
Even legislation in the past has been OF
the most unfavorable and embarrassing
character, prompted, as 1T would appear,
by motives more personal ard selnsil
than broad and liberal, and directed
towards the public welfare.
TO reward political favorites and
provide for partisan adherents, boards
for the inspection OF various COM
modities were created, whose only duty
seems to be to exact fees from mer-
chants, dealers, etc, for going through
the farce of so-called Inspection.
This is charge upon commerce which
should not be. In the matter OF weights
and measures this practice is followed
in more aggravated form by the
inspectors who insist upon an annual
examination of the weights and
measures of our merchants. This Is
done, too, in violation Of sections 1914,
1918, and 1887 of the revised statutes.
We have a case before US where
large and respectable merchant whose
measures had been inspected and
stamped in 1878 and 1879, aud notwith-
standing this another tee is now
demanded for a re-inspectlon for the
year 1880.
Refusing to submit to this extortion
the merchant has been sued in a Justices
court for the sum of fifty five cents and
the costs which must necessarily
follow, will probably swell the sum to
five or six dollars, to say nothing OF the
vexation such suit will cause him to
suffer. This is not an isolated case, but
one among hundreds. Many, rather
than be ANNOYED, pay the fee, knowing
at the time it is an illegal tax.
The inspection of -four and hay, as
our correspondent yesterday very
properly contends, should be abolished.
as he says: wipe out every vestige OF
public inspector, weigher or gaugeE."
Let the doctrine of caUedt emptor
prevail, and let the purchaser make his
own inspection. Why should the buyer
or seller of -four and hay be subjected
to an inspection fee when no such
exaction is made upon dealers in cotton,
sugar, rice and other articles of traffic !?
Remit the present inspectors, who
boast of being experts, to the legitimate
business Of brokers, to be employed by
those who require their experience and
knowledge in grading the quality and
detecting the imperfectioDs OF the
various commodities found in the
market. AS in the cases OF false
packing Of cotton and sugar, giving rise
to claims for reclamation, so can the
rule be applied to every Other article
of trade, and in this way higher STAN
dard of commercial honor will prevail,
which will protect alike the producer
and consumer, and at the same time
dispense with the useless and expensive
services of a detective, or Inspector.
A peaceful contest has been going
on for many years in the Prussian pro-
vince of Posen between the Polish and
German races. The original inhabitants
of the province were Poles, but there
had been q large immigration OF Ger
mans during the past thirty years, and
the two races have thus fought quietly
and peacefully for the possession OF the
land. Thirty years ago the Germans
owned only $4,000 acres in Posen to 221,-
$50 held by Poles but at the end OF
1879 this showing was reversed and the
Germans had managed to dispossess
many Of the Poles of their land and held
145,309 acres, while the Polish share OF
the country had dwindled to 81 ,543 acres.
1t is, therefore, only a question OF time
when the Poles will be completely dis
DOSSoSSeU OIL GilC w HILL ouSC was
theirs. The German papers are boast
full over this showing, and consider it
proof of the superior industry and
energy of the German race. 1t should
be stated, however, that this acquisition
of land in Posen has been accomplished
by people who, while they are Ger
man in allegiance and language, are
not SO in race or religion--that is, by
the Israelites.-[N. o. Democrat.
We publish a newspaper for the
entertainment and instruction of our
readers. But we can't live on the
vapors of printing Office. We are
flesh and blood and must be fed some
what after the fashion Of other people.
We have made these remarks because
several aspirants for gubernatorial
honnors, and their friends have been
soliciting us to leg for them, and
didn't say printers fee nary time.
Now, if any man wants to be Governor
by the aid of our paper and ink, and
with the help of our brains, small
remittance will enable us to say all the
good things we ever heard Of him and
omit all the bad. 1t just takes fifteen
dollars to effect this thing. Now You
understand. A hint to the wise is
suficient.-[Ashley (Ark.) Times.
A correspondent of the Chicago Inter-
Ocean, who has been studying the exc