Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1881-02-04
Volume XXXVII.---No. 35.
From tie Westminster 4droeGte.
MA R YLAND TOBACCO
INSPECTION.
PoRT REPUBLIC, CALVERT Co., Nd, :
Dec 0Qtt1 1901

PoRT REPUBLIC, CALVERT Co., Nd,
Dec. 29th, 1880
M.ssrS. Editors: Your letter calling nv
attention to Secretary Evarts' communication
to Gov. Hamilton on the subject of tobacco
inspection in Maryland has been received.
You ask for my views on the subject discussed
therein, and gave them. That we should be
always ready to give our reasons for the faith
that is in US, is according to the Scriptures
Let me premise by saying that am nota
politician in the ordinary acceptation of the
word. | am neither Democrat or Republic
can politician az am for the honest Democratic
against the dishonest Republican, aad for til
honest Republican against the dishonest Del
mocrat. | an, for the honest man against the
rogue every time ~
Let me further premise by saying that a
not an Office hunter and never have been
long since realized the fact that could 81
my own business, than by running around hunt
ing office.
| Now we come to Mr.. Evarts' communication.
Truly, our public officials make wonderful dis
coveres sometimes. Mr.. Evarts tells US on
authority ofthe U. S. Consul at Bremen, "The
cempaint, Of Maryland inspection are so general
| that it is exceedingly difficult to make sales of
| this tobacco at all :"
| Now the tobacco planters of Maryland may
not know much, but they know when their
tobacco is selling well. They know that the
lower grades of Maryland tobacco, such as are
shipped 10 Bremen, are now selling and have
been selling all the past summer and fall, more
readily and at higher prices than any time dur
ing the past fifteen years. If Mr.. Warts had
told US that the inspectors in the State ware
houses were using devilish ncantations like the
witches of New England, to give our cows the
murrain and the hollowhorn, l think some .
our people would have believed him. lfhe- -hadl
told us that these said inspectors were tt
cause why our grain is now selling for such low
aud unremunerative prices, am sure some of
us would have believed him. But when he
tells US that it is the INSPECTION that causes our
tobacco to be so dull of sale he makes the peo-
pie to stretch their eyes in astonishment, for
they know that their tobacco is selling better
han at any time since the war.
All the Government s horses and all the Gov
ernment's men. Mr.. Evarts and the Bremen
Consul included, will hardly make the people
believe thing so palpably contrary to theio
own knowledge.
1t is wonderful that man of Mr.. Evas
astuteness should not have satisfied himself OF
the correctness of his premises, viz, that ''it
was exceedingly difficult to sell Maryland to-
bacco at ALL" before proceeding to erect his
superstructure of argument upon a false basis.
His basis being shown to be false all his COM
municaton tumbles to the ground like house
of cards.
So far from Maryland inspection injuring tn
the price of Maryland tobacco, tits wellknowi
fact that during the entire season Maryland\
tobacco has brought better price, quality
considered than Ohio tobacco. inspected in
the private warehouses at Locust Point and(
Canton. For the truth of this statement refer
10 the prices current as published in the Balti-
more papers during the season. pick up an
american at hazard; find it dated 9th Dec.
1t SAYS: There is fair demand for Maryland
leaf, but very little movement in the Ohio PFC,
duct"
And here might retort the argument, and
say that private inspection at Locust Point and
Canton causes this stagnaton in Ohio tobscco,
but do not know that it is so. and leave
false pretences to -athsr.. But d know that
State warehouse inspection has not ps0duco
stsgnation in the sale of Maryland tobacco; on
the contrary Gov. Hamilton's appointees have
cause to felictate themselves on the fact that
Maryland tobacco, especially the coarser quail
tiles, such as 60 to Bremen, has greatly ad-
vanced in price since they have been inspecting
it. That this is true every planters agent and
every buyer in Baltimore knows. | do not pre-
tend that this advance has been caused by the
excellence of their inspection it is the effect o
other causes, but it shows at least that their
inspection has not lowered the price of tobacco.
But to return to Mr.. Evarts, communica ton.
| tnnk tlefe Is SOInelillHS III IL ii We only cOulu
get its true intent and meaning.
Daring the war when the Republicans had
possession of the warehouse and enjoyed the
patronage thereof, they were all very well sat-
sfed with the State system OF tobacco inSpec-
tion. | never heard a man of them object to
the system then Now that the Democrats have
gotten possession and are enjoying its patronage
don't know Republican politician who is
not in favor of abolishing the system. That
In. oT g ,zal
for the benefit of the Democratic party, and to
the loss, damage and detriment Of the Republic
can party, Mr. Evarts knows as we'll as ! do
and regret it as much as he does-I conld
which that all Offices in Ballimere, in WASH
ington, in New York, in all the honesty, capa-
CITY and fitness of the Incumbent. But | am
not sure that Mr.. Evarts would join with me
in reform that would deprive Republican
par,isans of the spoils ofvictory. Now the diff
ference between Mr.. Evarts and myself is this;
He is politician and would subordinate the
interests of the Republican party. l am a
planter and would subordinate the interests
of both the Republican and Democratic parties
to the true interest of the planters.
| | think there is no doubt that Mr.. Evarts
believed that all laws, usages aud institutions
in the Southern States, that initiate against
the Republican party; ought to be promptly
reconstructed; but if they initiate in favor of
the Republican party, why that's horse of
another color.
at is my opinion and belief Old Gentle
man, said the sergeant TO old Bale Nichol JAR
vie, you were going to be hanged YOURSELF
you would not be in such id hurry"
| 1t is my opinion -and belief that if the ware
houses were now in the possession of his friends
| Mr.. Evarts would not be in any hurry at all to
abolish the system of State inpsection.
Note the tenderness which Mr.. Evarts has
suddenly conceived for the planters of Mary
land. He says he is actuated by considerations
for our best interests. The tender mercies of =
some people are cruel. The man who invented
the guillotine in France declared that he was
actuated by motives OF tenderness for his fell
low man.
| should not wonder if some of our Maryland
planters, encouraged by Mr.. Evarts newly AVA
kened sympathy, should apply to him for Of
fee.
We now come to that part of Mr.. Evarts'
communication which charges that much Of
the tobacco sent from Baltimore 10 Bremen is
not fairly represented by the samples accom-
panying it; that the samples often much
better than the bulk of the tobacco from which
they have been drawn.
There is sometimes some truth in this charge;
and those who are unaquainted with the tricks
of the trade, very naturally suppose that the
| iault lies with the inspector; whereas nine
times out of ten, nothing can be farther from
the truth.
The discrepancy between the sample and the
| tobacco it represents arises very often from the
custom which prevails in Baltimore both
among the buyers and sellers of tobacco, of
picking the samples after they have been taken
from the warehouse.
This custom makes but very little difference
when the tobacco has been carefully stripped
and assorted in the bundles; but when it has
been carefully stripped and bad leaves mixed
with good, by pulling out the bad leaves the
sample can be greatly enhanced in value.
! You may ask, what motive has tobacco