The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-01-15
Maryland Tobacco Inspection.


The tobacco interest of Maryland is one of
considerable Importance, and for nearly
century the sale of tobacco has been subject
to colonial or State supervision. The expor-
tation of unmarketable tobacco was prohibited
by law as early as 1885, and system of in
Spection by justices Of the peaeein the sew
eral counties was established in 1859. Other
systems of inspection were tried, and in 1923
the present system was established. The act
establishing it was supplemented by an act IN
1925, providing for the erection of ware
houses by the State. Bonds of the State
were issued and the warehouses built, and
an outage fee of two dollars on each hogs
head was imposed, which should constitute
fund for the liquidation of the debt. In 1865
the comptroller's report showed that the in
spection fund was indebted to the State to
the amount of $61, 1921, but it appeared,
also, that by some oversight the fund accruing
from the wharves, which are part of the ware
house property, had not been credited to the
inspection fund since 1853. The receipts
from the wharves were about $4,000 a year,
so, in fact, the warehouses have been paid
for, or nearly SO.
Thus it appears that the State has from a
very early period exercised control over the
tobacco interests, and that while the State
owns the tobacco warehouses and wharves,
the tobacco planters paid for them.
There must be some one between the plant
no
convenient storage room. Because, from
mismanagement,p perhaps, there has been no
income to the State from tobacco inspections,
a certain class of reformers (?) would abolish
State inspections and sell the warehouses.
These are assisted in their efforts by others,
impelled by self-interest, and an organized
effort will likely be made next winter to abol-
ish the system. Those seeking the overthrow
Of State inspections have lately been much
elated by letter from Secretary Evarts to
Gov. Hamilton, conveying information from
the T. S. Consul at Bremen, that the Mary
land inspections are not satisfactory. The
letter of Mr.. Evarts and the complaints Of the
Bremen Consul are logically and forcibly met
pen of B. ID. Bond, Esq, of Calvert county,
an uncle of our fellow townsman, Jas. A. c.
Bond, Esq. Mr.. Bond is large tobacco
planter and is thoroughly conversant with the
needs of the tobacco interest. His utterances
may be taken as the views of planters gener-
ally, and are entitled to close consideration.
He gives many facts concerning the mspec
ton and sale of tobacco not generally known
to the people of Western Maryland, and his
letter will no doubt have much effect i'll en-
tightening the people and i'll overthrowing the
hostility TO State inspections.
The principle of reform is good one but
destruction, in the name Of reform, is some
thing quite different, Maryland, at present,
seems to be afflicted with destructives under
the name Of reformers, who have much zeal
and little knowledge. Had they been pow
erful enough last winter the State government
would have been so altered and changed that
but little of its present excellence would have
been left They did accomplish the repeal of
compulsory cattle weighing, which will cut
short the States revenue about $4,000 an
nually. Let them have another chance and
they vii! abolish every office except their own,
! or diminish the salaries attached to them.
The tobacco inspections are now supervised
by the comptroller, and in his last report, just
issued, he expresses the belief that the in
spections can soon be made to pay revenue
into the treasury. The tobacco planters are
supposed to know their own interests, and the
great majority Of them demand the retention
of the present system. If State inspections
are demanded by the growers, and the
inspections will soon pay n revenue to the
State, as the comptroller believes, who then
shall be peryerse enough to ask their abolish
! mentS.