The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-03-12
Meeting of Tobacco Buyers and Shippers

| An adjourned meeting of Baltimore buyers
| and shippers of tobacco was held on thurs
! dav. Gen Jas. Il. Hurbert, on behalf of a
committee appointed at the previous meeting
/ to consider the evils of the trade, reported
! the following
| WHEREAS, there have been in our opinion,
Just causes of complaint on the part of buyers
| of LEAF tobacco of the unrelability of the IN
| spections of Maryland tobacco which have
operated TO the serious detriment OF the IN
terests of both buyers and sellers; and, where
as, we earnestly desire to contribute rs tar as
we can, by moral force exerted through the
harmonious action of buyers and sellers, to
remedy this evil; therefore,
RcSolred, first, Impressed with the vital
importance TO the interests of the trade of re-
liable samples of tobacco, we would respect
fully request and strongly urge the inspectors
of tobacco to give from all hogsheads of to-
bacco not only five bundles, according to the
time honored but not obligatory custom, but
as many bundles from as many different
breaks as may be necessary to represent the
hogshead faithfully.
Resolred, second. As the sense of your com
mittee that the sellers of tobacco should
pledge themselves not to sell any repacked
tobacco without giving the name of the owner
ofsuch tobacco when demanded. And, more
over. beheveing hesystem of repacking legItl-
mately conducted to be n necessity IN the
market, it is also the sense of your committee
that the buyers should pledge themselves not
to discriminate against such tobacco fairly
packed.
Resolred, third, That as the law holds the
inspector and his bond responsible for the re
liability of the samples they give out, the
committee would urge upon the inspectors
prompt settlement of all just reclamations.
DR.. Hawkins, of Cha les county, one Of
the inspectors, said he was not present as
representative of his brother inspectors, bat
simply came OF himself If there was any
communication he could make which would
90 towards establishing good feeling and haT-
mony he would be glad 10 have that point IN
dicated As for himself and every other in
spector he believed that they faithfully aud
honestly performed their duties, but, as every
gentleman should know, in handling from s.
600 TO 10000 hogsheads Of tobacco errors
were sure TO take place-theTe would be some
shortcomings, aud he was present to meet
them and say that IN spite OF every effort and
all the vigilance they could exercise they
would occur. In regard to reclamatjons, the
law Of 1872 provided for 4 supervisor with tul!
power TO adjust al. differences between buyer
and seller; but the law Of 1878 swept away
this Office and left taem wi;hou; any legal au-
thority for reclamations, and unless 1t was
assumed tha; 1t was for the best interests of
the houses the inspectors were hedged IN such
a manner as 10 be almos, pOwerless The
only remedy which he could suggest was the
passage of an &C, by the Legislature providing
Tor board OF arbitration. to consider al cases
OF difference between buyers and sellers.
Major HairstOn as an addition 10 the re-
por; OF the committee offered q resolution
providing that committee of FIVE be APP
pointed TO pe;itiua the Legislature to pass an
act. appointing a committee Of seven consist.
ing Of two buyers, two sellers, tSo inspectors,
and one general dealer 10 constitute a court
OF arbitration. to whom all claims fer rccla-
nations arising out of differences on samples
should be referred. and iha, all awards made
( By the eourl should be paid oat Of the ware
house fund.
Mr.. Weack thought that as she tobacco
trade was 50 well represented i would be we'll
20 form q tobacco board Of trade and then as
a uuit petition the Legislature for relief
Mr. W u. Bowie. a planter from SoutherB
MARYLAND said that he agreed vita Major
Hairstou' 5 resolguoG, and ne hoped % would
be accepted hy the convention. He said,
continuing DO the bHyers SAY there is NOS
fair inspection Ii they kaos this. and ID
IL Is wiifuiiy znd desIEusdly done, thea ;herc
Eas a law OF she state, and the inspectors
should be punished. A. planters they de
mauded 10. All they wanted ~as justice and
right, They wanted tobacco 20 be represent.
ed By its sample. Let the inspectors draw
duplicate aud keep Il as sample, and not
+ The one tha, passes through The hands OF two
agents There were, however. crrors, and
. The baycss shsu.d extend some hbrTa.Jy Of
view on that account lie had rot cone 60
E De = hrcbrsnd, but as a planter and expert
E who knew all about tobacco from ihc time b
vas piaated.
Dr.. Hawkins sA.a thai the clause 81 the
resolutions which referred 90 auTeiAbijlly Ut
samples in the past might be construed ~
dsreGc;ion of duty on the part Of the luspec
tors, and he asked ghe omaius ithc pabiie
+ might No; place such construction upon e.,
{ tha, Their had been too lax and too loose aud
( that the committee Wcrc giytug tbem advice
{ 20 be more careful N she future II such uas
{ the vicw OF the committee be for oae could
never endorse the report, as he bad Alaays
performed bis duties faithfully, hoaesliy aaI
I consclcEt3ous'y.
E General Herbert said ,hal shs question Of
7 the iatcgfity. honcsty or attention 20 duty Of
Z the inspectors had aeYrr once been question
I ed by the committee The only question: Was
F that, az therc Sere many mixed hcgsheads,
/ they had recon msud-d % a. necessary lhaI
E more samples shoald be dFawa-
The several resolutions Of the committee
wcrc amended and adopted