Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1882-02-02

Free systern. The question / propose
to consider i this-loes the present
system rebound 70 the best interest
Of the planter and Is it well or neces-
saTy that the State control should
continued
Il may be assumed az granted that
the compulsory feature Of the law
will find no advocates. This feature
being but singular remnant Of the
Colonial system, with was based on
the fact that as the currency Of the
Colony was not coin or bank notes so
much AZ tobacco, therefore all tobac-
co should receive the stamp of the
State to give It currency and credit
The reason having long since failed
this feature has remained, ct once q
statutory anomaly and an absurd
restriction upon trade. Were il the
intention Of this feature Of the law to
assure to the State q certain revenue
by q special tar upon tobacco. then
there would still be Q reason for its
non-repeal. But no such idea sup
ports L, and Il now stands upon our
statute book, without one valid rea-
son in wisdom or in propriety for
is existence.
The only point to be considered
then, is this 1t being for the best
interests Of the planter that the in
spection should be trustworthy ana
| that It should command the conf
dence Of ell concerned, will those in
terests be best met by continuing the
management and control Of the were
houses in the hands Of State officials,
or by leasing them, under proper res
trictions to private parties. The com
mercial world would indeed stand
aghast were the principle involved in
an affirmative answer on this point to
be applied to the general transactions
Of trade. Cotton, grain, the products
Of the mines. petroleum, all to be
warehoused " the State and handled
by State officials, not to mention their
being required to seek q particular
point for storage. sale and shipment
Is there then something peculiar af-
fecting this particular product max
ing it necessary that the State should
come in to handle, care for and guard
il from the time it leaves the growers
hands till the period of shipment ?
Arguments in favor of this special SUI
pervision can only be grasped by a
very firm adhesion to the doctrine that
we sometimes apprehend more than
cool reason can comprehend, or by
carrying ourselves back in vision to q
period 100 years in the past, and bas-
ing our premises upon the conditions
then prevailing. No reason can be
| assigned, under any circumstances, for
this State control, unless upon the
ground of its supposed effectiveness
for the purposes designed by such
control. Now the only purpose as
matters now stand is the maintenance
Of an economical and Trustworthy in
spection, no revenue being aimed at
Has this purpose been gained? The
general dissatisfaction that has long
prevailed, on the part of many intel
hgent planters as well as buyers, and
the official statements of Governors Car
roll and Hamilton, would justify, at
any rate, strong presumption that
the system, if good in itself, has been
singularly and sadly abused. But if
we further consider the fact that in
years past, the same outage charge
as is now made, sufficed to pay all ex-
pehses Of management and in addi-
ton created fund out of which were
met the maturing bonds Of the State,
loaned for the purchase of the ground
on which the buildings stand and for
the erection Of the buildings them
selves, as well as of the wharf proper
ty thereto adjacent, and contrast this
with the further fact that the State
Treasury has in recent years been
called upon to meet large deficiencies
on account of management, we are led
to the irresistible conclusion that on
the score of economy at least, the de-
tenders and upholders Of the present
system can have but little to say in
its defence. But dees this system full
FL its proper function in the other
matter of trustwOrthiness7
To this let the discredited charac-
ter of our inspections make answer
discredited at home and abroad-so
far discredited abroad that it has be-
come q matter of sufficient Importance
to Justify our u. s. Consuls in foreign
ports in writing to our home govern
ment in representation of the evil. Is
that in any sense . trustworthy or de-
sirable system under which our tobac-
CO planting interest has lsnguished
from year to year, so that our rank
Is a tobacco producing State has fall
len so rapidly during the last decade
that the probability seems not remote
that our tobacco may eventually be
driven from the markets Of the world
altogether.
When we consider the character Of the
business done at our warehouses and IFS vol
ume, & would seem that the unmisdom Of
State couee0l slsould upon business pFinci-
pies be clearly apparent The Inspections
amount 70 about a, 900 hogaheads annual
". This Is an enormous business, and TO be
properly attended, 20, requires business train
ing, business habits and business capabiiity.
as well as the adaptation Of means to the
end ON business pginciples. What are the
requirements under our State system The
inspectors, clerks and hands are appointed
on grounds of political or personal prefer
snos The skill that experience gives, the
cApability that is evidenced By practice,
the fitness that Is proved by trial, these and
the like should be the Recommendations for
these responsible positions. To what extent
are they regardedi Very excellent inspec-
tors and competent clerks are doubtless
k...e h,...- e. - a.