Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1884-02-01
TOBACCO INSPECTION LRg,s.
LATlON,

/ the provisions Of the bill introduced
Mr. WcIn,r Of Baltimore. for the temp
T'ry or provisional abolition Of the cdu
pulsory feature Of the present tobacco i
spcction law; for this is what tho y,
posed bill amounts to. That is tn "a
It provides tor the leasing of the war
houses for four years. after which in
there can be return to the prese,
system, if it be deemed advisable n
there is no provision in the pron.se
bill compelling the growers to shin the
tobacco to the lessee or the lessees If Il
warehouses or to any certain place.
We have never been able to soc II
force Of some Of the arguments urged /
support of system of compulsory Stat
inspection of-anything. 1t has bee
urged in this special matter of enforce
State inspection Of tobacco that tn
Southern Maryland planters are bonn
by compact to a continuance of mi
system, at least until sufficient money
squeezed out Of them, at the rate \
81 90 per hogshead, to finish paving 70
the warehouses. Anybody with "baI
an eye" may say that, at the rate tn
salaries Of the employees of the State i
the warehouses and other expenses, have
in late years, absorbed this little tax IN
warehouses would be paid for about III
year ten thousand, if at all. Therefor
If the payment of this debt be the OBJ
jcctin maintaining the warehouses. il cal
be more certainly and speedily accom-
plished by leasing them, when tue Stat
will receive the rents at least, witbou
any discounts or rebate in the way o
salaries or otherwise.
II has been urged also, that as to
bacco packed in hogsheads must be sol,
by sample, therefore there must be com
pulsory State inspection to insure fa
sales We do not see why there shoull
be enforced inspection of tobacco auy
more than of wheat or sugar or cOffc,
which are, we believe, sold entirely b,
samples.
We have seen merchant 60 into
brokers' shop and buy cargo of cofFe,
from number of samples contained ii
little tin pans. The broker could bay,
cheated, but in this particular case i
was the mans known honesty which wa,
guarantee of the trustworthiness Of hi
representations; in cases where persona
honesty is not considered, it is the re,
sponsbility of the broker to the ptriie,
he deals with. Now if our Statd ia.
spcctor be honest aud competent, TIL
is some sort of guarantee to produ
and dealears of fair inspections; eve.
this case the feeling of responsibility
any one is very vague. But the
rocutr ng ifficulty is that our to5accs -
spectors are, as u rule, appointed nqbn
account of their honesty nor their ftrts,
but partly or entirely from political r.
siderations. The questions asked Nc
not is he honest, is he capable 2" But
what is his political power or iufllnce
in his county," ''Who are his back
ers?" lis the State Centrll Committee
of his county unanimous for him 2" And
even if We succeed in securing an hon
est man, as has been the case with the
two last appointecs from this county, he
has but little choire in the appointment
Of his subordinates who are preordained
tor him from the very beginning ofhis
stru Cycles for office, and who, like their
chief, are appointed, nine times out of
ten. from political considerations Of a
not very high order
Apart from all this, we are opposed to
compulsory inspection on principle, as
we are opposed to State or governmental
interference in any matters or affairs
which we can regulate for ourselves
All such laws are the outgrowth of the
paternal theory of government, and the
whole principle OF them is at war with
the most advanced opinions on govern.
mental policy. Do not let reverence for
Anticipated things generally, lead TO loo
high regard for an old -fogY inspection
law, nor be misleal by false notions Of
honor about the sanctity of compacts
never made.
We do not believe the majority or the
most intelligent portion of our planter.
are in favor of compulsory inspection or
State inspection of tobacco We do no,
believe that any man likes to be COM
PEELED to ship his goods to place select.
ed for him and in manner provided
for him, especially if he has to paw for
it, It the buyers in Blltmore or IN
Bremen for that matter, should be salts,
fed with the representations of any Iar,.
buyer or planter in this county. who
IN addition to some personal honesty
has reputation as a business man WIN
should not the planter or county bovar
be permitted to sell on his own term.
and ship his tobacco direct to the B,h;
more or Bremen house without MI ~.
intermediate and mildleman cost ana
commission and drayage and brib.,v
and Heaven knows what not? W.
can not we have a large warehouse =,
COx's or at La Plata or at Valiant