Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-25
MR.. FIGGAT's REMARKS.

Mr.. Figgat, in stating the reasons that
actuated the committee in reporting this
bill. said that as the matter bad been be-
fore the committee of when he bad the
honor TO be chairman, he deemed 1t adj
visable TO give the reasons that actuated
the committee i'll reporting this bill
fayorably.
The present law compels the inspection
of all -four manufactured outside of the
State and offered for sale in it, and all
ti,h sold or offered for sale in the cities
OF tue state below tidewater alexandria
aud Fredericksburg excepted, practical
lv therefore applying the compulsory
feature as to fish 90 Richmond, PeteIs-
burg. Norfolk, and Portsmouth.
The biil proposes to abolish the com
pulsory feature as to flour and fish, and
make all inspections OF those articles
voluntary, to be done at the request OF
either purchaser or seller.
The cost of inspection, though paid
bv the manufacturer or wholesale mer-
chant. is in all cases tax on the con-
sinner. and this without any correspond
ing houett. No consumer buys from
the retail merchant by tue inspection
marks. and no retail merchant buys from
the wholesale or commission merchant
bv the inspection marks. Each buys
upcn the faith he has IN the man he is
dealing with. And if the article does
not come up 10 the representa-
,ions made by the seller, the buyer
does not 90 back on the in-
spector for redress. He goes to hs
vendor and says, " You must take these
Goods back they are not what You sold
me" The vendor cannot get nd of his
responsibility by saying, "Ihe goods
we're inspected and marked Just as l re-
nrescnted them TO be-" but the pur-
chaser replies, and has right to reply,
- did not buy by inspection but by
your represent ltion, and YOU must make
that representation good. 20 the seller
nockets the loss notwithstanding the in
snection. and makes it good 10 his Gus
,omer lest he lose him aS such.
These laws we're enacted to make men
honest when there vas little or no COM
ne.ition between men in trade. Now
conDetition in trade makes men honest,
and there is 10 need OF law to eolorce IT..
The public soon gauges mans honesty
and patropizes him accordingly. Iublic
sent;ment enforces the maxim that
.sbonestv is the best policy" Not IA
very bigh grade of morals, it is trae,
Inf fnlly equal 20 that produced by law
srcb for instance. as this inspection law.
I, Is betler than the latter, for It shows
a healthy public sentiment. Competi-
t;on has struck another blow at these
49, Tbe increased facilities OF transporta.
,;o, has brought about competition all
over over tlis broad land, and western flour
co,aneted with Virginia flour, and Mas
sochpsetts fish aud the Lake fish COM
nc,ed with North Carolina and Potomac
ssb and tho difference IN price to tie
,ln,ehaser @ caused by paying for inspec'
t;oo in some instances determined the
.so ma,katin which he wouldpurcbase. Abar'
raIoffi I n in Richmond had TO pay l2cen''
:'ss,,ec,;on fees. OF course the SAME
nI eould be sold in Aexandris, Lynch
ha,e ,v or Danvilic at IL cents less pei
bsrrel Flour brought from the West
80 30 Virginia had TO pay from > to cent.
~. ~ ;nsnec,ion. The same flour could
ie ~. boueht by the North Carolina dealer
~, ~ t ,hst much less in Baltimore, whers
tssrs G 4 ~ insrusuva. Thai d'usssaes