The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-11-25
COMBINES.
Warehouse Charges and Need of Re-
form--Legis!ative Aid Asked For,


form--Legis!ative Aid Asked Fos,
We have long communication
from Bro. Plummer Rowland, of
Vance county, on the subject of to.
bacco warehouse charges, etc. We
can only 6nd room for portion of
the article as follows:
The com bine to which | alIude is
the unjust and cxorbitant charge
levied on US by the warehouses for
the sale of our ,e4f tobacco. We have
tried every way in our power to secure
redress, but in vain. They promise
us better things and lower charges,
but only lower them during the session
Of the Legislature. Six years ago the
farmers went to the legislature to
seek redress and would have gotten a
oil passed for their relief, but the
warehouse men promised if they
would not press lis passage they
would reduce their charges. They
did reduce them as long as the
Legislature was in session, but just as
soon as it adjourned they raised their
charges again, thus showing us the
folly of trusting to their promises
when we knew they were unscrupul-
Gus in their dealings and treacherous
to their patrons. Some constitutional
lawyer may say it is unconstitutional
for the Legislature to pass law regu-
lating warehouse charges. If 80, l
have only to cite them to laws that
regulate interest, public ferries across
our rivers, the toll charges, as fixed
by law on toll gates, grist mills, canals
or railroads. In fact you have only
to look at the laws regulating public
carriers and you will find syllabus
Of dec ;sions as to constitutionality. /
have before me the bills of number
of farmers from all the different
warehouses in the town of Henderson
with the charges made out by their
own clerks. They range from $I25
to So per hundred pounds, or from
to 5 per cent. commission for selling.
If they deny the above, l am ready
to show their own bills of charges. l
know of one instance where a renter
sold his tobacco at a certain warehouse
in Henderson AID the warehouse
charges amounted to more than the
land lords fourth.
Ny information and observation ex.
tends over a period of fifteen years, a
portion of which time was connected
with warehouse in Henderson. The
correctness of the above charges will
be backed up by the actual farmer
bills which will be submitted to the
honorable members of our next legis
lature | have already collected a
large number of farmers bills, and
would be glad if all the farmers who
are in sympathy with US, would send
all their old bills for the last two or
three years to my address, in care of
Farmers Alliance Warehouse, Hen
derson, N. @. Would also be glad
of any other information bearing upon
the subject matter herein In other
words, see your representative in the
next legislature and impress him with
the importance of legislative enact
ment regulating warehouse charges.
There is no regularity in the per cent.
1t ranges all the way from Eve to
twenty FIVE per cent. Some Of the
warehouse men may say they cannot
afford to run warehouse for less
commission than at present. To such
argument will cite you to the nam
moth fortunes amassed. l have one
instance in mind where, fifteen or
eighteen years ago, gentleman
started a warehouse with no capital
and is now said to be worth $3.50, 900
or 100000. A second instance of
another firm whose proprietor, only a
few years ago, was working for
wages, and is now said to be worth
SI0O, 900 or Sl5O,OOO All this may
speak well for their business capacity
or financial acumen, but in plain Eng-
lish it means that it is ground out of
the poor farmer.
PLUMMER ROWLAND.