The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-02-12
To Reduce warehouse Charges.

advocated any cause that we thought
was burtful to them. While upon its
face it may appear that a reduction In
the charges for selling their tobacco
upon the warehouse floors would bene-
fit the farmers, we seriously question
it. The history of the business in this
State has not been one of unbroken
success. Few men have been success
full as warehousemen, and the number
who have continued at it more than a
few years at time is exceedingly
small. This would seem to indicate
that by the time all the expenses are
paid and all the losses incurred there is
not the big money in the business pop
ularly supposed to be.
The Legislative Committee gave a
hearing to those interested in the mat
ter, both for and against change, last
week. We copy from the State
Chronicle:
The joint committee on agriculture,
at its meeting yesterday afternoon, had
Under consideration the bill regulating
warehouse charges in the sale of leaf
tobacco.
There appeared before the commit
tee large number of gentlemen repre-
senting both sides of the question.
Senator Williams presided at the
hearing.
The parties desiring change in the
bill in the hands of the committee. Mr..
Long, of Warren, stated that this was
bill agreed upon by the parties inter-
ested in the change. The bill proposes
to fix charges at IL cents for weighing,
IL cents for auction fees and IT per
cent. commissions, and allows the
| seller to remove his tobacco when not
! satisfied with sale of the same without
| paying charges.
Mr.. Graham, president Of the War
rem county Alliance, said the farmers
of Warren were satisfied with the orig
inal bill. and think they can prove that
the charges in that bill are not too
high, but that in order not to appear to
desire to scale charges unduly they
have agreed to the substitute.
A petition from farmers Of Warren
county was presented asking that no
legislative interference be made with
present laws.
DR.. Meadows, of Louisburg, stated
that present charges were 10 cents a
pile for weighing, Auction fees are
from 10 cents to Is cents.
Rev. Baylus Cade, of the Progressive
Farmer, read resolutions from Franklin
county Alliance and Endorsed by the
tobacco board of trade. These farmers
| desire that charges shall be uniform.
There is no complaint against the
Louisburg warehouses, except in one
instance. It was not the purpose of
the county Alliance TO fix the charges
of warehousemen for handling and sell
ing tobacco.
Mr.. Egerton, of Louisburg, said that
he and his people had had struggle to
create a market. Tobacco ought to
have market in the community where
it is grown, and will have it if it is not
throttled. The Farmers Alliance
promised to stand by us, and they are
doing it. They say they are perfectly
satisfied with the charges now made,
and he could get almost every farmer
in Franklin county to sign petition to
let charges remain as they now are.
Major Brown, of Winston, explained
the operations of a warehouse and
gave in detail an account Of weighing,
selling and handling. He does not
know of any complaint in his part OF
the State. He gave full statement
of schedule of changes in the Winston
warehouses, which seemed to be about
the same asked for in the bill.
| Capt. Lockhart, of Durham, gave
the charges of the Durham warehouses.
He said he did not object to having
his weigher sworn, but he had heard OF
no complaints against the warehouses
from farmers.
DR.. Meadows said the markets in the
east would be closed if the legisture in
terfered with warehouses. We do bust
ness as cheap as we can.
Capt. Lyon, farmer Of Granville
county, who sent the first bright to.
bacco to Europe, said:
! THE man who sells poor tobacco
pays more to sell his goods than he
who has fine goods. He and his PEG.
pie are satisfied with the present
charges
Representative Adams, of Gronville,
| submitted the schedule of charges made
by the Alliance warehouse at Oxford
This warehouse is now in its thirt
year. He gave the receipts and ex
penses of running it for two years
One year they made about 81, 100 ant
the other they lost about 800. He was
asked if he opposed reducing charge:
of warehouses. He answered that hi
did because he thought the Legisla
ture ought not to control private
property.
Mr.. w. H. Jenkins, manager of the
Alliance Warehouse of Henderson
made a statement in regard to tina
warehouse. The Alliance Warehouse
of Vance county the first year made
about 100 per cent. profit. Since tina
time profits have been less but the,
are still doing well and will continue t.
do so.
Mr.. Petway Burwell, Of Warren
stated that he was director in thu
Henderson Alliance Warehouse Com
pany until October or November last
and that they declared dividend of
per cent. for preceding IL months on
of money and tobacco on hand upon
capital stock of "a, 600, but that durin:
the year the directors borrowed upoI
their notes about $4,000, making I
total of over 1000, and had they de
clareda dividend on their actual capita
"a, 6o0) the dividend would not hav'
exceeded per cent.
| Representative Hall, Of Orang
county, stated that his people did no
want any legislative interference. H
thought sworn weigher would caus
some Inconvenience. He did not thin