Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-04-01
NEWPORT NEWS DISCRIMINATION.
Strong Resolutions Adopted by the Whole
sale Grocers at Memphis.

In the recent meeting of wholesale
rrocers az Memphis the report OF the COM
mittee on the alleged discrimination
against the port of Newport News was
taken no. This was well and a6ly dis
cussed by Mcssrs. Jacob Furtz, OF st.
Louis: L. G.. Scudder. of st. LOUIS; Il. u.
Leigh. jr., OF Richmond, Va, and A. D.
Shropshire. OF Atlanta, Ga.
The resolutions adopted are az foIlows;
Whereas, this convention. representing
eighteen trade centres OF the south ana
West. is reliably informed that the United
States and Brazil Mail Steamship Line. at
the dictation of New York coffee importers,
has declined to deliver coffee at the port
of Newport News after July /, 1892, and
Whereas. the unrestricted growth and
development of that port Is matter OF
vital importance TO these great sections OF
our country
secretary of this association be instructed
TO address q communication TO the ofhcers
of the United States and Brazil Mall
Steamship Company and earnestly request
that Newport News be given by that line
nj least as good service as was formerly
afforded it.: that is, that all their steamers
shall stop at Newport News on their out
ward trip and deliver their coffee from
Brazil at the same rates of freight 1t gives
TO New FORK.
Q. If this proper request be refused, that
then the Postmaster. General be earnestly
urged not to award to the Uhited States
and Brazil Mail Steamship Line any con-
tract provided for by an act of Congress
passed in March. 1891, entitled AN oct to
provide ocean mail service between the
United States and foreign ports and to
promote commerce."
IT is the sense of this convention that
the award of the contract to that line
while engaged in an avowed dlscrlmina-
ton against the port OF Newport News
would be great injustice to the South
and West and direct violation of an act
of Congress.
The Board of Directors of this associa-
ton are instructed to take such further
action as II deems necessary 10 secure the
redress desired, and TO report TO all the
local associations of this central body the
result of their efforts.
NJ. S. Ross. Knoxville, Tenn.
Il. G. SCUDDER, ST. Louis. Mo.
p. McIsTIRE, Memphis. Tenn.
f. o. MORRIS, Nashville, Tenn.
l.. G. YOUNGER. Richmond, Va.
JACOB FURTH, St Louis, Mo.
w. ID. SAXON, New Orleans, La.
Mr. A. j. Shropshire offered the follow
ing amendment, which was unanimously
adopted: =.
And that each trade centre memorabilia
It's representative in Congress to act IN
concert to correct this monopoly, which is
contrary to the spirit OF the General Gov
eminent.
AN INJURY TO SOUTHERN COMMERCE.
lAppeal-Ayalancne, Ldi oriall
The Virginia delegation to the Wholesale
Grocers Association, which convenes IN
Memphis to-day, has most important mat
ter TO present to the body, if we may judge
from recent editorial expressions In the
Richmond papers. Ii seems that the United
States and Brazil Mail Steamship Company
is asking a subsidy of the Postmaster-Gen-
eral. For several years the ships OF this line
have been touching at Newport News. A
large coffee-importing trade had begun tc
develop. This fact was naturally viewed
with great dissatisfaction by the coffee i'm
porters of New York, and they brought
| such pressure to bear upon the company
as to cause il to indicate n determination
! TO handle Newport News importations nc
| longer than the 1st of July of this year, al
the same time insisting that the Post-Ofhc'
| Department should grant 1t subsidy u
the peoples money.
This question is vital to the welfare o
the people of the West and South, and tn,
| Wholesale Grocers' Association should no
hesitate to demand that the Newport New
| importers should have falr cnance 10
| business. The subsidy should not b.
granted until the steamship company shal
agree to give Newport News the full bene
fit of her geographical position as ar i'm
porting point. The appeal Araldnche Is Oh
posed to subsidies. but, when they are 10 b
divided out, the division should be mad
eQuitably, for the money Is the money o
all the people. and Newport News should b
remembered in the distribution quite a
much as New York. The government
should not go into a conspiracy with
steamship company and New York i'm
porters for the suppression of the cone
trade of Newport News. II Is "a natura
port for southern and western commerce
and the Postmaster-General wall be un
mindful of his obligations and response
biities if he does not bring the Unite
States and Brazil Steamship Company t
terms before granting the subsidy.