Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-10-15
FOR COMPTROLLER OF STATE TREASURY:
PHILLIPS L. GOLDsBOROUGH,
Of Dorchester County
FOR CLERK on COURT oF APPEALS;
ALLAN RUTHERFORD,
Of Montgomery County.
False Packing Of Tobacco.

The tobacco dealers, and especially
the shippers Of the staple, were up in
srms against the manner in which leaf
tobacco is packed in hogsheads before
it is shipped to this city. and the care
less manner in which good portion of it
is passed through the state tobacco
warehouses and pronounced ali right
This kind Of a thing has been carried
on to such an extent that the tobacco men
have sought redress in the formation Of
a board ofarbritra'ion, which has recent
ly made several demand on the state
for good tobacco. The largesl arbritra-
ton Of this kind in the history Of the
Maryland tobacco business was conclud-
ed yesterday when the firm of Heny
Lauts & Co.. No 227 East German St
recovered S5T4 As in addition to S2l9.
n the value Of 8. 500 pounds of tobacco
which had to be thrown out. This firm
recently bought l15 hogsheads of tobac-
co which had been packed in Charles
county A hogshead of tobacco weighs
CT 90 acreage sfs $50 $50 pounds asd ibe
firm Of Heny outs & Co., bought it at
the rate :, 10, . q cents pound
The eE, en- " iced as all right"
by - ote tobacco ware
houses. discovered that 101
hogsheads 5 nlled with leaves and
trash that hey lad to be repacked
The firm immediately lad the facts
before the local board Of arbitration,
and the careleys condition of affairs was
so palpabIe that the board decided to
compensate the firm. The aggregate
amount was S794.19 which the state
was compelled to pay.
The local buyers are not the only peo-
pie who suffer by this condition of things
Constant complaints come from Germa-
ny and France, where nearly all of the
Maryland crop finds its way and these
packers and the warehouse inspectors
but also upon the dealers and the steam
ship lines chat carry the tobacco across
the ocean, Mr.. Henry Lauts said yes
terday that it is very unfortunate that
there does not exist state law against
careless and fraudulent packing. Such
law be claims, would be a protection to
the honest farmers.
Mr.. William A. Boyd, president of
the Tobacco Board, stated yesterday that
this evil has existed for long time but
the situation has slightly improved since
the tobacco men have banded together
for she purpose Of putting a stop to this
practice. 1t is abe general opinion Of
the local tobacco men that the unsatis-
factory picking Of tobacco in hogsheads
is in some cases due to carelessness,
while in others it is done with the intent
to defraud They also claim that the in
spections at the warehouses are not as
thorough and complete as they might be
and with a little more attention to bust.
ness on the part Of these warehouse IN
speetors the evil can be rene lied The |
complaints coming from abroad are al |
ways alarming to the dealers The for
eign buyers have no redress, and there
is always a dread on the part Of the
home dealers taat the foreign buyers
will withdraw their patronage on this
account. The steamship people stand
in mush the same position.
The aooye article is taken from the
Baltimore American Of Saturday last.
The statement made as regards the false
PACKING Of the particular lot of tobacco
is substantially true aud the statement
also that it was packed in this county is
likewise true, but the latter charge ear
ries with it an implied inputation of un-
fairness on the part Of our farmers as a
class in the packing OF their tobacco
which is unjust and unfair, and to this
charge We enter vigorous protest The
sin Of one man should not be visited up
on community That such a thing
should have been perpetratcd is shame
ful and that it should have occurred 10
our county is much to be regretted.
And it suggests action on the part Of
the farmers. Dat Of self respect they
should not remain silent and allow their
fair names to rest under a cloud. but
should take such action as they may deem
necessary for the preservation Of their
honor and integrity. They should NOT
allow their business to be destroyed BY
such practices, but should resort to some
heroic remedy. Legislation has oeen
81 p nd granted but full measure Of
-eliei'sas not been obtained The sub
ees requires much thought and cousid-
ration, but We believe a remedy can be
devised. We are not prepared to sug.
sest at this time any dehnate PROPOSE