The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-23
AN INSPECTOR OF FLOUR.
THE ORDINARY HAS THE POWER
TO APPOINT ONE.

The Law ON the subject Has Been
Brought to Judge FcrriITs Atten-
tiOn-Fees Are Small But the Ag-
Eregate Income Would BE n Large
One-COmpIaints Have Caused the
Law to he Given Some COnsIdera-
tion-There Was Such m Inspector
Some Years Ago, But His Term Was
short Lived.
There is an opportunity for the appoint
ment of an officer in Chatham county
whose fees would. perhaps amount to a
larger sum than those of any other public
official here.
There is a law which gives the ordinary
the power to appoint an inspector of
-four meal and grain in each county in the
state, and provides for the payment to him
of certain fees for such inspection by
those who deal in the articles in question.
The laws relating to this subject are
most of them old ones, it is true, but
they are still on the statute books, and
none of them have been repealed. In the
new code there are ten sections relating
to the subject, only one section having
been added since the publication of the
code of 1882 The laws on this subject
begin in the new code with section 1927
and in the code of 1882 with section 1854
Under section 1854 of the code of 1892
which provision is still in effect, the or
binary of each county in the state is given
the power to appoint annually one person
of good repute" as an inspector of flour.
The next section provides that all flour
sold shall be of due fineness and mer-
charitable. The following section pre-
scribes how -four barrels shall be made.
Section 1851 of the code 1882, and Sec
ton 1,625 of the new code, provide that
all barrels, half barrels and bags of flour,
shall be submitted to the view and exam
ination of the Inspector. 1t is stated in
what manner the inspection shall be
made, and how the package of flour shall
be branded after inspection, and that the
fee of the inspector shall be cents per
barrel.
There are sections which follow these
providing a penalty for fraudulent packing
flour, and for selling ii without inspection
where there is an inspector. Other sections
require the inspector to make oath as to
the proper performance of his duties and
prohibit him from purchasing any flour
which has been condemned.
The final section on the subject enacted
in 1880 provides that every inspector of
flour shall also isspect Indian corn, corn
meal, wheat and other grain in bags or in
bulk and for such inspection he shall re-
ceive three cents per bag or barrel and 70
cents per carload where it is in bulk.
1t can readily be seen that the fees of
such an officer would amount to a hand
some sum in a county of the population
of Chatham. The law, however, does not
appear to require such an official, but puts
the appointment of one within the power
of the ordinary. The law appears to have
been a sort of a dormant one, and so far
as is known there are few, if any, such
| inspectors in the state.
Ten or fifteen years ago, 1t is said there
was an inspector of flour appointed for
| Chatham county. There was much oppo-
! appointment of such an officer and after
| his year was served he was not reappoint-
! ed. There have been recent reports, how
! ever, of inferior qualities of flour and
! grain being shipped into this section of the
! south, and number of complaints have
been made. On account of some of these
! complaints the matter was brought to the
| attention of the ordinary a few days ago,
| and he has been looking into the law on
! the subject. Judge Ferrill, however, has
not decided what he will do in the matter,
nor does he know that he will do anything
| as yet
| The matter, at least, presents an inter-
| esting phase. While the fees are small as
| compared to the value of the products to
| be inspected, there would no doubt be some
| objection to the appointment of such an
| officer, but the complaints that have been
made from some quarters make the matter
at least worthy of consideration.
I