The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1900-03-23
THETO3ACCOW WAREHOUSES.

Il IL l. l. ~ S-ACSo w n Ii LT1oS SI-S.
Tue contention that is now rife in
Southern Maryland over the distribu-
tion of the patronage in the tobacco
warehouses, Judging from the resolu-
tions assed at public meetings held in
several Of the counties and the express
sions of some Of our contemporaries
is destined, unless moderated, to injure
in 4 very material way the best inter-
csts of tobacco growers.
1t is unfortunate that the feeling has
be n aroused. There is justice, doubt
less, in the contention that the ware
houses should be operated hy people
who represent the tobacco growing
counties, not only as a matter ofpoliti-
cal right but also as matter ofpolicy.
If, however, the advice of Mr.. Posey,
in the 4Na,ylund Independent, and Of
others, is followed, and the tobacco is
shipped to Locust Point, in very large
quantities, instead of to the tobacco
warehouses the day will soon come
when the system Of State inspection
will be entirely destroyed, and our peo-
pie will lose the uses and privileges Of
the warehouses which belong exclusive
ly to them One of the most valuable
of these privileges is that Of free stor-
age. The revenues of the warehouses
are derived from the outage fee of 81
on each hogshead, and, unless the tobac-
CO is received for inspection, the sys-
tenn will not only cease to make any
returns to the State treasury, but will
even fail to be self sustaining.
Until recent years the inspection of
tobacco in the State warehouses was
compulsory, and consequently the rev.
enue was assured The repeal Of the
compulsory feature of the law, about
10 years ago, was the entering wedge
for the Locust Point people and the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad. Their
encroachment upon the system OF State
inspection has heretofore been kept
within reasonable bounds by careful,
economical and judic;ous management
of the warehouses, notably within the
last two years. If the planters OF
Southern Maryland vent their hostility
to the warehouses and the people in
terested in the control and success Of
them, the consequence will be the great
development Of the Locust Point in
spection and proportionate injury and
loss to State inspection. The inevitable
result of this will be the ultimate aban-
donment of the State warehouse SIS
tenn altogether, the sale of the
warehouses (Which were bought and
paid for 10y specific tax upon tobacco
growers) and the conversion of the
property to the benefit of the Whole
State.
If this ever takes place, tobacco
growers will repent the folly that
brought about such condition They
will then be completely at the mercy
of a private corporation, which is allur
ing them now by tempting induce
melts TO act against their best inter
ests. First OF all with the destruction
of the State warehouse system, planters
will lose the valuable privilege of in
definite free storage. 1t is well known
thai there are periods of depression in
the trade when tobacco has to be held
for several seasons and sometimes
longer. If the owners were in the
power private warehouse proprietors.
storage fee could be exacted, and
would have to be cXacted to make the
business profitable. This storage fee
would either compel the owners of to-
bacco to sacrifice their crops upon a
depressed market, or hold them subject
to tax which would be ruinous.
We trust, therefore, that the people
of this section will consider we'll the
import of this matter, and not allow
themselves from passion or prejudice,
from disappointment or disgust, to
adopt a course that will surely result
in irreparable injury to our greatest
industry-the cultivation of tobacco.
We are not yet prepared to say:
Down with tie warehouses, if the
warehouses are to be used as instru-
ments to carry primary elections and
county conventions"