The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-17

with the charter, and with which the pup
lie is now acquainted. AT this meeting
one of the leading members of the Char
ter Committee said that he wished no one
misled or deceived, that these were the
laws they had determined upon and ex-
pected to have to govern the Trade. They
were SO radical Changing the charges, re-
quiring 10 piles to be sold to the hour,
etc, etc, and in the face of this state
ment by vote of % to Is decided to sub
nit the charter to the Legislature for its
approvaD, I then determined to take no
chances, but to go up and acquaint the
members of the Legislature with how the
proposed bylaws would affect the ware
houses and the farmers interests. That
the minority did have some rights and
were justified in their actions, / submit.
has been shown in the final action of the
members of the Legislature In this mat
ter. After this was done l shortly after
wards learned that the members of the
Trade who We're pushing the passage of
the charter We're determined to have q
charter one way or another, and would
go to the courts for one should they fan
or be refused by the Legislature. They
had determined to have n charter. / then
communicated this to some of the mem
bers of the Legislature who were to fight
the charter, and after discussing the mat
ter we concluded it would be best to let
the charter pass, as in this way it would
in a measure be under legislative control
and prefera bic to having one granted by
the courts. I told them that in that view
OF the case that we would withdraw our
opposition. and would make my fight and
take my chances of defeating The objece
tonable bylaws with the minority mem
bers Of the Trade and this is why L
changed my position in the matter But
after the publcation'of an article in the
press, calling public attention to what
was proposed to be done and the condi-
lions then existing in the Tobacco Trade,
the members of the Legislature then
thought with me and Determined to de-
feat the charter and SO they did
Loose Buyer in a communication COM
menting upon the charges in our and
other markets, says: .'All the members
of the Trade are willing to pay money
for value received, but this charge of S
cents per hundred, for which they get no
benefit from the warehouse, is entirely
unjustified.' Loose Buyer ought to
know that the warehouse does render a
service for the cents. in that it has to
employ costly labor to take up the Loose
Buyers" tobacco off the floor and de-
liver it on the wagons. Loose Tobacco
Buyer should know that this identical
charge is made in Petersburg. Farmville.
and other dark markets of the State, and
he should know, too, that we sell a low
grade of tobacco, and there is but little
sions. He says that 1 should not have APP
peaIed to the Legislature. but submitted
to the majority ruling of the Trade /
think the extreme measures of the by
laws and the poor prospect of defeating
them justified my action. and is well prov
en- by the action of the Legislature in
refusing the charter. AS we understand
it, is has never been the custom in any
of the other markets for the buyers to
dictate to the selers-the warehousemen-
what their charges should be, and this
is the idea against which we are battling,
and can see no reason for it's being done
in Richmond. AS it has been quoted from
members of the Trade threatening to
boycott my house for what I have done,
] hope You will allow me to tell my
friends in the country that they need
have no fears on this score, for the mem
bers OF the Tobacco Trade here are too
much interested in the welfare of the
market and are too sensible and broad
minded to resort to such means as this
to punish a brother member for doing
what he had a right to do. and for doing
what he considered to be his duty to him
self and to his patrons.
Very respectfully yours.
SILAS SHELBURNE.