The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-09-28
STATUS oF TaE COTTON wEleaEas.
Their Qualifications and Duties TO the
Public.

The numepus complaints made in
this city concerning the ineHciency
Sof the present system OF cotton weigh
irg and It's inadequacy for tdae purpose
of properly handling the cotton
hrought to this market, has called
fersh the writing OF this article, IN
order that the people may be properly
informed of the true relation OF the
weighers TO the public.
At present, there are three tine
proper numberl scales on the platform
where the cotton is placed before IL is
weighed These scales. on account OF
the railroad tracks and other OBJ
! ssacles, are accessible on one sice
only: only two OF the thsee weaghers
are actively engaged in the weignlng
of cotton; no hands are employed for
the purpose Of assisting IN removing
she bales from the low, one-horse wae-
ons to the elevated platform and, con-
sacuensly, from all these disadyan-
taaes and drawbacks, the farmers are
conuelled TO wait an unreasonable
length Of time. before they can get.
their cotton weighed.
The foregoing constitute the Drluci-
pie sources OF complaint ioogeo
aaainst tbs public weighers.
v Sec. 1850, Volume I Of the Code
of Civil Procedure, it is provided.
with special reference to the city OF
Snmter. as follows: Three public,
weiehers shall be elected for the city
sofsSRmtar by the County Board OF
Conn issioners, one OF whom shall be
recommended By the City Council,
:anda tsf,eir term Of Office shall be one
for term. Of two years. one Tor a
term OF three years, one Tor q term OF.
forrSyears. to be determined oy io5;
The cotton weIghers shall
be Facuired to mark and number each
hale of cotton Indicated by tags OF
buyer, and keep the cotton OF each
bryeg together in order TO facihsate
prompt shipment Inc ne
platform fer cotton weighers shalt De
furnIsned by the county and shall
have q capacity Of 5000 bales, and
the scales on the said platform shall
be approachable from at least two
sides. etc.
Now this section 1861 must be
construed In connection with section
1853. which provides as follows
sss e shall be the duty OF each weigh
or 10 provide platform and scales
WITH ample facilities for handling cot
ton with speed and at a minimum
cost. at which platform or platforms
ali cotton sold In said market or mar
kess shall be weighed. It tshau be the
dntv Of each weigher to weigh fairly
and promptly all cotton sold in said
market or markets, Issuing ms own
ticket, showing the weight OF each
bale or package of cotton weighed.
Each weigher, or his deputy,
shall devote his exclusive attention TO
the duties of the Office during the cot.
ton marketing season Each weigher
shall test mis- scales once month by
The standards IN the office OF the Clerk
Of Court as provided by law: Provid-
ed, that the county board OF commls-
sioners, may, for good and sufnc!ent
eauss shown. remove any such public
Weieher from his of6ce' etc.
AboTe is a recital OF the duties OF the
onblic cotton Weigbers as prescribed by
law, and, from an Impartial perusal or
its provisions, it is very evident that
the farmers Of Sumter County are not
getting the service that the Law re-
oures. It is an unquestionaDle fact
that eaeh weigher should be provided
with pair of scale, and that these
scales should be accessible from at
least two sides, IN order to facilitate
prompt and convenient handling OF cot
ton. In addition, besides the platform
and scales, each. weigber shall be pro-
vided with ample facilities for hand
ING cottorWith speed - The present ar
rangement is not calculated to guar
antee rapidity in the handling OF the
cotton. Itappears that it is plainly
within the provision OF the code, for
I the weighers to employ sufficient help
to assist in the Unloading of the wag-
ons. and thus prevent the long delays
that keep the farmers at the depot for
the greater portion of the day, and re-
6arC the cotton merchants in the con-
duct of thei. business. The people
hayet he proper remedy according to
z the law. so, II dissatisfaction does ex-
list. cease grumbling and file your COM
plant with the County Board OF Com
m sssioners.
Annexed to the supply bill, which is
Incorporated in the Acts Of South Caro-
lima for the year 1908, it is provided.
among other things, that each cotton
weigher for the city Of Sumter shall
provide separate scales and employ a
clerk during the months Of September,
Cctober. November, and December OF
s eash year. and they shall have not less
than two platforms, each Of which
SHALL be aproachable from at least two
sides.
The reason for the foregoing provis-
ions, very wisely enacted by the Leeis'
lature. are apparent. The stipula-
t;ons for the separate scales and a
oierk for each weigher are evidently
part of the ample facilities fo1
handling cotton with speed. and if
tine provisions of this section were
carried out the total number of bales
Is Of cotton brought to this market could
be weighed in less time than it now
reoaires. The object was for each
weigher to be constantly employed in
the actual work of weighing, and the
e., %Ha nnor1ovreonf ~ q