Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-03-05
FOR A PUBLIC WEIGHER.

Notwithstanding the fact that they
were knocked out by technical ju-
dicial ruling last summer, and not
withstanding the fact that they failed
to get relief through the recent session
of the general assembly, the farmers
around Yorkville who have for several
Years past been moving for the estab-
Ilishment of a public cotton platform,
presided over by a public weigher In
the town, have not yet given up the
fight.
1.-The sentiment Is a good deal
stronger now than 1t was last sum-
mer," said farmer who Is interested
to The Enquirer yesterday, "and find
that a good many people who were not
much interested at first, are now be-
ginning to take the position that there
| Is a principle involved and 1t Is up to
them to see the thing through to the
end"
It will be remembered that beginning
last spring there was circulated a pc
tition asking the county board Of COM
missioners to establish a public plat
form, and later another petition was
presented asking for the appointment
of Mr. ]. E Burns as public weigher
Both petitions were granted; but af-
terward Commissioners Lumpkin and
Aycock Of the county board, voted for
the appointment of several other
weighers, employees Of different local
cotton buyers and that complicated
the situation.
The cotton producers who were be-
hind the petition Of Mr.. Burns took the
position thai the appointment Of addi-
tional weighers, where only one was
necessary, was calculated to divide
up the business to such an extent as
not to provide support for single in
dependent weigher, such as was de-
sired, and the matter went to the
courts. Mr.. Burns and those behind
him held that the law contemplated
only one weigher for a market like
Yorkville, and that the county board
of commissioners had no right to ap-
point additional weighers. Justice
Gary, who heard the matter, held that
under the law one or more weighers
could be appointed and that it was
within the discretion of the county
board as to how many they should ap-
point. AS the result of this ruling Mr..
Burns sold the scales he had purchas-
ed and retired from the contest.
The cotton producers who are still
insisting on the establishment Of a
public weighing system, are holding
that even If the law does permit the
county board of commissioners to ap-
point as many weighers as they care
to appoint, 1t does not require them to
appoint more weighers than are neces-
sary to do the business, and since one
weigher is sufficient for Lancaster,
Chester and other markets that handle
as much cotton as Yorkville, one
weigher ought to be enough for York
vile, and discussing further proceed
ure in the matter, the gentleman re-
ferred to above, outlined his views
like this:
"Over in Lancaster, you know, they
selected a cotton weigher by primary
election, and I'm for doing that here.
All the people have talked to are In
favor of the idea. We will get up a
petition to the county board of COM
missioners to call an election under
Democratic primary rules and leave
it to the cotton producers living with
In five miles Of Yorkville to select a
man to weigh our cotton. OF course
the commissioners will not have to
pay any more attention to US than they
did before; but then If we have no
rights in the matter whatever, 1t will
be worth all the time and trouble the
election costs to learn the fact finally
and definitely"