The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-07-24
Another Wall Comes
From Savannah.

From Savannah.
fHEver since the passage Of the Flor
ida naval stores inspection law Sa-
vannah factors, who have grown rich
at the expense Of the Florida pro-
ducers, have been endeavoring to find
some way by which they can evade
this law and continue the business
that has been handled to such an adj
vantage, to. Savannah only, for the
past twelve or fifteen years.
The Florida inspection law was
passed by the legislature with the
view of providing rigid inspection,
thereby guaranteeing the product to
the purchasers and thus placing it on
basis whereby it could command the
highest prices. Savannah however,
believing that the law is aimed at that
city and with the view of diverting
the trade to Florida ports, is planning
to aid the 'poor Florida operator"
and test the ccnstitutionality of the
act. This benevolence on the part of
the Savannah naval stores interests
which have so long throttled the in
dustry, will be looked upon with sus-
picion by the producers.
The Savannah Morning News, which
has been greatly exercised over the
new law and how it will injure Sa-
vannah, tells editorially of the plight
of the Savannah interests in the fol-
lowing:
The naval stores trade is concern
cd about the new Florida law, which
requires that naval stores produced
in Florida must be inspected at ports
of that state The object OF the law
is, of course, to prevent the ship
ment Of the Florida product to prim-
airy markets outside of the state, and
thereby to increase the business done
at the Florida ports. 1t is drive
chiefly at Savannah, with a wanton
disregard for interests of Savannah
men who have so powerfully con-
tributed to the developing Of the in
dustry in Florida, and whose capital
is still heavily involved there.
Some Savannah factors have at
tempted to meet the situation by noti-
flying Florida producers that on all
turpentine and rosin inspected at
Florida ports, there will be no charges
for inspection at Savannah. But per-
haps the most effective way to meet
the case is the testing of the con-
stitutionality of the law in the courts,
which is said to be intended.
While no one will deny the right
of a state Legislature to take any legi-
innate steps to build up the markets
and the trade of the state ports, still
every law must be judged by its eff
fects upon enforcement of its provis-
ions. This law seems to be calcu-
lated to injure one class of people
for the benefit of another class, by
limiting the freedom of action of the
former.
If it is to the real advantage of
Florida producer to market his pro-
duct at Florida points, he is going
to do so, without compulsion. If he
sends his product to market in an
other state, it must be because he
finds it to his interest to do so. A
law which is intended to coerce him
to use one market when another mar
ket would be more profitable, seems
clearly an infringement of his rights.
The idea is, that to ship first to one
ipsnection, and then to an
other for marketing, would be too dill
atory and expensive.
Such being the presumed effect of
the requirement, the law may be dis
cussed as measure serving to pre-
vent the primary marketing of Flor
ida naval stores outside of the state.
If such restricting is proper or con-
stitutional in the case of naval stores.
it would be equally so in the case of
any other produce.
1t would be constitutional to try to
help produce commission men in the
state by prohibiting shipments of
truck or fruit until it had first been
marketed in the state through local
handlers. It would be proper and
constitutional to forbid a cotton grow
er from shipping his cotton to any
market outside his own state.
1t appears incontestable that the
producer of any commodity has a
plenary right to market his goods
wherever he can obtain the most adj
vantage. If the facilities offered by
Florida markets cannot cope on
equal grounds with those of other
states, it cannot conduce to the well
fare of the state of Florida to PEN
alize its producers by enforcing the
employment of the inferior facilities.