Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-05-19
THE rARmEKs AM ConaREss

THE IA EkS AND CONGkESS
The APPEAL has for long time advocated
all needful legislation, whether State or
Federal, for the advancement and protection
of the great agricultural interest of the
country, upon which the public prosperity
and we'll being so largely depends. We have
often expressed onr surprise that this inn
portant subject has not received more atten-
ton from our lawmakers than it has, for it is
only occasionally that we hear of a member
of Congress having anything to say in advo-
cscy of legislation in this direction. Among
those who seem to have appreciated its i'm
portance is the Hon. III. d. Money, who has
been constant and persevering in his efforts
TO obtain some legislation in respect to the
agricultural bureau which would bring
about a practical improvement in the
system by which it is at present gov
erned. The bill now before Congress to
make the head of the agricultural depart
ment cabinet officer is a step in the right
direction, but in one important feature it
falls very far short of what it ought to be-
this defect is cured by the ans ndment Of
fered by Mr.. Money providing for the collec-
lion of statistical information for the benefit
OF the farmer and a system of reports by
which he will be constantly advised Of every
thing affecting his interest. We take the
following forcibe extract from Mr.. Moneys
admirable speech in support Of his amend
meut.
The Southern States produced last year about
$3.50 600 worth of cotton yet the department of
agriculture has one reporter in each county OF the
mercial Agency has three It was aDOat the 10th
of December before the cotton growers knew what
10Th of December before we had anything like
definite information that there wss shortage of
about ,000, 900 bales say there is not to day
member of the Committee on Agriculture, nor
member of this House, and might perhaps say
within 80 600 coo of bushels of the present supply
of wheat There is no difficulty in enlATgiug
lions and observers that the department. could
publish week by week body of statistics that
and OF every other country Of the condition Of
our crops, and approximate within a very lmna-
terial margin of the real amount OF the seasons
crop. We got the news on the 10th of December
that the cotton crop was 100000 bales short
ment should not have told this country by the LIST
October within loo 600 bales of that crop By the
hands Of the producer. of The farmer, OF the
laborer who has wrought the soil of the earth into
parted with the possession of his crop the mid
dleman who has shipped it, or is about ship it,
h.
wherever he may be. and the information comes
all too late TO be valua lie to them. The man who
has worked through the varying seasons Of the
the increase of price caused by this shortage of
600 COO bales Who is the beneficiary? The spec
ulator, the gambler in futures and corners
The Spectators get the news of the true condition
of the crop, and The consequence is that there is
corner in cotton grain, and the farmer gets a
poor subsistence. and the Spectator gets the
profits. They have their agents throughout the
West, the Northwest and the South; they obtain
full information in regard TO the crop. and then
there corner in which the producer has no
stock, which builds up sudden fortunes for few
who toll not. at the expense of the many who
eat their daily bread IN the sweat to their brows.
Want OF space prevents US laying before
our readers in full this, the ablest presenta-
ton of the farmers right to legislative recog
milton, that has, perhaps, ever been laid be-
fore Congress. Mr.. Money is justly regarded
one of the most promising among all the
younger political leaders of the South who
have come into prominence within the past
few years, and his district should see that he
is kept in position that be has filed with |
such credit and ability. The whole South
feels interested in keeping such man in the
public service.