The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-11
THE BAGGING TRUST.
The Democratic House Proposes
to Take a Hand.
THE FARMERS SEEM TO BE AHEAD.


consideration for n bill having for its object
1.-THE bre king up of the cotton bsgging trust
Members of the farmers alliance are in
Town and have been in consultation for sew
'eral days with the democratic members of the
ways and means committee pressing the mat
ter in question. The result was the appoint
ssnent of a special committee composed of Mr..
fBreckinridge, of Arkansas, and Messrs
Hooker and Morgan, of Mississippi whose
knterest of the bill already introduced covering
*he case complained CT.
The bill authorizes the president to issue his
proclamation suspending the collection of all
customs duties on imports of any species of
cotton bagging and substitutes therefor suita-
ble for wrapping cotton, and on jute butts, for q
speriod Of six months from and after the date
$bf such proclamation.
Mr. Phelan, of Tennessee, was appointed to
call the bill up today under suspension of
EGhe rules. A controversy sprung up, how
over. between the sundry civil appropriation
bill and the bill making territory out of the
Oklahoma reservation. The contest became
bitter and the result was that the point of no
quorum being raised, the day was wasted in
Idlibustering. Mr.. Phelan was not reached by
the speaker. Consequently the matter goes
over until next Suspension day which is the
first Monday in October.
The friends of this important measure will
exert themselves and, if possible, pass the bill
OF this session. The only opposition. rs may
easily be imagined, comes from the republican
side.
AFTER THE TRUST ROBBERS IN GENERAL.
Mr.. Newton, of Louisiana, today introduced
bill somewhat similar to that Mr.. Reagan in
produced in the senate, to punish persons con-
Injected with combinations or trusts
\ The bill provides that any person who may
tenter into a combination of capital or skill
tHlth another person or persons who may be or
become member of such combination, being
TO create or carry out restriction in trade or to
Iaimit the increase of production or prices of
merchandise, or to prevent competition in the
Itnanufacture, making, sale or purchase of
merchandise or commodities, shall he deemed
guilty Of an oifense, and on conviction there
Eof, in any district or circuit
Ecourt of the United States, after
stndctment, shall be fined in a sum Of not less
fthau 6 eco nor more than $1,000, and may, in
ifhe discretion of the court, be imprisoned in
Ehe penitentiary not less than one or more than
1--WE years.
Mr.. Newton says that trusts are Illegal, and
inc thinks that the government has power
<under the constitution to punish persons con-
[nected with them. He says he will make
'@very effort for an early consideration of his
bill, and hopes to secure its passage.
SENATOR CULLEN TAKES a HAND.
The bill to suppress trusts, introduced by
Senator Cullom today. proposes the seizure and
forfeiture of all shares of stock and all property
lnsed in the furtherance of the purposes of q
crust.
Another new feature is the provision of the
Hast section, that i'll any action at law or suit in
equity in the United States courts, the fact
Shat any person interested in the prosecution
,pf the case is a member or agent of trust, or
sthat the cause of the action grows out of some
transaction of trust, may be pleaded in bar
or in abatement.
i Representatives of the Farmers Alliance
were again before the ways and means commit
Tee today in regard to the bagging trust. The
Seading members of the committee who were
%resent this morning expressed to them a fear
Chat no special relief can be given them from
tEhe trust this session, for while they think it
probable q bill can be gotten through the
house, they are,afraid the senate will refuse to
pass it,
FARMERS OF WILKES SPEAK.
WASHINGTON, Ga, September 5-[Special.l
The following preamble and resolutions
from the East Wilkes Farmers club were Of
Tered by Mr.. Frank w. Barnett at its regu-
lar meeting on Tuesday, and unanimously
adopted;
Whereas, The effect of the bagging trust is to put
she price OF baggng beyond the reach OF the cotton
:, Whereas, The established tare of twenty-eight
pounds per bale prevents the use of any lighter
material as substitute for bagging and
y Whereas, Net cotton and not tare Is whet the
manufacturer wants; Therefore be it
Resolved That We ask the planters throughout
She entire cotton belt to cooperate with us in me-
morializing our own exchanges and that of Liver
pool to receive and recognize cotton wrapped in
osnaburg as in commercial form, and to establish
double standard OF tarc viz: one for cotton wrap
ped in lutte bagging, say twentyeight pounds per
bale and one for cotton wrapped in osnaburg, say
Eighteen pounds per bale, as to warrant the cot
ton buyer in making corresponding margin of
price In favor of the lesser tare.
PINE STRAW BAGGING TRUST.
CHARLESTON, 8. c., September O. Especial
The farmers of the state are, making grand
Eight against the baggng trust No cotton is
Feceiged at any of the ports unless packed in
Cute bagging, and those who have to sell their
cotton to the factors and shippers are, there
fore, absolutely at the mercy OF the trust.
' Fortunately, however, quite number of
cotton mills have been established in this state
IN the past ten years, owing to state law
(which excerpts new manufactures from taxa
zion for ten years.
The CHANGERS of Oconee county met day or
wwo ago and sent a committee to interview q
president of cotton mill in that vicinity.
EThe outcome of the interview was that the
3kind of covering but boards. The
snills in that section of tee state
fuse perhaps 1900 bales year, and should they
Fall come into the arrangement the situation
tsSwill be considerably improved, at least from
Ehe grangers' point of view. There are about
Ewenty-eight cotton mills in the state, which
Rase perhaps 100000 bales of cotton per annum.
News came from Barnwell county of a
combination among the farmers TO reduce the
iWages of farm hands twenty per cent, pre-
kumably to get even with the cotton bagging
Erust squeeze. The hands claim that they can
fcarcely support themselves honestly on the
Did rate of wages and have struck.
' Cotton is maturing very fast now. and q
general strike would involve serious loss to
iplanters. As yet he reduction in wages is
fconfned to Que county. Should it extend,
lEhere will be considerable trouble.
TIGHTENING IT'S GRIP.
ST. LOUIS, September 6.-[Special. Tho
lbagging trust has advanced the price another
,1uarter Of cent per pound, making the range
E2rom III to 134. 1t is asserted that still
Eurther advance is to be made soon.
= RALEIGH, N. c.. September 6.-lSpecial. J.
yesterday at Kingston meeting OF members
kpf the Lenoir county Farmers Alliance was
held. 1t represents nine hundred farmers.
) A resolution was adopted indorsing the
action Of the state alliance in regard to the
cotton bagging trust and instructing their
agent TO order at once six thousand yards Of
burlaps. Sub-alliances and farmers not mem
fers OF the alliance are requested to come
Forward and get portion of this for baling
Mheir first cotton. They are also urged to
Stand by the action Of the alliance in the fight
against the trust.
4 They evidently mean business. The farmers
An the eastern counties are gathering up
fall the guano sacks, and anything that will do
30 wrap cotton with. Yesterday at Whining
Ron two hundred and seventy bales of cotton
fwere received, but none were covered with