The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-07-03
Cotton by Net Weight.
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New Orleans Picayune.

New Orleans Picayune.
Among the most important bills
passed by the house and now pending
in the senate is house bill No. $50, en-
titled, can act to provide for the sale
of bale cotton upon q net weight
scale, and to provide penalties for the
violation of the provisions of the
same" This bill provides that all
cotton marketed in the State of Louis
lana after August l, 1890, shall be
sold by net weight--that is, the tare
upon every bale covered with jute
bagging and tied with six iron ties
shall be twenty-four pounds, and that
the tare to be deducted on cotton COW
cred with standard cotton bagging
weighing three-quarters of pound
per yard and tied with six iron ties
shall be fifteen pounds per bale.
The bill also provides that when
more than six iron ties are used
further deduction Of two pounds for
each tie shall be made. The penalty
fixed for the violation OF the act Is a
fine not exceeding $1,000 and impris-
onment not exceeding one year,);
both, at the discretion of the courts
the State.
This bill was introduced by Repre-
sentative Stallings and passed the
house last week by vote of 81 yeas
and nays. 1t is now in the senate.
Despite the very radical nature OF this
bill, which aims fatal blow at the
commerce OF New Orleans, it passed
the house by an almost unanimous
vote, which argues that the members
paid little attention to its purport or
failed to fully understands its effects
on the cotton trade Of New Orleans.
While it is true that the tare propos-
ed in, the bill is strictly in f.ne with
the recommendation Of the cotton
convention held in this city last fall,
it must not be forgotten that the tare
rule was adopted with the understand
ing that it should be generally adopt
ed by the cotton trade OF the country,
as it was very evident that no single
market or locality would be able to
inaugurAte the movement unless the
majority of the Southern markets and
States were in sympathy with it and
prepared to live up to its requisites.
This none Of the markets except New
Orleans were willing to do, and as it
was clearly impossible for thiEcity TO
carry out the system singly the move
ment was abandoned.
1t must be remembered that the
weight Of the bagging and ties is now
deducted in Liverpool and other
European markets, and the planters
have eventually to stand the loss, as
that tare allowance is always deducted
in the price paid for cotton in Amer
lean markets by exporters. Thus, IL
a tare allowance is made Of twenty
four pounds per bale in New Orleans,
the planter will be forced to stand in
addition to the present 6 per cent
tare in Liverpool the twenty-four
pounds deducted by law here. If the
law were general in all American
markets the planter would be
the only loser, and might
eventually compel the foreign
markets to abandon the tare allow
ance now exacted, but where the net
weight rule is applied only in Louisi-
ana markets-that is, in New Orleans
and Shreveport-the planter would
be confronted with loss OF twenty
four pounds moreper bale by selling
his cotton in Louisiana than if he sold
it in any other state.
The consequence OF this would be
that no cotton would come to New
Orleans for sale, and the prestige OF
this market as a cotton center would
be ruined. We do not believe that the
planters desire any such result, but
to any thinking man it is evident that
no other outcome could possibly fol-
low such a bill as that now pending
in the legislature.