The Russellville Democrat., 1893-11-23
PRICES AND PRODUCTION.
THE SUBCOMMITTEE IRON THE ACRE GULL TURAL COMMITTEE PRE- PAIRING 4 VALUABLE
 REPORT
ON COTTON.
It Wiif Embrace the Cost of Prodacsion and the Success of It's Mannfae- fure With Other Pes.
 turea.

" ASuiNdiONs 0. O.s 1NON. ~ - The sub-con mittee on agriculture of the senate Is at present engaged by different ways in gathering data and preparing reports upon prices and production of farm products, in ac- cordance with a resolution of the last congress authorizing an in- vestigation of this question, and it is probable a partial report will be submitted early in the approaching session of congress.
 Senators George, Bate and Proc ter are
 DEALING WITH COTTON,
 and the other part of the committee is composed of Senators Peffer, Roach and Washburne, who have charge of the grain and live stock branch of the inquiry. Senator Peffer has been devoting the present congressional interim to the preparation of a report of the facts for which he gathered during the recess last spring and summer.
 He collected some very interest ing information bearing upon the depreciation of the prices of farm products in the West and the gener- al condition of the farmers in that section, and expects to have his re- port in shape to submit early in the regular session. The report upon cotton is not far ad- vanced. The scope of inquiry concerning this industry embraces both the farmer and man. ufacturer, and Messrs. George and Bate are at present engaged upon the branch of inquiry connected with cotton production, con6ning their work, as. a matter of course, to the cotton producing states. When they shall have completed this line of investigation they will be joined dy Senator Proctor and proceed to the cotton manufacturing districts of New England and other Eastern states. The committee is seeking to ascertain
 THE ACTUAL FINANCIAL CONDITION of the cotton growers, and making inquiries as to whether they are in debt as a class, and if so whether to the extent of insolvency. They are also requested to give their views on the causes of financial de- pression and disasters supposed to exist among the cotton growers, and state whether the distress is due to bad management upon she part of the growers or to
 MISCHIEvOUS LEGISLATION.
 The committee will also go into the question of fertilizers and the effect of the establishment of cotton mills, and make inquiry concerning the amount of cotton produced to the acre with the intention of determin- ing how small the production can be and still remain profitable. The producers are to be asked whether the area de- voted to cotton growing is increas- ing or diminishing and also whether efforts at diversifying crop have been made, and if so whether they have proved beneficial. Cotton manufacturers and cotton buyers are to be asked regarding the cost of production and requested 10 give their views as to the causes of tho
 PRESENT LOW PRICES
 of cotton and the remedy for it. They will also be asked their opinion as 10 the extent of cotton raising in all countries, the cost of raising a given quantity in each, the quantity of cotton raised in each and the quality, tho con sumption of cotton in all countries as far as known, and the probabili- ties of increasing this consumption with new methods, cotton remaining at a remunerative price; also to state what action congress or the executive departments, or beth, should take to increase the con sumption of cotton and cotton goods. They are to be asked if there is a real over-production of cotton in the sense that the worlds needs are fully supplied or are there obstacles to the spread of the needed consumption of cotton, which may be removed, and if so, what are these obstacles, and how may they be removedi An other question is as to the power of other countries, either separately or taken together, to compete with the United States in raising cotton,
 THE PROBABLE EFFECT
 of this competition on the price of cotton in the near future.
 Tae committee is also seeking 10 ascertain whether there are any GUS toms or practices of trade in relation to cotton which tend to increase or diminish the price or unsettle and make irregular this price or the con- trary Tho report on cotton will probably not be in shape to submit to congress for several months as the investigation has been only fairly begun.