The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-16
PROTECTION FOR PLANTERS.
GEORGIA CONGRESsMEN FAVOR a
DUTY ON COTTON.

They Take the Position That the
South Should Receive the Same
Benefits as the North If Protection
Is to Be the Policy of the Govern
ment-A Possibility That Repre-
sentative Bartlett of Georgia May
Be Put on the Ways and Means
Committee.
Lester says he is confident the trainers
of the Dingley tariff bill will place a pro-
tective duty on Egyptian cotton. If the
committee neglects to put such q provis-
ion in the bill, Mr. Lester will offer an
amendment to that effect. He realizes
that there is a wide difference of opinion
on this subject in Georgia and other cot
ton producing states of the south, but he
believes that both the long and short sta
pie cotton should receive the same pro-
lection that is given to the manufacturers
of cotton goods in the north.
While Mr.. Lester insists that he is not
a protectionist, he contends that if pro-
lection is to be the policy of the next ad-
ministration, the south should claim the
same benefits that accrue to the northern
manufacturers.
All of the members of the Georgia dele
cation, who are returned to the next con-
gress, viii cooperate with Mr. Lester in
looking after the interests of the cotton
producers when the new tariff law comes
up Tor consideration. Some of the MEM
pers from the up-country say protective
DUTY should be placed on cotton import
ed from India, which comes into COM
petition with the short staple.
Georgia may not have a representative
on the ways and means committee in the
next congress. The death of Representa-
tive Crisp, and the retirement of Rep
resentative Turner deprives the state of
its representations, unless Mr.. Reed
should bestow the favor upon Messrs
Maddox or Bartlett. Col. Lester prefers
TO remain on the committee on rivers and
harbors, and Lon Livingston will seek
to retain his connection with the commit
not aVerse to leaving the elections COM
mlttee to move up to the ways and means
and Speaker Reed may confer the prize
upon the able and energetic member from
Macon.
Atlanta, Ca, Feb. 15.-Commissioner of
Agriculture Nesbitt indorses the resolu-
tions passed by the sea island cotton grow
ers of South Georgia in regard to govern
ment protection against the importation
of Egyptian cotton. 1T should be DONE"
said he to-day to Morn
ing News correspondent, ''as
a measure to protect and encour-
age one of the growing industries of our
state In the growing of our short staple
cotton we can compete with the world
and do not need nor ask any protection
from anybody. But the growing of sea
island cotton has received new impetus
since the invention of machinery with
which to gin and bale it, and in Southern
Georgia it is rapidly becoming one of the
most important Industries. They are now
growing it successfully as far up as Early
county and the competition of the Egyp-
ton product will tend to lower the price
and make the crop Improbable to the
farmers. The Egyptian cotton is grown
more cheaply that it was even with slave
labor as the fellows who work the land
and harvest the cotton are neither fed nor
clad as well as our slaves were, and they
receive but miserable pittance for their
work. The Egyptian climate is such that
life can be sustained on wages that would
bring starvation to our negro laborers of
the cheapest sort. The cotton is not so
good as ours, as the staple is shorter bur
wants with manufacturers, and the impOr-
tation of that cotton into this country
duty free is a great injustice to the
ers. believe the government
ought to place such protective duty upon
it as to enable our planters to secure a
reasonable Prlce FOR their crops. Where
they grow it in any quantity, like car
load lots, the South Georgia planters are
now getting high prices for sea island
cotton, and many of them have almost
abandoned the production of short staple
cotton in consequence, as the more valua-
bic variety is as cheaply grown and al
most as cheaply harvested. To permit q
foreign country to ship its product here
suit from the continued importation of
Egyptian cotton, is an injustice TO which
l don't believe our people should submit
and | am in hearty sympathy with those
who are endeavoring to arouse public in
terest and to secure government protec-
tion in the matter"