The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1898-06-01
GRIGGS' GOOD WORK.
HOW HE SAVED THE SOUTHERN
FARMERS S2,50O,DOO
The Full Text of His Speech in Opposi-
t1on to the Bill to Tax Ware
house Receipts.
From the Macon News.

From the Macon News.
1t is not often that man makes such
a record during his first term in congress
as has been made by Hon. James NJ.
Griggs, the brilliant southwest Geor-
gian who is 50 ably and faithfully rep
resentng the second district in the
House.
Not only has Jim Griggs made
record as a debater and parliamenta-
rian, but he has made still better
record as an indefatgabIe, leYe-headed
worker, and one thoroughly devoted to
the interests of his constituents.
We happen to have before us a copy
of Congressman Griggs' brief speech on
the war revenue measure, together with
subsequent report of the house pro-
ceedings on this important measure.
And the records show that Congressman
Griggs' speech and efforts have resulted
saving to the farmers of the south
not less than 81, 500, 900 annually Think
of Georgia congressman serving his
first term being able to do so much for
his section; surely this achievement
alone entities him to more than ordinary
distinction. 1t was only through his
timely and forcible speech, as brief as
it was, that prevented a tax of 25 cents
bale being placed on cotton, which tax
would have taken $780, 900 annually
out of the pockets of southern farmers.
1t is doubtful if so short a speech has
ever accomplished such splendid re-
SUIT in congress, and it deserves to be
generally reproduced as showing what
level-headed, Jealous congressman can
do by little timely action. Although
allowed but a few minutes in which to
oppose or amend the measure under con.
sideraJion, Judge Griggs managed to
convince congress of the injustice of
such a tax.
Below is his speech in full, with the
official report of the houses subsequent
action:
The House being a committee of the
whole on the state of the union, and
having under consideration the bill (H.
R. 10000 to provide ways and means for
meeting war expenditures
Mr.. Griggs said:
Mr.. Chairman: | shall detain the
committee but a moment or two Rec
ognizing the fact that in the short time
allowed me it is impossible to discuss
all the Objectionable features Of this bill.
which, under The plea of necessity, is be
ing rushed through the house, l shall
content myself with declaring my I'M
alterabe opposition to a bond issue and
pointing out one provision of the stamp
tax section which, if enacted into law as
it now stands, will work a great hard
ship on the cotton farmer of the south
ern states. The provision is as follows:
"Warehouse receipts 7for any goods.
merchandise or property of any kind
held on storage in any public or priv ate
warehouse or yard, Is cents.
The amendment offered by me pro.
poses to insert after the word yard
Except agricultural products deposit
ed by the actual grower thereof in the
regular course of trade FIR sale.
Ia order that the committee may un-
derstand me fully, will briefly explain
the method of marketing cotton which
prevails in the cotton growing states.
The farmer begins gathering crops in
August and finishes in December. AS
he gathers it he gins and packs it into
bales known to commerce and deposits
it in rhe nearest warehouse, taking a
warehouse receipt for it. The cotton is
then sampled and sold by the warehouse
man and the warehouse receipt is deliv-
cred TO the buyer as evidence of his
purchase.
1t will be readily seen from this sim
pie statement that the tax of % cents on
warehouse receipts would come directly
out of the grower of the cotton. the
farmer, and the smaller the farmer the
heavier the tax.
The larger planter might perhaps
evade the measure by holding his cotton
until he,c3uld put several bales on one
receipt, but believe even in that case
the law would 6e construed to mean one
receipt for every bale of cotton, which
would mean tax of % cents on every
bale of cotton grown ih the United
States. This would tax the farmers of
the south ~ 100000 on 100000 bale