The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-17
NE LOW PRICE OF COTTON.
,Ol OF \ STANDARD CLASsIFI-
CATION ONE OF THE CAUSES.

-, the Subiect-LeEislative Action
md cooperation by the Cotton
Producing States for the Estab-
dom UrSed-The Cotton Business
unsettled and Competition De-
crrnSed by the Present Lack of
S,stem which Leaves the Amer
ican seller at the Mercy of the
European Buyer.
The dispatch in yesterdays Morning
tsv= from Atlanta, stating that there
AS a strong probability Of action being
ken by the next legislature for the pur-
nse of establishing a standard classified
ION Of cotton by sworn inspectors at
Ionts of shipment throughout the state,
as evidently based upon a letter of Mr..
p. Williams of this city to Hon. o. 3.
kvens, commissioner of agriculture.
1t being known that Mr.. Williams had
&llressed such a letter to the commits
oner he was asked yesterday for his
[iew=. as embodied in this letter. Mr.,
kKu.ams was not unwilling to do so,
Eaough he stated that he would have pre-
rrod 10 obtain the views of Commits
u Toner Stevens upon the subject before 60.
b. into print. Commissioner Stevens
Sep.y. however, did not enter into dis
ussion Of the subject, but simply ac-
nov edged the receipt of the letter and
lated that he expected to be in Savan-
4 lh early next month, when he would
AXE pleasure in discussing the question.
~ Stevens showed that he appreciated
he Importance of the question raised by
Eir Williams by offering to come to Sa.
lnnah at once. if the latter 50 desired.
The desrabIlity of a standard classical
Eion Of cotton for The entire South has
Eeen discussed at various times by leading
bnembers of the Savannah Cotton Ex-
khanse, but no active steps have been
Raken recently TO bring about this result.
D. Williams, in his communication to
q Commissioner Stevens, attaches more i'm
8)ortance to this question than has hereto
Eore teen given it. In fact, he considers ii
RH5 most important question now affecting
+ he cotton interests of the South To the
#atL Of tie lack of a standard classical
Ion and that foreign buyers are allowed
T. determine c.assiticat.ons TO suit them
yes, with the frequent misunderstand-
Rnss resulting in the withdrawal of many
reputable firms from the business, Mr..
HNlARms attributes one of the chief
Ealses Of the low price of cotton.
Il IL is not likely that all of the members
p the cotton exchanges, here and Else
Where, viii agree with Mr.. Williams in his
FIeWs, but his discussion of the subject
5 OF interest TO producers and middlemen
Fhke. Mr.. Williams furnished the follow
~ expression of his views upon the sub
kect:
Il am thoroughly convinced that the
! ow range of the prices of cotton is not
fo.ely due to overproduction, but to the
contrary that it is largely the result of
ne withdrawal of competition in the pur-
h hase of the article, under the changed
h conditions as they exist to-day. l am
urther thoroughly CONVINCED that the only
Pemedy for this evil is to establish uniform
cIassiheations all over the South, and to
20 arrange that these classifcations shall
Pc the only ones upon which cotton shall
T. sold, and that every bale of cotton shall
Pc elassed by sworn inspector before it
p shipped without the state and before it
|Eoes into the hands of the consumer.
To-day there is absolutely no uniform
classification of cotton: in fact we are
practically without classification Unlike
'he customs which prevail in the sale of
Io'neI products, wherein the inspection of
lhe article IS made at the point from which
~ Is shipped, cotton goes into the hands
r. the consumer and under prevailing Gus
l'oihs, The consumer is privileged to have
'he cotton inspected, by parties who repre-
eehl MS interests, and their inspection is
maj AS a result of this unbusinesslike
lWay OF doing business, reclamation are
made, irrespective of the merits of the
ease and the intermediary broker, through
whom the cotton is shipped, can give no
idea at the beginning of the season as to
me amount of claims which will be
Drought against him, and as a further re-
sun many reputable and RESPONSE
ole houses, who were formerly
engaged in the brokerage business,
nave withdrawn from the market, and
IN that way the business is now very
IseIy controlled by brokers in the inte-
lor, Who have no financial responsibility.
il is within the province of the cotton
farmers of the South to have enacted into
laws regulations governing at the point
OF Shipment the inspection of every bale
ol cotton, and to make that inspection
INaA 1t Will require united action. The
farmers of one state cannot accomplish
'ue desired result, but in order TO make it
eHectye, the various legislative bodies of
'ne cotton growing states should
enact laws which will be uniform
upon the subject. A Cotton States
bureau should be established, and at the
peshnins of each cotton shipping season,
Fay the LIST of September, the governing
,Vy OF the bureau, composed, as it should
Oe' Of representatives. from the several
suites snould meet together and establish
STANDARD samples, which shall be effec-
i've during the next ensuing season. There
s.Oull oe an arrangement, through the
loners of agriculture of the sew
ei'' states, whereby standard type sam
pcs could be furnished the inspectors
throughout the cotton belt.
ne cotton farmers need not expect to
receive the cooperation of the various
e''.on Exchanges. for the reason that the
~. inoership of these exchanges are inter-
esle1 in divers ways. Again, the cotton
,e'eaan-s of certain cities would prob
ao-g OBJECT, for the reason that under
Nv present conditions they can see that
'."E may get some little advantage over
"'I oompeting markets, by reason of be-
-l7 'IFAeged TO establish their own sam
~ Eat this is a broad question. IL is
'7 winch concerns the South as a sec
iHu OF The country and which oonce-us