The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-17

Of visible supply was carried over that
will be carried over at the end of this
year.
Looking at these things as stubborn
facts, l am thoroughly convinced that we
Will never have any better prices for cot
ton until classifications are made COM
pulsory and uniform, and if it is neces-
sary 10 do so, make it a misdemeanor for
man to sell a bale of cotton until it Is
inspected, and in that way encourage COM
petition in the purchase of the ar
tlcle, and when this is done, the law of
supply and demand will govern prices
To-day there is not a single influence,
so far as can see which is at work in
favor of the producer of cotton. To the
contrary, the agencies are powerful and
multiplied to take that from him which
rightly belongs to him. To give you some
little idea of conditions, broker informed
me yesterday that he had paid in the
shape of reclamations, since Sept. /, to for
elgn buyers, the enormous sum of So, 600
DO you think that the parties who bought
that cotton on the other side are entitled
to any such an amount of reclamations
IN many instances $1.50 per bale? Never.
Ihis thing is brought about entirely by
the custom which prevails, under the free
on-board business, TO allow these dealers
on the other side to exercise the privilege
any merit in them or not. l express the
opinion that if the cotton were sold after
II was inspected by a sworn, competent
Weigher, at the point of shipment, this
inspection to be final prices would be %
per cent. higher than they are to-day. he
cause II would then be sold on conpeti-
tive basis, and responsible firms and in
dVlduals, who are afraid to go into it, or
VINO nave been driven out of it, would do
NJ hor Of
know that he was getting what he paid
Tor am SO situated in the business as
60 receive the fun benefit of the informa-
ton connected with all of the departments
connected with the cotton business. [
Know that the industry is languishing be-
cause of the fact that all of the inAu-
ences which are brought to bear are
brought to bear in favor of the consumer
as against the producer The cotton ex
changes OF this country and Europe are
almost entirely in the interests of the con-
sumner. Uniform classifcatons of cotton
r:gidly adhered to- is the remedy.
l know that it will be said that F,urona
VIII demur. Where is Europe to get its
supply OF cotton, except in the Southern
states? | know that it viii be said thar
probably it would not suit the rank and
file of the exchanges in this country. Sun
pose ii did not suit them. They would
fNly SUN 6St III dlu6 Oh DONG business as
the people of this section, who produce
the article, dictate. Please understand
one things I am not speaking in behalf
of Savannah, nor am Speaking from any
selfish motives whatever. The free-on-
board business has came to stay. But il
is a shame that the toiling farm
er of the South should not he
protected under the laws of his state nv
having the articles which he offers for
sale fairly and impartially and finally in
spected.
There is in Bremen to-day a commit
tee known as the board of arbitrators
These men sit in council and pass upon
every bale of cotton. 1t has come to nv
knowledge that it is almost impossible for
Gny lot of cotton. it makes no difference
from whom it is shipped or from where
it is shipped, to pass inspection under this
board of arbitraIors. What applies to
Bremen applies to other ports in Europe,
and the thing ought to be STONED