The age-herald., 1900-01-14
HEATED DEBATE
 ON ROUND BALE
The Commissioners Finally De-
 cline to Approve It.
NEE TING COMES TO A CLOSE
Rssolution Strongly Endorcing the In- troduction of Hepburn's Nicaraguan Canal Bill Unanimously Adopted
 Next Meeting at Raleigh

New Orleans, January 13.-A spirited de- bate on arbitration favoring the round bale marked the final session of the cotton states association of commissioners of ag ricul Ire. The association declined to com init itself to approval of the round bale, but adopted a resolution so far as 1t ap- peals for improved methods in handling cot ton.
 President Stevens was in the chair when the afternoon session began and Colonel Charles Schuler, a prominent Louisiana cotton planter, was introduced to speak on Improved methods for the cotton farm ers"
 He asked that the commissioners do all they could in their official capacities to bet ter the condition of the cotton farmers home. Any one who would travel through tfae cotton raising sections of this state, of Georgia or of other cotton states, would find that the cotton farmers homes needed improving. These homes had, no attrac- tion. He believed that the commissioners of agriculture might urge the passage Of laws in their respective states which would be of benefit to the farmers and which would make their lots easier. He said the raising of cotton could and should be cheap enCu. ms SnOulu De uOHt ny ulNCiSiAy iiS the crops and by using up-to-date farming machinery.
 Commissioner HilI's Resolution
 Commissioner Hill, of Arkansas, after Colonel Sohuler had concluded, offered the following resolution:
 Whereas, By the introduction of new ma chinery devices in recent years, notably the round bale machinery, 1t has been dem- onstrated that less wastefu methods may be adopted and arbitrary charges reduced, and in some cases avoided altogether, thus saving to the cotton planter annually in the aggregate many millions of dollars.
 Whereas In the handling of the great [ staple Of the southern states, valued at LID wards of $300, 900, 600 annually, wastetul methods have obtained and a multiplicity of charges, many of them arbitrary and exorbitant, are wrung from the cotton pro- 4ducers;
 Resolved, That 1t shall be the duty of the commissioners of agriculture of ttlts association, in their respective states, to advucate and encourage the invention and introduction of more improved machinery, the addition of better methods and care fully devised system of handling, in order to insure the cotton grower the fullest possible remuneration for the results of his la bor.
 The introduction of the resolution brought forth an immediate storm of protest. Com missioner Patterson hoped the resolution would be promtply withdrawn in the inter est of harmony.
 Mir. Hill said, however, that he felt it his duty to offer the resolution because 1t was { in tine best interest of the cotton planters.
 Editor Richard Cneatham of the Mem phas Cotton Planters Journal and Colonel Sehuler both sided with MT. nill and fa- vored the resolution. Colonel Schuer said 4 it's adoption would afford better ground for competition in the manufacture of cotton baling machinery.
 Professor Stubbs thought the resolutions eminently appropriate if tine phrase endors- ing the round bale was stricken from it. and President Stevens relinquished the chair and made strong speech on the line Of the suggestion of Professor Stubbs.
 Heated Discussion
 The speakers finally plunged into a dis cussfon of the merits of the round ba1e, Commissioner Adams speaking heartily in favor of the new meh0d and Mir. Doherty, of Louisiana, as vigorously in opposition.
 President Stevens second time took the floor and said he believed the passage of the resolution would mean the ruin of the association, and he therefore urged its amendment.
 Finally after MT. Hill had risen and ex- plainsd that he had rot introduced the resolution simply as an indorsement of the round bale. but in the hope that it would