The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-17
FORFEITURE RULE DISCUSSED.
NATTER TAKEN UP BY COTTON En-
CHANGE DIRECTORS.


to Arrive at Foreign Ports in Bad
ConditiOn-Mr. G.. f. Dickinson
Gives Reasons Why the Rule
should BE Enforced.
That the proper baling of cotton is
serious question for the Savannah Cot
ton Exchange to grapple with at present
is thoroughly realized by all its men,
bers. At a meeting of the directors yes
terday the forfeiture rule, which has been
the subject of much talk here and away
was taken up, but owing to the absence
of several of the directors whom it was
desired to hear on the subject, further
consideration was deferred until day to
be fixed next week. Definite action will
probably then be taken, either for the
repeal of the rule, or for its suspension
for a period to be named by the board
Farmers and the trade generally seem
to have either lost sight of the Importance
of proper balng, or lost sight of the
repute into which the port was falling by
the specimens of baling which, in some
cases, found their way to the other side
Should the kind of baling complained of
continue. it would, in the language OF
the street result in giving the port
"black eye" in the estimation of the for
eign trade.
Evidence of the effect of the improper
baling of cotton on the foreign trade may
be had from the findings of the commit
tee of the Liverpool Cotton Association,
Limited. which has been investigating
along this line for some time past. The
ted
as they arrive on the other side, or has
had the inspections made for its benefit.
Their findings as shown in circulars sent
to this country do not show some of
the South Atlantic ports to be at the
'front.' and foremost in the proper ballng
of cotton. Savannah - among the ports
unfavorably criticised.
AS far back as November, 1897 the
Liverpool people were watching the South
Atlantic ports, and they have continued
TO do SO through the cotton protective de-
partrnent since. Here is one of the cir
culars prdm algated from Liverpool to
! the American cotton trade;
1.-The Trade Supervision Committee beg
to remind you that in July, 1895, resolu-
ton was passed by the association to pen
aize all American cotton not packed in
accordance with the rules of the New Or
leans Maritime Association, he'd
in February, 1895. In Difference
to the wishes of the American cotton ex-
changes, the operation of this resolution
was suspended to allow them time to eff
feet by their own methods an improvement
in the packing and handling of cotton,
which they promised would be more eff
fective than the course proposed by this
association. The committee regret
to have TO report that as
far as some of the ports on
the Atlantic seaboard are concerned, there
has not been the slightest improvement,
nor can they learn that any effective steps
have been taken to bring about reforms.
They therefore purpose to lay before
you, from time to time, reports on the
cargoes from these ports, in the hope that
the publicity thus given will enable ship
pers and importers to discriminate be-
| tween shipowners and cherterers VITO
take care of the cotton entrusted to them,
and those who exercise little or no care
| in the matter. They also hope that by
| this means cratic will be diverted from
| the routes whose record is bad into the
| better~chaunels.
''In order that a fair comparison may
be made between different-sized cargoes,
| the average of loose" per 100 bales is
given, by which test it would appear that
vessels from Charleston, Savannah and
Port Royal turn out the worst cargoes."
| Referring to the cotton cargoes received
| ITbfl the AIidItlc ports the committee
| had the following to say:
THE committee are & a flied to learn
that the publicity they have given this
| question has attracted the attention of
shippers in the United States, and inquiry
has been made whether the cargoes from
! Gulf ports compare favorably with those
from the Atlantic, and whether shippers
would fare better by diverting cotton to
| New Orleans at equal ra es of freight
/ t-tTK.. 49,
carsoes from New Orleans, Galveston ana
Mobile, and by liners from New York.
| Boston, Baltimore, ETC. are landed in a
much better condition. and with much les )
! loss than those from the Atlantic por s"
While the criticisms of the Liverpool
committee evidently refer largely to the
manner in which cotton is handled at the
ports and slowed aboard ship. it is also
very evident that careless packing and
baling, and more particularly irregular
sized bales are largely responsible for sub
sequent damage and the poor condition in
which the cotton reaches the ports on the
other side.
Mr.. Gardner f. Dickinson of the Sa-
vannah Cotton Exchange, who does large
cotton brokerage business yearly favored
the forfeiture rule when it was adopted
and still favors enforcing it. He believes
it the best way to correct an evil which is
seriously affecting the port, and thinks 1t
high time that aggressive steps were
| being taken by the trade to bring the
shipments of cotton from this port in the
same good repute they are from the Gulf
| ports.
| 1T seems that sentiment among the
trade favors the repeal or suspension of
the rule, and If this is the case ] shall
not oppose this course" said Mr. Dick
| inson. However, l am thoroughly con-
| WINGED that the proper thing for the To-
cal trade IS to take firm measures at
| once to bring cotton 60 Savannah in more
| acceptable packages. This position | be-
lieve to be TO the best interests of the
cotton farmers. Why is it that one por-
| ton of lot of cotton, say in Mississippi.
may be shipped to Savannah and the
other portion to New Orleans, and vet
the portion shipped to New Orleans will
sell for * cent more than that shipped
| to Savannah? 1t is for the simple rea-
son that those ports have established the
reputation abroad of shipping none but
| timt class packages, for which the con-
sumner is willing to pay more There is
nothing wrong in speaking the plain
truth, and the truth is that the cotton
from all South Atlantic ports is placed at
a discount because it is not carefully
packed. With a proper knowledge of
what will bring him better price for his
product | believe the farmer will do the
rest.
"As an illustration of what is holding
| ~ 70 oh do