The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-11
ROW ON AT GALVESTON
Between the Cotton Exchange and
the Maritime Association.
THE NUMBER OF TIES on A BALE
Is tho Matter at Issue, the Ship Brokers
Insisting on at Least seven--Efforts
at Compromise.

Galveston, Texas, November 1o.--The Gal
weston cotton exchange and the Galveston
Maritime association have locked horns on
the proposition OF whether or not the
Maritime association has the right TO COM
PEI the use Of seven bands instead Of six by
all congresses. Congresses In the interior
of the State already use eight and Houston
seven, but here where the cotton Is deliv-
cred direct to the ships It is insisted that
six are sufficient. As announced in The
Post some time ago the Maritime sssocia-
tion passed a rule requiring the use of
seven bands by the local congresses. Since
TINS rule became effective the shippers have
endeayored TO overlook i, but this the
Maritime association would not allow. A
notice was posted IN the cotton exchange
! on November by Secretary Gaines of the
Maritime association notifying the mem
bers Of the exchange that all cotton delly-
cred at shipside without the required seven
bands would be taxed IA cents per bale.
Tom Taylor was the first victim to get
caught under this rule and was taxed, or
rather fined, as II Is termed, something
over SlOO on one shipment nf cotton. This
matter was brought to the attention Of the
cotton exchange and a committee was APP
pointed to Investigate It. The committee
reported and this morning there was gen
eral meeting of the cotton exchange to
discuss the matter. Present were many
members OF the Maritime association and
also compress owners. who are directly at
teeted, as 1t costs them more to put seven
bands than 1t does TO put six bands on a
bale. After some very warm discussions on
the subject the exchange voted to ignore
the ruling of the Maritime association and
that It's members were not liable for the
penalties assessed by that association in
accordance with the ruling. The meeting
was characterized by very perceptible
difference of opinion on the part of those
whose interests were adverse, to which
opinions they gave one of vigorous expires.
sion, making the most exciting discussion
which has ever taken place in the ex-
change
The resolution was introdu ed by Eus-
taco Fayior, and is as follows
Whereas, merchantable compressed bale
or cotton, as DEFINED by the railway com
mission OF Texas, is one compressed to
density of twenty-five and one-half pounds
per cubic foot, irrespective Of the num-
Whereas merchantable bale of cotton,
as defined by the rules OF the Galveston
exchange the New York cotton exchange
and all other American exchanges is one
weighing not less than 300 pounds and hav.
Ing six iron or steel bands; therefore, be II
Resolved, That the demand of the Gal
weston Maritime association that bales must
have seven bands, irrespective of density.
is arbitrary, prejudicial and in direct VIC
lation of the established rules and customs
Of this and all other American ports, and
that no legal liability Is incurred by any
member of this EXCHANGE In refusing to
yield to such demand
Resolved, That the board of directors Of
authorized and instructed to employ legal
cunsel to prosecute any ship refusing to
take cotton from a member Of this ex-
change who tenders cotton In merchant.
able condition; and,
Resolved, further That a copy Of these
resolutions be forwarded to the Texas rail-
way commission, to all American ex-
changes, to the interior Texas congresses
and the Galveston Maritime association
The plan to be adopted by the cotton ex-
change to determine the question of labil-
ity legally regarding the payment OF penal
ties for failure to comply with the Mari
time association rule in reference to pIac-
ing seven bands ON each bale of cotton Will
he tested by the delivery of 100 bales of
cotton to shlp in good condition with only
siX bands on them; II the ship refuses to
take them it will be llbeled.
An effort was made this afternoon to
bring about harmony. as many Of the mem
bers of the Maritime association are also
members Of the cotton exchange and were
they to withdraw the result might he Sc
rous. The effort did not meet with success
however. The Maritime association in.
cludes In its membership all the ship agents
in the city, and they insist that they are
the exclusive judges Of tho condition cotton
must he In when they accept It for delv.
cry on the other side in good condition.