Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1904-01-04

renee.
Washington, STANDARDIZATION of
the Census North, in a letter to Repre-
sentative Burleson, made public, takes
notice of the situation presented by the
cotton statistics given out for publica-
ton Thursday and expresses his sur
prise and concern at the recent alleged
movement in the Southern States ZAP
parently approved and augmented by
the cotton growers Themselves to de-
stroy the census reports by concerted
refusal of the ginners to make returns.
Director North asserts that a continu-
ance of the cotton ginning reports is
impossible without the systematic and
whole-hearted cooperation of the gin
ners OF the South. Immediately after
the receipt of the letter, Mr.. Burleson,
a member of the House census commit
tee, and the author of the provision
making appropriation for the gathering
Of cotton statistics, gave out an inter-
view in which he upholds the director
in the work now being done by his
bureau. The letter is as follows:
washington, Dec. 1904.
"Hon. Albert S. Burleson. House of
Representatives.
MY Dear Sir: 1t seems proper to
invite your attention to certain anom-
alous conditions which confront the
Census Office in carrying out the pro-
visions of section 9 of the act to es-
tabl1sh a permanent Census Office, di-
recting the periodical collection of the
statistics Of cotton production through
the agency of the ginners. This pro-
vision was inserted in the law at your
urgent request and that Of other
Southern Representatives On the plea
that 1t was necessary for the protec-
ton OF the cotton producers against
the spectators and others interested
in depressing the price of the staple
for their own profit. It was stated
that enormous losses resulted from the
untrustworthy estimates put forth
every year by spectators and agents
Of the Liverpool market and that early
and trustworthy official Information
regarding the size of the crop would
protect the grower, disarm the specu-
lator and market manipulator, and per-
NIT the law of supply ard demand to
regulate the price.
ACCURACY UNQUESTIONED.
"Since the law was passed, Congress
has appropriated and this office has
disbursed more than Sl25,00 a year in
the collection and dissemination of
this information. The system has been
gradually perfected until it has be-
come more nearly perfect than any
Similar plan for obtaining exact
knowledge of the size of any agricul-
tural crop during the progress of har-
vesting.
"No complaint has been made that
the census reports are not accurate:
indeed, for a year or two past, we have
been able to trace the crop so closely
that practically every bale has been
accounted for.
1.-THE statistics increase in value ev-
cry year; for it becomes possible, by
comparison of the statistics Of one year
with those Of the same date in pro-
ceeding years, to judge the size Of
successive crops with al accuracy
never before known or appropriated.
1.-The ginning reports of the Census
Office have crowded out the s%pecula-
tive and interested estimates referred
to, and the single object which the
Southern Representatives had in view
in urging this legislation has been
successfully accomplished.
GINNERs' MOVE DEPRECATED.
"In view of these facts, I have been
surprised and CONSERVED at the pres
emit movement in the Southern States.
which is apparently approved and aug
mented by the cotton growers theT'
selves, to destroy the census reports,
by the concerted refusal Of the gin
ners to make the returns upon which
they are based. Thus far the move
ment has not seriously affected our
work. but if it continues and spreads,
it will necessarily destroy its value
during the coming year. 1t appears to
have been suddenly discovered that
these reports, undertaken solely at the
demand of the cotton grower, are
highly detrimental to his interests. Mr..
E. F. Weber, president of the Mem
phis cotton exchange, is quoted as de-
claring that the cotton interests of
the South have everything to lose and
nothing to gain by their continuance;
they put the manufacturing interests
in possession of information that is
beneficial
"My attention has been called to the
so-called National Cotton Ginners'
Association the purpose Of which is
stated to be to gather accurate and
reliable information regarding the
amount of cotton produced, in advance
vf the government report. 1T also APP
pears that this information is to be
sent in code n the members of the
association will be sworn not to di-
vulge it. The Information is still
highly desirable, but possession of it
is to be restricted to those who grow
and gin the cotton.
Japs Entered Tuesday,.