The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-16
NEW REPORT WILL
 HAVE 10 BE MADE
(continued from First Paee)

-->. . .. -..- for 1905. Our visit had nothing to do with anything else and Has confined exclusive ly to this matter which Is of supreme important to the south.
 Secretary Wilson received us most cor dially. We had conference which lasted nearly two hours; he seemed to be very much impressed with the necessity of do- Ing what we asked. He explained that one of the principal obstacles was the question of funds and promised to take the matter up the first thing Monday in order to find where the department stands financially and on other facilities. He promised if he were able he would do it. judge we may expect a complete new report not later than August 10 and be- lieve we will certainly get this new set of figures.
 Secretary Wilson Impressed.
 Another thing. that Secretary Wilson seemed to be impressed with was the po- sition we took with reference to MT. Hyde and his June report, our position be- ing that the report included much con- templated acreage great deal of which
 
 Wilson now realizes that there was a great element of doubt in that proposi- tion."
 MT. Jordan left tonight for New York, where he goes to witness the operation of new cotton picking machine de- signed by the inventor of the Lowry round bale. Colonel Hester left tonight for Alabama.
 Congressman Bowie Talks.
 Representative Sydney J. Bowie of the Fourth Alabama district who has been in Washington an interested ob- server of the fight the southern cotton men are making before the agricultural and justice departments left for his home in Alabama tonight.
 Ut is cause for great congratula- tions,' said he today, that the south generally and the southern farmers in particular have perfected an organza- | ton which has the courage and capacity to protect our rights. The Southern Cot ton Growers association deserves the thanks of all our people for its success ir exposing the corrupt practices of cer- tain officials in fraudulently manipulat- ing to their advantage the returns show ing the condition of the cotton crop. It Is greatly to be hoped that the depart ment of justice will find some statute under which these admitted frauds can be adequately punished.
 Legislation Is Defective. Tt is plain, however that existing legislation is defective when it takes the entire department of justice weeks to decide whether there is any criminal statute that can reach one of the most wicked schemes of .plunder ever devised, | In addition to a confessed breach of sac | red trust. Believing that our present laws st least need strengthening and improve | ment, I intend to introduce bill in the next Congress, making 1t felony pun | ishable by heavy fine and Imprisonment | to disclose for any purpose the official estimate of any crop in advance of it's | being published to all the world. or to change or alter in any way reports re- ceived in regard to the conditions of | such crops on which official estimates | are to be made; and the action of any persons connected with the statistical bureau or having any access to the re- ports on which official estimates are based in buying cotton or other products for speculation or future delivery, shall | be made prima facie, evidence of guilt. | "rhe punishment of such offences ought not be left in doubt nor should 1t de- pend upon vague or obscure Statutes. The Congress has ample authority to protect confidential reports and to provide ade- quate punishment for breaches of trust of this character and 1t will not co It's duty II It fails in this respect"