The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-10

Washington, January 5.-The govern
lment's cotton statistics as prepared by
1.-THE agricultural department and cen
sus bureau, formed the subject of an
Extended discussion in the House today,
lin the course of which Representative
Livingston Of Georgia, attacked the re-
liability of the governments estimates
and charged that the ~inaccuracy OF the
figures had created a panic in the cot
ton market. The question came up on
Ia motion by Mr.. Wadsworth, chairman
lon the table the resolution presented
Iby Mr.. Livingston several weeks ago,
tcalling on the secretary of agriculture
for information regarding the method
|of collecting cotton statistics.
The motion to lay on the table pre-
after Messrs. Burleson, Of
Texas; Wadsworth, of New York; Low
Iering, of Massachusetts,, and Sims, Of
Tennessee, had vigorously defended the
governments estimates.
In criticising the action of the COM
|mittee in ordering the resolution to lie
lon the table, Mr.. Livingston said that
There was nothing in his representation
which charged dishonesty or f~alsehood
on the part Of the agricultural depart
lment, but he did insist that there was
dissatisfaction in the south over the
departments report. The press of the
he declared, not only was dissat-
listed with the cotton estimates of the
agricultural department, but was deter
mined, If the estimates were made on
accurate information and could not be
Igiven much nearer than two months
lapart, to demand the abolition Of the
statistical division of the department.
Another cause for dissatisfaction, he
isaid, was that the department estimat-
led the acreage Of cotton last year more
than a million acres toe much, and cor
Irected the estimate in October.
1.-The department. he said, that
icould make a mistake of one million
jacres in the product of cotton in the
south in season seems to me ought
Ito give the country information Upon
(which such information was based"
The inaccuracy of the census and agri-
cultural figures ne declared had pro-
Iduced a panic at a most unexpected
time. What the cotton producers want
led he said, was first, accuracy, next
frequency, and then ability. Had the
agricultural department made It's re-
Iport in November, he said, instead Of
iwaiting from october to December 3rd,
1.-THE producer and spinner would have
been better prepared for it's reception.
| That dissatisfaction. he asserted, had
lonly been intensified by the ginning re-
port Of the census bureau compared
with the report of the agricultural de-
lpartment. II the agricultural depart
Iment was right, the gin report vas a
million and a half bales too much. II
1.-THE census report was right it was a
lmillion and a half bales too low. He
referred to a question put to him by
tSecretary Wilson, Are you not an
lenemy of the agricultural department."
and said with emphasis that instead Of
being its enemy, he had assisted in its
creation. Mr.. Livingston said the way
Ito defend the department was not to
smother information in an executive
session IF the committee.
Mr. Wadsworth vigorously asserted
that the object IA solely to keep con-
lfidential information which IL 1t had
out would have affected the mar
lket.
Mr. Livingston after further CRITICS.
ling the accuracy OF the government cot
ton reports declared that it was the
Iduty of the House to suggest a revision
Iof the sources of information. as well
Jas to adopt his resolution.
Mr.. Wadsworth said the committee
biased its report OIL the method employ
led by the department in the gathering
|of statistics and upon the results OBJ
He defended Secretary Wilson
and said the secretary did not attempt
to conceal anything.
Speaking earnestly in defense Of the
MI. BurleSon OF Texas, de-
hat there had not been the
slightest desire to smother the reSoIu-
tion in committee. II any dissatisfac-
had arisen it came from every COT
ton specuiator and cotton gambler wiao
upon the bull side of the market.
and every farmer throughout the cot
ton region who hal held his cotton in
Of a higher price. thereby
a Spectator himself. He de-
the government estimates and
declared that neither the
from Georgia, nor any otner
man can name one single producer Of