Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-01-07

Washington. Special.-Director OF
the Census North. in n 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 "ap-
parently approved and augmented by
the cotton growers themselves" TO de-
stroy the census reports BY concerted
refusal OF the ginners 10 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.
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 5. Burleson. House OF
Representatives.
My Dear Sir. II seems proper to
invite your attention 20 certain anon
alous conditions which confront the
Census Office in carrying out the pro-
visions OF section 9 of the act 10 es-
tablish 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 it was necessary for the protec-
ton OF the cotton producers against
e.,sr
In depressing the price OF the staple
for their own profit II was stated
that enormous losses resulted from the
untrustwOrthy estimates nut forth
every year by spectators and agents
or the Liverpool market and that early
Z and trustworthy Official information
regarding the size or .he crop would
protect the grower. disarm the specu-
lator and market manipulated and per
nit the law OF supply and demand TO
regulate the Drice.
ACCURACY UNQUESTIONED.
Since the law was passed. Congress
has appropriated and this ONCE has
disbursed more than Sl25 900 a year in
the collection and dissemination OF
this Information. The system has been
gradually perfected until il has be-
come more nearly perfect than any
similar plan for obtaining exact
knowledge or the size OF any agricul-
tural crop during the progress OF har-
yesting
NO complaint has been made that
+ the census reports are not accurate:
/ indeed. for n year or two past. we have
been able TO trace the crop so closely
/ that practically every bale has been
accounted for.
The statistics increase in value ev-
/ cry year; for IL becomes possible. by
comparison OF the statistics OF one year
with those OF the same date in pro-
ceeding years. 10 Judge the size Of
/ successive crops with an accuracy
never before known or Appropriated
The ginning reports OF the Census
/ Once have crowded out the specula-
/ tive and interested estimates referred
TO. and the single object which the
I Southern Representatives had in view
In urging this legislation has been
/ successfully accomplished.
GINNERS' MOVE DEPRECATED.
In view OF ,hesc facts I have been
surprised and conserved at the pres
ent movement in the Southern States
which is apparently approved and aug
I mented by the cotton growers Their
selves. 10 destroy the census reports.
by the concerted refusal Of the gin
ncrs to make the returns upon which
| they are based. Thus far the move
. ment has not seriously affected our
work. but IL il continues and spreads.
IL will necessarily destroy its value
during the coming year. IL 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..
f. +. Weber. president OF the Mem
phis cotton exchange. IS quoted as de-
claring that the cotton interests CT
the South have everything 10 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 10 be to gather accurate and
reliable information regarding the
amount OF cotton produced. in Advance
=; the government report 1T also APP
pears that this Information Is TO I've
sent in code and the members OF the
association will be sworn not 10 d.
vulge st.. The information is still
highly desirable. but possession OF II
is 10 be restricted TO those who grow
and gin the cotton.
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