Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-05
The House Shelves Mr.. Liv-
ingston's Resolution.
Mr.. WILSON DEFENDED
DEPARTMENT COTTON STATISTICS
CRITICISED.
Their Accuracy Maintained-Miscella
eous Bills Passed by Senate
Statehood Bill UP.

In the House Mr.. Livingston
criticised the Agricultural Depart
ment's estimates on the cotton crop,
and claimed that there was much
dissatisfaction in the south. The de-
partment's reports and estimates
we're stoutly defended, and Mr.. Liy-
lngston's motion calling upon the
Secretary of Agriculture for certain
information regarding cotton stats
tics was tabled by So to y.
Alter passing a number of miscci-
laneous measures the Senate today
resumed consideration of the state
hood bill.
When the House convened TODAY the -
vocation was delivered by Rev. William
Couden of Boston, son of the House chap
lain.
MIR. Wadsworth On. V chairman of the
committee on agriculture SUBMIT d a re-
port on the resolution requiring the Secre-
tary of Agriculture to furnish certain in
formation regarding cotton statistics with
the recommendation that as the estimates
of the Department of Agriculture were
found to be honestly and inteligent1y made,
the resolution lie on the table
Mr.. Livingston tGa.) demanded time to
be heard in favor of the resolution allec-
ing that he had had no opportunity to
speak in its favor before the committee.
1t was finally agreed that the subject
should be discussed for two hours.
Pending its consideration Mr.. Littauer
On. " from the committee on appropria-
tons reported the Notifications appropria-
ton bill.
Mr.. Livingston's Criticism.
In criticising the action of the committee
in ordering the resolution to lie on the
table Mr.. Livingston said that there was
nothing in his resolution which charged
dishonesty or falsehood on the Part Of the
agricultural department, but he did insist
that there was dissatisfaction in the south
over the departments report. The press
of the south. he declared, not only was
dissatisfied with the cotton estimates of the
Agricultural Department, but was deter
mined, If the estimates were made on ac-
curate information and could not be given
much nearer than two months apart, to
demand the abolition of the statistical
division of the department.
Another cause for dissatisfaction he said
was that the department estimated the
acreage of cotton last year more than
million acres too much and corrected the
estimate es mat. IN October The department" :,
100000 acres In the product of cotton in
the south in one season seems to me ought
to give the country information upon which
such information was based" The mac
curacy of the census and agricultural
figures he declared had produced a panic
at a most unexpected time. What the cot
ton producers wanted he said. was first
accuracy, next frequency, and then ability.
Had the Agricultural Department made its
report in November. he said instead of
waiting from October to December 3, the
producer and spinner would have been bet
ter prepared for its reception.
Alleged Discrepancy.
That dissatisfaction he asserted. had only
been intensified by the ginning report of
the census bureau compared with the re-
port of the Agricultural Department If
the Agricultural Department was right the
gin report was million and half bales
too much. If the census report was right
it was a million and half bales too low.
He referred to a question put to him by
Secretary Wilson, Are you not an enemy
of the Agricultural Department. and said
with emphasis that instead of being its en-
envy he had assisted in its creation. Mr..
Livingston said the way to defend the de-
partment not to smother informa ton
in an executive session of the committee.
Mr.. Wadsworth vigorously asserted that
the object was solely to keep confidential
information, which. if it had gotten out,
would have affected the stock market.
Mr.. Livingston after further criticising
the accuracy of the government cotton re-
ports declared that 1t was the duty of the
House to suggest revision of the sources
of information, as well as to adopt his
resolution.
Mr.. Wadsworth said the committee based
its report on the methods employed by the
&e x,faf f1tf<x,
and upon the results obtained. He defend
ed Secretary Wilson and said the Secretary
did not attempt to conceal anything.
Mr.. Burleson Defends the Estimates.
Speaking earnestly in defense of the COM
mittee, Mr.. Burleson (Texas) declared that
there had not been the slightest desire to
smother the resolution in committee If
any dissatisfaction had arisen, it came
from every cotton Spectator and cotton
gambler who was upon the bull side of the
market, and every farmer throughout the
cotton region who had held his cotton in
anticipation Of higher price, thereby be-
coming a speculator himself.
He defended the government estimates
and vehemently declared that neither the
gentleman from Georgia nor any other man
can name one single producer of cotton
content with receiving the legitimate price
for his staple-that is, the price fixed by
the law of SUPPLY and demand He at
tackled the bucket shops and said that the
impression which had gone forth regarding
cotton could be counteracted BY the pro-
dueers holding their cotton or by cutting
down the acreage next year. He reiterated
his former statements unfolding the accu-
racy Of the government cotton reports
Further defense of the governments cot
ton estimates came from Mr. Lowering
CMass). who insis.--4 that they were abso-
lutely necessary to both the grower and
the spinner of cotton.
Southerners Holding Their Cotton.
Replying to statement By Mr.. Bartlett
(Ga.) that in spite of the governments re-