New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-17
DISCUSS COTTON LEAK.
House Committee Hearing on Crop
Statistics Begun.

Washington, Feb. 1s.-"Gentlemen. cotton is
king to-day. Cotton statistics are now on trial
With these words Chairman Wadsworth,s Of the
House Committee on Agriculture. opened the gen
e-sI hearing on crop statistics before his commit
Tee to-day. Assistant Secretary Hayes, OF the De-
paryuent % Agriculture; Harvey Jordan, president
Of the Southern Cotton Association; J. A Taylor.
president OF the National Ginners' Association.
and many Southern members OF Congress repre-
senting planters were at the hearing.
Assistant Secretary Hayes was the first speaker
Ee gave n detail the plan of the Department or
Agriculture for gathering statistics and changes
recently made IN the system OF the Bureau or sta
tistcs. He said the department. purposed TO retain
the crop reporting board; 10 have $500 county re-
porting agents, forty-one district agents and sew
eral supervising inspectors who shall travel and
instruct district agents Different codes were to be
furnished each district agent monthly and the
agents reports 10 be given to couputers in
sections 10 avoid the possibility OF leakage. With
perfected reports Mr.. Hayes said the markets
would be less affected Frequent and accurate re-
ports would work against the Spectator, he said.
and the Weather Bureau reports viii furnish q
guide TO ditons for the time between reports
NJ Hayes SAID the Department OF Agriculture
would be benefited greatly by having more Stats
tics al It's command. He said acreage census
should be taken every five years. which would be
o. great assistance 10 the crop estimating board
When asked about the accuracy OF the cotton
estimates for the last year Mr.. Hayes said that.
tu6ged by statistics ginning, the cotton report
vas within per cent Of the actual production.
~. Jordan said he believed the reports Of the
Bureau of Statistics had been fairly accurate and
m said he believed that II the Information gath
esd 6y the department could be safeguarded its
ports would De generally considered satisfactory,
as Ear as they so.
In the opinion OF Mr.. Jordan. the government was
doing only one-haf OF its duty 10 cotton interests
aie said he reports were all for the OF the
consumer. and OF little value to producers. He
-Gec that estimates the probable consumption
q cotton should be made by federal authorities.
through American consus, he said, statistics
could Re gathered abroad. or the Census Bureau
NJ Jordan said II should not attempt 10 deal in
.sfts concernir s crops unless IL equipped 20
handle facts
james p MacCoH president OF the New-England
Cotton Manufacturers Association. said uniform
Tale should be agreed upon for Use IN computa-
tons. the various bales confused reports and en-
Outraged Wild speculation. He urged that in CIV
ing OFT condition reports figures should not be
gvea but the crop should be described merely as
TAR poor" etc AS condition reports are specu-
iatons, -ather than positive facts he said IL is
wrong Tor he department 10 name a fixed amount
M AEcCol said he favored e cotton estimate
ado z December !. 70 come out on the same day
Wit the g!rlers' report, but denounced the Keep
commission plan 10 have seven reports a year and
sac multiplicity OF reports would encourage spec
l-aton and keep the market constantly disturbed
President Taylor OF the National Ginners Asso-
cation congratulated the Department OF Agricult-
IRE on its cotton reports ana said the totals had
oeen quite accurate. but the reports on separate
states had varied greatly. and consequently the
Spectators had EvRilsd themselves OF these dis
eIepancies- Mr.. Taylor said the department ad-
.lied that II takes the reports OF four five cor
LespoHoents IN the South. in preference 10 the re-
ports o. ell other correspondents. He urged that
lAt ginning report OF the Census Bureau and the
cotton production report OF the Department Of
Agriculture should be combined under one head
-Als. he said. would simplify the compilation Of
ooJl reports and lessen their cost He favored
SSLl;ornity Of terms In reports and said II was
o@Srahle 20 have the annual report OF cotton