The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-04

NdSnlnStOn, January o.-CnarBe9 OF
fraud were filed late this afternoon
with Postmaster General Cortelyou
against the officials and members of
the New York cotton exchange by Rep
resentative Livingston OF Georgia, and
Harvie Jordan, president OF the South
ern Cotton association, OF Atlanta On
the charges they filed they base a re-
quest that the postoffice department
issue fraud order against the officials
change in order to bar them from the
use of the United States mails in con-
Quoting what the charges term fradu-
lent practices. The postmaster general
referred his callers to Judge Goodwin.
assistant attorney general for the post
office department. II is likely that a
hearing on the charges will be held by
Judge Goodwin before a determination
of the question is reached.
Representative Livingston and Mr..
Jordan submitted TO the postmaster
general the following letter accom-
panying the charges:
Washington, d c., Jan. 2, 1907.
Hon. George B. Cortelyou, Postmaster
General, Washington. d. G..
Dear Sir: We, the Hon. l.. f. Liv-
ingston, NJ. c., of Georgia, and Haryie
Jordan, president of the Southern Cot
ton Association, Atlanta, Ga, hereby
respectfully request the issuance Of a
fraud order by your department against
the use OF the United States mails by
the officials and members Of the New
York cotton exchange and present our
reasons for the same in the following
charges as outlined below and TO which
we most respectfully invite your care
full attention.
Yours truly,
IL. f. LIVINGSTON.
"HARVIE JORDAN"
Following are some of the charges
presented to Mr.. Cortelyou:
"1. We charge that New York city
has ceased to be commercial spot oot-
ton market and that the New York cot
ton exchange operating under its pi es-
ent debased and fraudulent contracts.
has developed into purely speculative
or gambling exchange and that the
grades os cotton shipped to New York
and tenderable on the contracts under
the rules Of the New York cotton ex-
ctnnge. cannot be used for CONNER
E al aginning purposes, and that such
c.-aies of cotton are used solely TO de-
r.ea, the price of spinnable grades In
The south; to further the speculative
features of the New York cotton ex-
change to the heavy detriment or the
entire legitimate cotton trade OF he
United States
"2 We further charge that the said
New York cotton exchange, thrOgh its
officers and members, Is daily using the
United States mails for the purpose OF
transmitting and advertising their
business TO the legitimate cotton trade
of he United States, and We charge
that said business Is fradnlent and said
officials and members OF the New York
cotton exchange should be denied the
use OF the United States mails. We re-
fer you TO copies OF letters hereto at
tached.
"3. We further charge that the quo
tations sent out daily on the debased
contracts of the New York cotton ex-
change exercises a predominating In
fiuence over the legitimate cotton trade
to its great detriment and injury
"a. We further charge that New
York city has ceased to be spot coot-
ton market for comercial, spinnable
grades Of cotton, due TO the present
debased contracts of the New York
cotton exchange and as proof Of the
charge we cite TO you the fact that
from the first day OF September. 1906,
TO December 81, 1906, there was only
delivered from that market 10,OfG
bales OF spot cotton to shippers out OF
total Of practically eight million
bales OF American cotton placed upon
| the markets of this country at other
| points. 81