Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-24
F|[|BUSTER IS BEGUN
Fight Starts in House on Cot
ton Futures Bill.

A filibuster against the Scott cotton
futures anticipation bill was instituted
shortly after the general debate on the
measure began in the House today.
Many of the New York and New Orleans
members are against the bill, while Chi
cago members oppose it on account of
the Chicago marts.
Mr.. Fitzgerald of New York was to
have led the opposition today with an
amendment to the bill to include the
transactions in grain futures in its pro-
Visions plan designed to kill the bill
but Mr.. Fitzgerald was i'll at his home
as result Of the heat.
Mr.. Calder of New York, in Mr. Fitz-
gerald's absence interrupted the debate
with a point of no quorum. About 100
members were in the chamber. A call of
the House was ordered and members hur-
ried In. Mr.. Calder said his action was
not for dilatory purposes, but he objected
to having the democrats in force while
only few republicans were on the floor.
He said he purpOsed keeping a quorum
during the discussion. Just before noon
2b8 Members quOrum-was announced
and the proceedings were resumed.
Purpose Of the Bill.
Mr.. Scott of Kansas, chairman Of the
ably reported the bill, explained its pur-
actions, which deal only with the fluc-
tuations in the price of cotton and do not
involve the actual transfer of the COM
modify. The measure is a drastic one,
extending to all inhibition against tele-
graph, telephone or cable messages con-
corning such transactions.
Mr.. Lamb of Virginia, democrat, pre-
sented minority views declaring that
though opposed to gambling and specula-
ton, especially in the necessities OF life,
he opposed the measure as of c.ass legis-
lation of doubtful constitutionality, arbi-
trary and tyrannical.
Mr.. Hardwick Of Georgia made the legal
presentation Of the advocates of the abo-
ition of cotton futures. He said that the
bill involved power clearly delegated to
Congress. that there was nothing in 1t
that infringed on the doctrine of states
rights and that it did not disturb any
legitimate transactions. All eleven cotton
states, he said, favored the legislation.
Opposed by Bulls and Bears.
Mr.. Beall Of Texas declared the only
opposition voiced in the committees
consideration Of the anti-option bill was
from the bulls and bears of the New
York and New Orleans cotton exchange.
the gamblers in the products Of the
farmers of the country"
Denouncing the New York Cotton Ex-
change as the "he devil Of all the ex-
changes in the verdi and a great, CO.
lossal gambling concern" Mr.. Lever of
South Carolina urged the passage Of the
bill. Mr.. Lever decried the cotton ex-
change as n frightful evil and national
disgrace. doing more harm than all the
poker games, roulette wheels and gam
bling dens generally. Its 425 members,
said Mr.. Lever, exercised more influence
over the destinies of the American people
than all the GEARS, kings and potentates
put together.
Mr.. Burleson of Texas, favoring the
bill, declared the cotton operators In New
York were playing q game of battledore
and shuttlecock with the products Of the
planters and were infictinE upon them
millions of dollars of loss.
Would Prevent Gambling.
Mr.. Bartlett of Georgia advocated the
bill because it would protect the south
ern cotton producers and prevent gam
bling. He characterized cotton as the
great wealth-producing crop which main
tanned in favor Of this country the bal
ance of foreign trade. He maintained
the complete power OF Congress in the
matter.
Check gambling in cotton" pleaded
Mr.. Hughes of Georgia. who said the
millions of planters in the south were
unanimous in that view.