The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1911-07-26
IS STRINGENT MEASURE
RODDENBERY'S BILL TO PROHIB-
1T BUYING AND SELLING
OF COTTON FUTURES.
PENALTY $4,000 TO $4,000

Would Make 1t Unlawful to Trans
NIT a Message For Such Purpose
by Mail, Telegraph or Telephone.
The Full Text of the Measure Now
Before a Committee.
Several days ago The News noted
the fact that Congressman Rodden-
berry had introduced a bill to pro-
hibit gambling in cotton and other
farm products. The measure in full
is as follows:
BE it enacted by the Senate and
House Of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress
assembled, That it shall be unlawful
for any person, association or cor
poration to send or cause to be sent
any letter. telegram or message Of |
fering to make or enter into an |
agreement or contract for the pur-
chase or sale for future delivery of |
cotton without intending that such |
cotton shall actually be delivered or !
received, or Offering to make or en-
Ter into an agreement or contract |
whereby any party thereto or any |
party for whom or in whose behalf
such agreement or contract is made
acquire the right, privilege or option
to demand in the future the accept
ance or delivery of cotton without
being thereby bound and obligated
to accept or deliver such cotton; and
the transmission of any letter, mes
sage or telegram by telephone, tele-
graph or any system or method of
communication relating to such |
transaction is hereby declared to be
an interference with commerce
among the states and territories and
with foreign nations.
Sec. 2. That any person, associ-
alton or corporation who shall be
guilty Of violating the preceding Sec
ton shall, upon conviction thereof,
be fined in a sum not less than one
thousand dollars and not more than !
ten thousand dollars, or shall be i'm
prisOned for not more than two years
nor less than six months, or by both |
such fine and imprisonment: Pro-
vided, That the sending or causing |
to be sent OF each such letter, mes
sage or telegram shall constitute a |
separate Offenses and be punished, |
upon conviction, as aforesaid.
Sec. 3. That it shall be the duty !
of any person sending any letter, |
telegram or telephone message re-
lating to an agreement or contract, !
or to the making of an agreement or
a contract for future delivery of cot !
ton, to furnish to the person trans
hitting such letter, telegram, tele-
phone or message an affidavit stating
that he is the owner of such cotton
and that his intention is to actually
deliver the same; or that such cotton
is at the time in actual course of
growth on land owned, controlled or
cultivated by him, and that he has
the intention to actually deliver such
cotton. Any person who shall
knowingly make a false statement in
any affidavit provided for in this sec
ton shall, upon conviction, be pun
ished by fine of not less than three
hundred dollars and not more than
live thousand dollars, or shall be i'm
prisoned for not less than six months
and not more than two years, or
shall be punished by both such fine
and Imprisonment
Sec. 4. That in any prosecution
under the provisions of this act,
proof of failure to furnish an afida-
Wit as herein required shall be deem
ed prima facie evidence that such
letter, telegram, telephone or mes
sage related to an agreement or con-
tract prohibited by this act; and
proof of the failure to actually deliv-
er or receive the cotton called for