Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-24
Movement for Validating Bills
of Lading Explained.
BENEFIT OF COTTON TRADE
Views of Charles S. Haight, Attor-
ney for Liverpool Buyers.
RAPS ACTION AT NEW ORLEANS
Meeting Held There, He Declares,
Did Not Reflect Opinion of
Southern Shippers.

NEW YORK, September 23.-The CEN
tra1 bureau for the valuation of cotton
bills Of ladng. recently established In this
city for the prevention of frauds in con-
nection with forged bills. VIII not be
abandoned. despite the recent rejection
of the plan by a conference of shippers In
New Orleans. Charles s. Haight. attor-
ney for the committee of Liverpool cot
ton buyers, on hts return from New Or
leans, said today that the action of the
New Orleans meeting did not fairly re-
fleet the opinion of southern shippers. or
the fifty or more shippers and bankers
who attended the meeting, he said, only
eleven voted to reject the plan. while the
others refused to go on record, either Tor
or against it,
The answers received from shippers,
in reply to letters sent out to them ex-
planning the new rules and the advan-
tages to he obtained therefrom, said MI.
Haight. show an overwhelming ma
jority in favor of cooperation.
Freedom of Action Insured.
The facilities of the central bureau are
at the disposal both of shippers and of
exchange buyers. and they have been so
advised, but those who do not wish to
avail themselves of the facilities offered
and insist upon trying to keep alive the
old, loose and risky methods have COM
plete freedom of action. In contrast to
the attitude taken by the Liverpool COM
mittee. eleven men. representing less than
a dozen of the many hundreds of shipping
points in the many cotton states. as
sernbled in New Orleans for the avowed
purpose of opposing reform, have under
In1vx
they will not allow shippers to cooperate
whether they desire to do SO or not. That
sounds somewhat like dtctation.
New New Orleans opponents of the
new rules have reiterated, again and
again. the statement that it is unneces-
sary to take any precautions against
forgery With nothing to suggest of
constructive character. they content
themselves by expressing their deter
mination to oppose the central bureau
PLAN not only by refusing to comply
with the requirements thereof, but by
organizing among their several con-
stituencies d militant resistance to the
proposed reflection upon the rights OF
the southern cotton trade.
Of Interest to Interior.
The New Orleans shippers and bankers
can speak only for themselves, however
loudly they may speak. The interior
shippers to whom railroad through bill
is a vital necessity will appreciate the
fatal injury which would be done them
if New Orleans could prevent safeguards
against forgery, and the European inter-
ests should, for that reason. carry into
effect their statement that without some
safeguards through bills of lading must
he discontinued.
The interior shippers will see their
own salvation and are seeing il in the
successful operation of the new rules.
and they will express their willingness
10 cooperate in greater numbers every
day. The Liverpool committee is entirely
satisfied that most of the cotton shippers
of the country are willing to cooperate
in an effort TO keep forgers out of the
trade