The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1911-02-24
FIGHT Being WAGED
IN SENATE ON THE
ANT|-OPT|ON BILL
THE SOUTH PARTICULARLY Is
WATCHING PROGRESS OF
THE MEASURE.
HAS ALREADY PASSED TIL HOUSE
Bill Aimed at Dealing In Cotton Fu-
lures sweeping-opposition srong
In Senate and Measure 10 Likely to
30 Sidetracked.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17.-Lively
interest is felt, especially in the
South, in the Scott anticipation bill,
which will be taken up for hearing
next Friday by the Senate committee
on interstate commerce. The DILL Is
officially and technically known as AN
act to prohibit interference with COM
merce among the States and terrific
ries, and with foreign nations and to
remove distractions thereto, and to
prohibit the transmission Of certain
messages by telegraph, telephone, ca
BILE or other means or communication
between states and territories and for
eign nations"
Section 2 of this bill makes 1t un-
lawful for any person to send or cause
to be sent any message offering to
make or enter into contract for the
purchase or sale of cotton without In
tending that such cotton shall be ac-
tually delivered and received, and
provides penalties for violation.
Section makes 1t the duty of any
person sending any message relating
to contract for the future delivery OF
cotton, to furnish to the person trans
hitting the message an affidavit to
the effect that the message does not
relate to the character of contracts
described in section two, and provides
penalties for any false statement that
may be made in such AFFIDAVIT. This
section also provides that proof of
failure to make any affidavit required
In the act shall be prima facie evidence
that the message or messages related
to a contract prohibited by section
two of the act and that proof of fail
ure to deliver or receive the cotton
called for in any contract for future
delivery shall be prima facie evei-
dence that there was no intention to
deliver or receive said cotton when
said contract was made The purpose
Of the bill is to restrict, so far as
may be those transactions on the cot
ton exchanges of the country which
are recognized as dealing only with
the fluctuations in prices and which
do not involve the actual transfer Of
the commodity.
This bin passed the house June 81,
1910, and has been In the committee
on interstate commerce of the Sen
ate since It's passage. Next Friday
the committee will hold hearings on
the bill and It's advocates are hopeful
Of getting 1t reported out. Strange to
say the opposition to the bill which
was SO vigilant and active when 1t
was under consideration by the house
committee on agriculture il not so
manifest in the Senate.
There Is, however, positive opposi- |
ton to the bill In the Senate which
makes its favorable consideration |
doubtful. The proponents of the bill |
are Of the opinion that the Senate
committee will report It out for dis
position at this session.
With filibuster threatened on the
Canadian reciprocity bill and with
Senators Beveridge and Borah promis-
Ing to keep the Senate busy with the
Lorimer case and direct vote bill, 1t
ID felt by the opponents of the bill
that there Is slight likelihood Of its
coming up at this session Of Congress,
sven IL reported from the committee. |,