The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-12-07
WILL DO GOOD
Congressman Lever Will Try to Amneud
the Law On Reports Of The
GROWING COTTON CROP

GRO OWING COTTON CROP
His Object is to Make the Census
Reports on the Growing and Nc
! tured Cotton Crops OF Real Bene-
fit to the Cotton Growers Of the
South.
A dispath from Washington to the
Columbia Record says Representative
Lever will introduce bill, for the
preparation of which he came to
Washington in advance Of the ses-
sion, and whose purpose is to make
more accurate the reports OF the bu-
reau of statistics OF the department
of agriculture, relating to cotton. The
bill simplifies the present method OF
gathering the reports, and abolishes
certain features of tie system with a
view to greater accuracy.
1T is not intended by this bill"
SAYS Mr.. Lever, "to create the i'm
preston that the Integrity of these
reports of the department, relative to
cotton, is called into question. On
the contrary, I am satisfied that the
reports are fairly g''tten up with no
idea of giving special advantage to
either the producer or manufactur-
Ell of cotton, but are predicted upon
the idea that there shall be some dis
interested source from which shall
issue reliable data upon which the
cotton trade may act. Since the un-
fortunate Hyde affair, no one has
questioned the personal integrity of
those whose duty 1t Is to issue these
reports.
During the past II years the de-
partment of agriculture has made II
crop estimates, five Of which were
slightly over-estimated, and six of
them slightly under-estimated. In
years of over-estimates, the average
error was FL per cent; in those Of
underestimate the average error was
81 per cent; for the entire IL years
the average error was 2.7 per cent
and the balance Of the over-estimate
and the underestimate shows for the
entire II years net underestimate
of g of 1 per cent. The producer In
the II year period has had the bene-
fit Of g Of l per, cent. When 1t Is
rem embered that the reports of the
department of agriculture are esti-
mates and not enumerations the fig
ures here indicate as near an approx
imation Of accuracy as the present
system is capable. 1t is impossible to
forecast with absolute accuracy the
yield of any given crop; the best ex-
pected is to continue to perfect the
system with a view Of reaching the
nearest approach to accuracy.
"I am unwilling to abandon a sys-
tenn of some kind Of crop reporting,
after it was lnaugurated and built up
at the instance Of the producers to
protect them against the biased and
unreliable reports of the cotton gam
bier. Such an abandonment at this
time, or In the future, will place the
prod ucer again, as formerly, entirely
at the mercy Of the speculative ele-
ment whose business it Is to make
his reports in accordance with the
side of the market upon which he Is
gambling.
"I am interested, however, in i'm
proving the system and in making
these reports represent as nearly as
possible the exact conditions, both
with reference to the growing cotton
and final yield. This bill purposes to
rid the system of some of its crudities
and Inconsistencies and to place 1t
upon a more reasonable and sensible
basis. Under the present system the
acreage report Is Issued the first OF
June of each year, as the 25th OF
HAY. That the number Of acres in
cultivation on the 25th Of May of a
given crop year represents accurately
the number Of acres that will be con-
tinued In cultivation Is preposterous
on its face; and yea, the report as to
the acreage at this time has sent1t-
mental effect during the entire crop
year and does, in greater or less
degree affect prices. Those familiar
with the cotton business know that
during the month of June for reasons
innuemerable hundreds of thousands
of acres of cotton are abandoned.
The present report does not account
! for tbs abandonment Of acreage until
the first OF December, when the final
estimate Is made and when the re-
port is too late to be Of value to he
producer. My bill makes he acreage
report on the first Of July when the
acregae then In cotton Will more
nearly represent the acreage that Will
continue to be cultivated. This, l
regard, as substantial Improvement.
Again, the present system makes
the report as to the condition Of cot
ton on June 1st as Of May 25th. This
report I have always regarded as an
absurdity, for am too we'll acquaint-
ed with the actual growing OF cotton