The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-09-17
BAMBERG, S. c., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER
CROP MUST BE CURTAILED.
This Seasons Crop Can Be Taken
Care of, Declare Representatives.

Washington, Sept. 9.-The saliva
tion of the South in the present con-
tingency, arising from the aggravat-
ed situation with reference to the
cotton crop, growing out of the for
eign wars, is dependent in large part,
if not entirely, upon next years cot
ton crop, in the opinion of senator's,
congressman and economists in
Washington who are familiar with
the difficulties presented.
1t is their belief that the federal
government can and will supply ade-
quate currency to meet the imme-
diate demands, provided the South
ern States themselves take steps to
curtail the production of cotton next
year. I
If such steps are not taken, how
ever, it is believed that the efforts
of the federal government will prove
of small value.
So pronounced is the view in Wash
ington that the curtailment of next
years crop is an all important as
pect of the situation, that the musty
files Of the law libraries have been
searched for copies of laws passed
by thu Southern States in war times
to curtail the production Of cotton.
Far from being illegal and uncon-
stitutional for a State to limit the
production of cotton, this search has
disclosed that practically all of the
Southern States enacted legislation
during the civil war to limit the pro-
duction of cotton.
The State of Georgia. on December
II, 1862, passed the following law:
Section l. The general assembly
of Georgia do enact: That it shall
not be lawful for any person or per-
sons, whether residing in this State
or not, to plant and cultivate in any
county in this State, by themselves,
their agents or employees, or allow
the same to be done, a greater num-
Der of acres of land in cotton than
three acres for each hand owned or
employed by them between the ages
Of Is and 55; and when said person
or persons may own or employ hands
over SIS years Of age and under IS,
and over II and under Is, two Of
said hands shall be counted as one;
and. therefore, said person or per-
sons may plant and cultivate three
acres of land in cotton, and no more,
for every two of said hands so owned
or employed by them
Section of the law fixed the pen
atty for violation at $500 for each
and every acre planted in cotton
above the number allowed by the
statute.
Section 8, 4 and are the admins
trative features of the act.
The Arkansas law follows:
Whereas, in the opinion of the
general assembly the vital interests
of our country demand that the cul-
ture of cotton should be restricted;
and, in lieu of that, the production
of corn, wheat and other grain should
be increased, and in view of such
public policy and necessity, there
fore:
Section !. Be it inacted by the
general assembly of Arkansas, that
in or during the year 1862, it shall
not be lawful for any person or per-
sons, in this State. owning, claiming,
or leasing or possessing any cleared
or tillable land, farm, plantation, to
plant or to cultivate more than two
acres of such farm, plantation or
land III cotton, to the hand; and any
person offending against this act, he,
she or they shall be deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor."
The penalty for violation is fixed
at not less than $500 nor more than
$1,000.