The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-05-23
stlIlhlb COTTON SAMPLES.
SENATE AGREES no Il. ID.
S4lTTS AMENDMENT.
Measure Provides 100000 to Make
Cotton Standards Accessible to
(sVOuUeeu.

Washington, May 1s.-The senate
today Agreed to the amendment Of
fsrsd BY senator Smith OF South Car
oaihs appropriating 500. 900 to en-.
sole the rfarmers Of the South to Sc
cure Standardized cotton samples.
pascusstng the Importance Of this
matter. Senator Smith said:
Several years ago a bill was
paapsd by congress to standardize the
Grades OF cotton. These q, odes were
standardized. according to law. When
came to the senate. I found that
these standard grades were lying very
ssrenly In the agricultural depart
mont. The New Orleans market had
adopted these grades. but had added
oth,r grades both above and below.
New York had paid no attention TO
them They were of no practical
ssns it to the grower. In that nobody
knew what they were. except the ag-
ricultural department and the few
s1chaAgss to which sample OF them
had been sent I had an appropriation
oadS 20 tsst the relative spinning val
ues Of these different grades. and
ths result of this test I have sent
sfosdcast all over the South. in
troduced an amendment to the pres
eat agricultural bill. providing an ap-
propriation OF 500. 900 to place a set
% those government standardized
samples. with set Of the yarns made
fvom these samples. on every local
narket throughout the South.
II did this because the farmers who
ell their cotton are at the mercy Of
shs buyer as to what grade his cotton
~ and at the mercy Of the buyer as
% the value Of each grade as COM
Jared with the other grades. With a
- OF these standardized samples of
cation. each farmer who goes to a
nahrket can compare his own cotton
wsia the samples furnished by the
government and determine what
exade he has. He then can refer to
- yarns made from the grade that
NJ cotton happens to be. and deter
. nine Its relative value to the other
oeAdes. In other words. this appro-
psiation. giving him a set Of stand
4edized samples. and set Of the
y4rns made from these samples. will
fNrnish him with the same knowl-
t4ge that every mill man and every
eeysr has. and therefore put him on
- equal footing with them. With
uas knowledge he should demand the
fall value Of every grade of his cot
ton.
$50 far as the cotton farmer IL
concerned. the legislation Is now al
rbst complete. The grades have been
standardized by the government;
erough my own amendment to the
agricultural bill, yarns have been
GUN from each grade. determining
aseir relative values: and now. the
appropriation of 100000 has been
Ade to enable the agricultural de-
eertment to furnish a set Of these
amples and yarns to every shippink
Dsint. So that IL the farmer does
net get the full value Of every grade
% his cotton. he is alone to blame.
for the knowledge Is furnished him.
- promised the farmers Of the
state when I came to the senate that
lewould attempt to relieve the bur-
cons Of this cotton problem. To re-
e9ptitulate the work l have done, l
s9ered and had passed an amend
aent appropriating sufficient money
to spin every grade and prove there |
wss not much difference between the
lowest and tho hishest--that Is. from
200 ordinary TO middiins fair. ri
pAssed bill In the senate. without a |
eesenting vote. making 1t unlawful
Tor any cotton exchange to offer for
ale any cotton on contract that did
sst conform to government standard
nation and the real commercial dif-
ference between the grades. 1 have
lost had passed this appropriat.on
os 100000 to- give to the farmers
ef tho South set Of these SAMPLES
- standardized by tho government,
and the yarns made from these sam.
pies. showing the strength or the
ysrns made from each grade. the
amount Of waste and the bleaching
quality.
r'As far an I am able to see. these
Out the grower of cotton in posses
sion Of all Of the knowledge essential
for him to intelligently demand the
fun value Of what he produces. II was
very rattering to me and very graft !
Tying that the vote In the senate ap- /
propriating this $1,000 900 was more !