The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-01-06
REDUCTION ACT GOOD LAW.
President e. w. Dabbs of Farmers
Union Comments Oh Acreage Law.

In the Progressive Farmer of De-
cember 26th the president of our State
Farmers Union, Mr.. E. w. Dabbs, has
some excellent comments on the
South Carolina cotton warehouse law.
Among other things he says, After a
careful reading of the act, 1 do not see
how tho State can ever lose a dollar.
Every official is so hedged about and
Is required to give bond, besides be-
ing liable in the criminal courts for
any malfeasance in Office, that it
looks like an ideal system can be
evolved" This statement helps to
secure confidence. which is necessary
to the successful operation of any sys-
tenn. Mr.. Dabbs also says: "Those
of us who favor the State warehouse
system believe that it's greatest good
will be In direct sales from the farm
ers to the spinners. 1t Is a notable
step in systematic marketing"
The bill presented to the legislature
of 1912 was a Farmers Union meas
ure. formally adopted by the State
Farmers Union in their annual meet
ing. The measure now in operation
falls far short of the plans asked for
by the Farmers Union. The original
conception was warehouses owned
and operated by the State, with view
of establishing direct trade relations
between the farmer and the spinner.
Instead of that. the legislature passed
a Dill with this feature stricken out.
and with such a small appropriation
that the State Warehouse Commission
or can only pay rent after all the 9TH
er operating expenses are met
The State Of South Carolina has a
piece Of property in Columbia, with
warehouses on it, which should be
utilized for the public benefit. I refer
to the old Richland distillery down
on the river. This property Of about
eight acres OF land and a considerable
Of buildings not now in use
might be turned over to the ware
house commissioner and sufficient
funds provided to repair the property
and build other warehouses as need
ed, with compress. A railroad track
now goes out to these buildings, which
are so situated that by lowering the
first floor and making it concrete and
by commencing at the switch and ele-
vating the track the upper floors
could be used for storage purposes
as we'll as the lower floor, the build
ings being equipped with electric ma
chinery for moving and handling cot
ton. gravity being used to advantage
in placing same. All these considera-
tions make this property an ideal To-
cation for a large warehouse system.
The old State dispensary property
where the State warehouse commits
sioner now has his Office could be
''NN w "''Ph'tSC Will SUI ISc C'i-
pacity increased and it's facilities for
and shipping put in better
shape.
The state could make good use of
both these pieces Of property in the
further de, elopmcnt Of system which
has the promise Of much benefit to
the farmers Of South Carolina.
1t should also be made the duty of
the State warehouse commissioner to
open up direct trade with foreign spin
ncrs. 1t is true that the foreign mar
kct is upset now by the war i'm Eu-
rope, but this condition will be chang
td when peace is restored. which We
all hope will soon come. We should
plan for the future development of
the system. The present system is
we'll adapted for local Warehouses i'm
the various counties and these ware
houses should be under the manage
mcnt Of local officials under such