Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-04-21
DISPUTES UNDER COTTON
FUTURE ACT ARE SETTLED

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 10.-The con-
clusons of the United states department %. Oh
the terms of the cotton futures act are re-
ported in Service and Regulatory Announce zee
Rural Organization, which the department has
inst published. The statement covers all tne
disputes from March 10, 1915, to November 80
1915. During this time 1908 were handled, IN
volving a total Of 65 S23 bales. Seven, involy-
ing 73s bales were dismissed without deterrnlna-
4 ton ea
Of the number Of bales passed upon, o.2S3: or
aG per cent found undeliverable. Two
thousand and sixty were rejected because e. 2n
| grade only. 2,702 because OF length OF staple
only. and 1,122 because of both grade ana
| length Of STABLE Two hundred and thirteen
were rejected for quality only and the remain
der for quality and other causes combined. ny
| far the greatest number Of disputes arose on
account of grade and length OF staple combined;
disputes for this cause amounting to 0o'ffS
bales out of a total of 65,446.
In hearing the disputes. the report shows
that on an average. five days elapsed between
the filing of the first papers. in disputes in
which there no delays ehargeable TO the
parties. and the mailing or the memoranoa OF
conclusions On the other hand, the average
time that elapsed between the filing Of the
| first papers in disputes in which there were
ING Of the memoranda Of conclusions was ten
days In the last named class delays caused by
one or both Of the parties in the dispute caused
an average delay OF seven days, which might
have been avoided. The most frequent causes
Of these delays were as follows:
| Papers made out improperly. Isl
| Errors in tag numbers, lSl
| Delay in receipt Of samples, A.
Missing samples, S5c.
Necessity for new samples 13c.
Adjustment Of replacement charges, So.
The report also shows that although there
was an unusually large number OF disputes in
May when 374 were referred TO the depart.
nent involving a total of 35,SSa bales, the
settlement Of these disputes was not unduly pro-
tracted.
It is stated that it does not seem advisable
to adopt the suggestion that the department es-
tablish a branch office at New York to de-
termine disputes under the cotton futures act
These disputes. 1t is said, are determined under
existing conditions with little loss of time as
could be expected at any place. The estab7
lshmcut of a branch office would involve the
employment Of a sufficient number of employees
to core with the maximum amount of business
and would mean, therefore. that during slack
the examiners to do. In Washington they are
employ ed at such times in other work.
In regard to the costs assessed for passing
upon the diSrutes, the report states that they
assessed against the compliments and the re-
mainder against the respondents.
The statement also discusses the effects OF
the provision in the law making cotton less
liverable. When the law was enacted this pro
vision gave rise TO some apprehension. 1t Is
shown. however that Of the bales Of cotton
ferred TO the department only ga per cent Of
those in which the question Of length Of staple
was involved found unbelievable and
only 447 per cent were unbelievable en- this
account alone. On the other hand, the tate.
ment continues it Is believed that this Dro-
vision has tended TO strengthen future contracts
and has caused them to reflect more accurate
| Is said it will tend to make the farmer
ercise greater in the selectiO nof seed
and will thus aid in improving the character
and stsple Of American cotton.