The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-11
HEFLIN'S COTTON PROBE RESOLUTION
 IS SURE TO PASS
tcontinued from Page One,

tee or subcommittee, during the recess of Congress in the same manner as dur ing the sessions of Congress.
 MIR. HEFLIN EXPLAINS
 In speaking of the resolution, MT. lief lin said: We are convinced that con- spiracy exists and has existed for some time to hold down the price of cotton. The daily conduct of the exchange diScloSes that fact. For instance, the spot mar ket in the south is above the contract price on the exchange and in the absence of manipulation the New York market used to be, and should be now, several points above the spot market price in the south. It used to be frequently said in the south, "Why cotton is F cents here and notice that it is nearly 13 cents in New York;" and immediately this difference was explained by stating that the freight rate on cotton from the south ern market to New York made that diff ference Now when spot cotton is F cents in the south the contract price in New York is below P cents; so it is as plain as open and shut that the market in New York is manipulated and con- trolled by a conspiracy among bear op- orators. The investigation that we pro- pose to have will disclose exactly how the exchange is being operated, and then Con gress can judge for itself whether the dealing there is legitimate and whether the exchange as conducted today is help full or hurtful to legitimate cotton busi- ness.
 ANOTHER SMALL CROP With regard to cotton production this year, the world is going to have another small crop of cotton
 "India reduced her acreage in 1915 to 23, ,OO0, 900 acres and in 1916 she has reduced it to 100000 acres. Russia and China d. Af oN The cotton farmers of the United States reduced their cotton area last year B., 900 acres and they will reduce 1t this year below that planted in cotton last year. We cannot produce big crop this year if we desired to. The scarcity and high price of fertilizers Is a big obstacle in the way. With nitrate of soda quoted at s75 a ton and acids formerly used in fertilizers selling for $200 a ton. and n,uriate of potash which sold in 1913 for $39 a ton now selling for $500, you get an idea in advance as to the size of the cotton crop for 1916.
 SALE OF SEED
 '"rhe cotton seed proposition is serious one with the producers of the south. The great demand and high price for linters, cotton seed oil and meal came danger ously near to inducing the farmer to sell more cotton seed than was wise to sell. If
 
 just when the tender plant is coming up and kills it, or if we should have a long wet spell and the seed should rot in the ground as has happened before, there will not be seed enough to replant.
 .'At the rate of consumption by United States spinners and powder mills the manufacturing establishments of Amer ica alone will consume 100000 bales of the Il, ,0OOO00 bales produced in 19l5 At the present rate of consumption the spin ners will consume S.00O,000 bales and the powder mills and explosive manufacturers will consume 2.0O0,OOO bales. The director of the census says that it will take l. 500, ,0O0 to 2,0O0, 900 bales to supply the man ufacturers of powder and explosive shells.
 NEED OF BELLIGERENTS
 England, France. Russia and Italy need and must have. if they can get it, 5,000,OO0 bales of the 1915 United States cotton crop. Before August this year cotton is going to be very scarce and very high and if those who have cotton in the south will hold on to it and re- duce their acreage cotton will be be- tween Is and 20 cents a pound. You need rot have any fears about the farmer re- duclng his acreage. He has learned that he can get more money for small crop than he can for Q large crop"