The Little River news., 1918-09-21
Only Question Is the Amount, Is Gem
 eraI Belief in Washington.

conclusion, which is admitted by mem i bers of Congress who have been watch 1 ing every development with reference 1 to cotton prices The sole question now which, these men are considering is that of the price.
 There has been some fear expressed that the price will be fixed by the president, either through a straight away decree, or by fixing price for the cotton to be purchased by the government, and thus controlling the price for all free cotton, will be not above 30 cents per pound. Such a price would present staggering blow to | the hopes of the senators and repre- sentatives who are representing the cotton growers.
 1 A flood of telegrams and letters poured into the offices of members of Congress today and impromptu con- ferences held in the offices and about the chambers caused the cotton price fixing question to receive more atten- ton than any other matter before Congress at this time.
 < It .ecame known tonight that the conference held last night by senator's and the president brought no develop ments It is admitted by senators that they cst fight as long as they wish in Congress and yet that the president holds the whip hand and final trump card and that whatever paid for the government for cotton for the allied. war powers will be theJ price, despite any fight in Congress against priceixing statute. The president listened with great attention to the statement ot senators last night. He interrupted only now and then to ask a question. The sena- tors talked on the basis of 40-cent cotton and insisted this price would be only fair to the cotton growing sec tions of the country and that fn opeE and free market should produce a better price. The failure of the cot ton crop YVES presented as another factor which should cause a 40-cent price to be the lowest ExeG
 But despite the sincere arguments of the senators, there IS little hope that the price of 40 cents Will be fix ed. In fact, it is the belief nere that a price of 35-cents would ae accepted with pleasure and relief There is no doubting that the opposition to the free cotton market has been so mark ed that fight might produce some ugly situations.
 Urges Cotton Tax.
 As to just how soon the price will be fixed, no one of the senators could offer any definite statement The inn pressions gathered by some persons was that it would be fixed within the next few days, but others said it might be delayed a short time and that during the delay an investig. tion might be made as to the condi- tions described by the committee of senator's
 While the price-fXing question is being raised in the Senate and about the executive mansion, Repres ontative Hamp Moore of Pennsylvania is en- deavoring to have :, heavy tax placed upon cotton through the revenue bill. MT. Moore has been persistent in his efforts to obtain a tax and as a rule the Republicans have given him good support. The question of taxes is still before the House, but I, IS be- lieyed the proposal will be defeated.
 Little .iock, cotton men werei thrown into furore of excitement yesterday afternoon when z, member Of the Little Rock Cotton Exchange received a telegram rom United States Senator W. F. Kirby. saying the,. rrice would be fixed for cotton within 4S hours and tha he was doing all in his power to have the price fixed above 30 cen.s.
 While there w3s no disposition to doubt Senator Kirby's statement, local cotton men could not reconcile it with previous statements from Wash ington. Tuesday afternoon a telegram was received from Senator Robinson, saying that there need be no uneasi- ness concerning the fixing of cotton prices because President Wilson has assured him that any action that might be taken would be after care full consideration of all the interests