The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-09-28
COTTON PRICE Fixing.
GOVERNMENT NAMES COMMIT
TEE TO INQUIRE AS TO
COTTON.
While Investigation is Being Made
Cotton Needed by United States
Government and Allies Will be
Bought and Distributed by Conf
pnittee of Experts.

Washington, Sept. 23-First steps
looking to the fixing Of prices foc
star ard grades Of raw cotton were
take today by the government in the
forming Of two committees, one to
investigate the entire cotton situation
and the other to control during the
period Of inquiry the distribution
of cotton by purchasing all Of the
staple needed by the United States
and the allies at prices to be approx
ed by the president.
Thomas Wage, vice, chairman
of the tariff commission. was named
chairman of the committee CT inquiry
which is to hold hearings over the
cotton growing States. The other
members are:p:;W. r. Beattie, Green
vile, S. c., president of the Piedmont
Aaanufa curing Company; R. L. Ben
nett, Paris, Texas, cotton grower;
Ward NJ Burgess, Omaha, Neb., retail
merchant; Edward Farham Greene,
Boston, former president of the Ma
stional Association. of Cotton Manu-
1etCS SS.
4as-rsssasss2 .ssrs s. e; cotton grover; M . z.
sturdivant, Glendora, Miss, cotton
8; .wer, and S. w. Weisz New orlea..s
cotton factor: d. s. .Murph of the fed
eral bureau Of marketsewill be secre-
tary Of the committee.
The members of the committee to
purchase for the government and the
allies are: Charles J. Brand of the
department Of agriculture. chairman;
w. L.: Clayton, Houston, Texas, mem
Der Of a large. cotton firm operating lit
Texas and Oklahoma; J. Temple
Gwathmey, New York. member of a
large cotton firm with branches in
many cities, and Edward H. 1nman.
Atlanta, Ca, former cotton merchant
now acting as purchasing agent for
the government.
Before the war industr board
made public the personnel OF IN
mittees, senators and representatives
from the Southern cotton growing
States met with members Of the cot
ton States marketing board to dis
cuss the proposed price fixing. The
conference adopted a resolution set
ting forth that it opposed price fixing
in principle and appointed COM
nittee to present the facts to the gov
ernment committee on inquiry in an
effort TO convince them that price
fixing is not necessary.
The war industries board announc-
that William {. Clayton, j. Temple
.Gwathmey and Edward T. Inman viii.
dissociate themselves. from their
business and will remain SO disso-
ciated as long as they continue in the
service of the government as mem
bers Of the committee on distribution
Of cotton.
The committee on inquiry it was
announced already has met and fully
discussed the cotton situation ana
adopted this resolution:
Resolved, That the committee on
cotton distribution lie authorized i'm
mediately to allot cotton as 70 quan-
tity and grade to all domestic and
foreign consumers and that they also
DG 10 UQS COlIOil, IL cA11'1
when necessary, for the requirements
Of the United States and allied gov
ernments.
Resolved, further. That the cotton
committee feels that this, will have
an important effect in stabilizing !
prices but in the meantime they will
keep in touch with the whole situa-
ton with a view to determining the
effect of this action and whether price /
fixing or any other measure will be
necessary"
Last TUESDAY representatives i'll
congress from cotton growing States,
headed by Senator Smith of Soutn
Carolina. protested to the president
against the fixing of any price for
This action came after the
had explained the purpose
sor which the two cotton committees
would be appointed. The purpose OF
he committee of inquiry, the presi-
lent said, would be to broaden the
channels of distribution so that use
could be made Of the great stock OF
ow grades of cotton which now
practically are unmarketable; elimi-
rating of boarding and speculation
md apportioning Of foreign orders
lie added that it might be part Of
his committees duty to Recommend