The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-05-17

GROWING BILL
ISNTRODUCED
u. S. Department of Agri-
culture Thinks Proposed
Florida Measure is I'm
practicable.

Tallahassee, Fla, May 16--Preven-
ton of cotton growing for one year
to eradicate the cotton boil weevil
is proposed by Representative Eli
Futch, who today introduced a concur
rent resolution in the Florida house
of representatives with that object
in view. The resolution provides that
the federal secretary of agriculture be
requested to recommend to congress-
and to the governors and legislatures
of the cotton growing states the en-
actment of legislation to carry out the
plans for a SabbaticaI year for the
cotton growing industry. The plan is
endorsed by prominent cotton experts.
scientists and economic entomologists.
To carry out the proposal legisla-
tion would be necessary to prevent
planting of cotton east of the Rocky
mountains in the boil weevil infested
territory. for a year, to finance the
project, to provide for the accumula-
ton of supply of cotton and cotton
products to meet market needs during
the eradication year, and to provide
against Introduction of the boil weqvil
into the United States after eradica-
ton is completed by means of suitable
quarantine measures. including, If
-
cotton growing zone along the Mexi-
can border
The magnitude of the project would
make it essential that it be under gov
ernment jurisdiction with the states
cooperating. The date would be set
some years in advance so enough cot
ton might be raised to tide the world
over the SabbaticaI year. Stringent
laws would be necessary to prevent
growing of cotton in that year. Ar
rangements would have to be perfect
ed for accumulation of large stores of
seed properly fumigated to eliminate
the boil weeviL.
washington, May 6.-officials of
the department of agriculture were
disincIined today to believe the pro-
posal put forward in the Florida
legislature to eliminate the boil Wee
vii by stopping production of cotton
for one Year was practicable or that
it would be successful if it could be
put into effect.
such a plan, they said, certainly
would meet tremendous opposition in
congress, being of a sectional nature
and calling for an initial appropriation
of at least one billion dollars to recon-
D6nS6 the COIIOIt SIOMSiS- ASis lOO,
there would be the economic loss to
mills and merchants to be taken into
consideration and resulting idleness of
worlrnen. A similar proposal several
years ago to establish a zone fifty
miles wide in which no cotton could
be grown as a bar to the forward
progress of the weevn reached the
stage of discussion between several
governors, but evoked so much oppo-
sition that it resulted in nothing.
The only instance of prohibition of
cotton growing as means of killing
pests is the Texas state law quar-
antine zone on the Mexican border
has been established, comprising five
large counties. The experiment there
is being watched carefully Much op-
position resulted there before the plan
was made effective Even if all oppo-
sition could be overcome, there is se-
rious doubt in the minds of scientists
if the boil weevil would succumb to
the efforts to exterminate it. AS the
insect lives on other plants besides
cotton. it IS believed enough would
survive to propagate and all the tre-
mendous expense probably would be
wasted. Then, too, there are volunteer
cotton plants each year which would
serve TO breed the weeyiI.