Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1934-10-19
The Cotton Program

Possibly ONE of the most important and most interesting topics
being discussed today in the farming population is the so-caled
Bankhead cotton bill. Let us examine somewhat into this bill and
into the agricultural relief problems that have arisen during the
past several administrations as well as the present cotton situation
and attempt to see Just what the Bankhead cotton bill is and
what it stands for.
The Bankhead bill is the effort made by the administration Of
President Roosevelt to bring about better prices of farming pro-
ducts and improve the living conditions of the farming population
in general. Before this bill was enacted questionnaires were sent
throughout the country to cotton associations, farmer unions,
oranges, outstanding leaders and representatives Of the farmers and
every effort was made to ascertain from the farmer himself Just
what sort of legislation would be beneficial and bring about the
most widely spread relief. Practically all the farm organizations
joined in an expression for the relief later embodied in the Bank
head bill.
This bill is new both in thought and~n operation and in pur-
pose. EXPERIENCED had taught that large surpluses of crops would
never bring relief, but on the other hand would cause low prices
and that the onlyfdlrect and practical manner of controlling prices
was to bring about a balance between production and consumption
and avoid the large surpluses that inevitably lead to stagnate
markets. This balance between production and consumption is
the very heart of the Bankhead bill and its direct purpose is to
limit the production of crops to meet the consumption.
Let us take a glance at ar instance of actual operation of this
bill. In 1892, a farmer raised six bales of cotton. He sold it at
the prevailing price of six cents a pound.
He received for the lint cotton $3.50. 90
He sold his cotton seed from the six bales for the sum of $500
This made a total $2O5 90
He paid for the ginning the sum of--------------- 1900
And his total net income from the six bales realized him 1913. 90
In 1884, under the operation of the Bankhead cotton
bill, the same farmer sells the same number, six bales
of cotton, at a price of twelve and one-half cents a
pound.
He receives the sum -$375.o 90
He markets his seed and receives $50
Making a gross 451 90
For ginning the six bales he pays the sum Of ------ 1900
And this leaves him 1880
However, he has signed up not to raise more than 4 bales and
his allotment has been exceeded by two bales. In this situation,
he can go to the local farm agents office and upon payment of
4 cents a pound secure a permit to go ahead and sell the excess.
This permit casts 1900
And Il he elects toedo this, then his net income IS $4,000
N EXACTLY $500 MORE THAN HE RECEIVED FOR
HIS COTTON IN 1882 before the passage Of the Bankhead cot
ton bill. Even though he has paid for exceeding his allotment,
surely he has been helped by the operation of this bill.
The 4 cents that the farmer pays has often been referred to as
a Government tax that goes into the Golfers of the Treasury. This
is entirely a mistake. The 4 cents in turn is paid to other cotton
growing farmers in Rowan and elsewhere who produced less than
their allotted quota and in this way serves to equaize their situa-
to produce his allotted quota gets the benefit of this 4 cents, and
two farmers, one growing more than his allotment and one grow
ing less than his allotment, can trade among themselves for the
4 cents excess certificates at any price agreed upon between them
provided they make it a matter of record in the office of the local
farm agent.
at the request of agriculture and is agricultures own bill and is
new in operation. While there may be details in operation that
may cause confusion in the main it has already been of tremendous
benefit and has been the means of increasing the price of farm
products 100 per cent and in the case of tobacco nearly 400 per
cent.
In 1882, the value of the Rowan cotton crop, was 1922, S82. 90
In 1884, the value of the Rowan cotton crop is
An increase $484, 500
Rowan County farmers are receiving cotton rental checks to
the amount of $94, 248. 90 on the 1884 crop, in addition to the