60TH CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ( 2d Session.

ADDITIONAL COTTON STATISTICS.

FEBRUARY 13, 1909.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Mr. LANGLEY, from the Committee on the Census, submitted the

following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. J. Res. 231.]

The Committee on the Census, to whom was referred the joint resolution (H. J. Res. 231) authorizing the Director of the Census to collect and publish additional cotton statistics, having had the same under consideration, respectfully submit the following report:

Strike out the words "December first" in line 7, and when so amended your committee recommends that the resolution do pass. Reports of cotton ginned were authorized in the organic law making the Census Bureau permanent, approved March 6, 1902.

Ten of these ginning reports are now made each season with relation to September 1, September 25, October 18, November 1, November 14, December 1, December 13, January 1, January 16, and March 1.

In joint resolution approved February 9, 1905, authorization was given the Director of the Census to collect and publish, in connection with the ginners' reports of cotton produced, statistics of the consumption, the surplus of cotton held by manufacturers, and the quantity of cotton exported, these statistics to be summarized as of September 1, each year. Four of these annual reports have been published under the title "Supply and Distribution of Cotton," dealing with the years ending August 31, 1905, 1906, 1907, and 1908.

This resolution as amended by your committee proposes to supplement the two series of reports referred to by having the Director of the Census collect and publish statistics of stocks of baled cotton in the United States with relation to November 1, January 1, and March 1. The reports sought by this resolution differ from the September report now being prepared in that only statistics of stocks are to be collected, the results desired for these new dates being as presented in Table 6 of Census Bulletin 97 on the supply and distribution of cotton for the year ending August 31, 1908. This table shows the total quantity of baled cotton in the United States at the close of business August 31, and distributes this cotton according to the actual holders, these

being manufacturers, warehouses and compresses, transportation companies, producers, and other holders.

The cost of the field work incident to the preparation of these reports will probably not amount to more than $10,000 each, or $30,000 for the three reports called for by the resolution.

The purpose sought by these stock reports is to afford reliable information for producers, manufacturers, and others as to the quantity of cotton available on the dates to which the reports relate, thereby serving as a guide for the producer in disposing of his product and in directing his plans in regard to the succeeding crop; also, furnishing the manufacturer with desired information as the available supply of cotton, which may be of assistance to him in purchasing or in contracting for the manufacture and delivery of goods.

The effect of the resolution, if enacted into law, would be, it is believed to reduce the element of speculation in cotton, as the statistics would remove doubt as to the cotton situation and afford needed information for all concerned.

Your committee recommends that the resolution, as amended, do pass.

60TH CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 2d Session.

SAFETY OF EMPLOYEES AND TRAVELERS ON RAILROADS.

FEBRUARY 13, 1909.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Mr. TOWNSEND, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 26725.]

The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 26725) to supplement an act entitled "An act to promote the safety of employees and travelers upon railroads," having considered the same, report thereon with amendment and as so amended recommend that it pass.

Amend the bill as follows:

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:

That the provisions of this act shall apply to every common carrier and every vehicle subject to the act of March second, eighteen hundred and ninety-three, as amended April first, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, and March second, nineteen hundred and three, commonly known as the "safety-appliance acts."

SEC. 2. That on and after July first, nineteen hundred and ten, it shall be unlawful for any common carrier subject to the provisions of this act to haul, or permit to be hauled or used on its line any car subject to the provisions of this act not equipped with appliances provided for in this act, to wit: All cars must be equipped with secure sill steps and efficient hand brakes; all cars requiring secure ladders and secure running boards shall be equipped with such ladders and running boards, and all cars having ladders shall also be equipped with secure hand holds or grab irons on their roofs at the tops of such ladders.

SEC. 3. That within six months from the passage of this act the Interstate Commerce Commission after hearing shall designate the number, dimensions, location, and manner of application of the appliances provided for by section two of this act and section four of the act of March second, eighteen hundred and ninety-three, as amended April first, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, and shall give notice of such designation to all common carriers subject to the provisions of this act by such means as the commission may deem proper, and thereafter said number, location, dimensions, and manner of application as designated by said commission shall remain as the standards of equipment to be used on all cars subject to the provisions of this act, unless changed by an order of said Interstate Commerce Commission, to be made after full hearing and for good cause shown; and failure to comply with any such requirement of the Interstate Commerce Commission shall be subject to a like penalty as failure to comply with any requirement of this act: Provided, That the Interstate

Commerce Commission may upon full hearing and for good cause modify the requirements of this section or extend the period within which any common carrier shall comply with the provisions of this section with respect to the equipment of cars actually in service upon the date of the passage of this act.

SEC. 4. That any common carrier subject to this act, using, hauling, or permitting to be hauled or used on its line, any car subject to the requirements of this act not equipped as provided in this act, shall be liable to a penalty of one hundred dollars for each and every such violation, to be recovered as provided in section six of the act of March second, eighteen hundred and ninety-three, as amended April first, eighteen hundred and ninety-six.

SEC. 5. That nothing in this act shall be held or construed to relieve any common carrier, the Interstate Commerce Commission, or any United States attorney from any of the provisions, powers, duties, liabilities or requirements of said act of March second, eighteen hundred and ninety-three, as amended by the acts of April first, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, and March second, nineteen hundred and three; and all of the provisions, powers, duties, requirements, and liabilities of said act of March second, eighteen hundred and ninety-three, as amended by the acts of April first, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, and March second, nineteen hundred and three, shall apply to this act.

SEC. 6. That it shall be the duty of the Interstate Commerce Commission to enforce the provisions of this act, and all powers heretofore granted to said commission are hereby extended to it for the purpose of the enforcement of this act.

This is an act to promote the safety of railroad employees and travelers upon railroads.

At the present time and during the years of the past various railroads have had different methods of equipping their cars, and the same railroad does not equip its own cars in the same manner, so that practically every freight train on every railroad has several methods and places for the various devices and appliances necessary for the use of railroad employees. The result of this confusion has been frightfully disastrous to hundreds of switchmen and other railroad employees as well as to many travelers.

For years railroads have claimed that they have tried to agree upon some uniform method of equipment, but have failed. The bill empowers the commission after hearing and investigation to determine a uniform system of equipment, and the carrier is compelled to equip its cars in accordance with such determination, and in case the commission's order is not observed a penalty is provided by the bill.