Chapter 337. Authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to collect and publish statistics of the grade and staple length of cotton
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CHAP. 337.— An Act Authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to collect and publish statistics of the grade and staple length of cotton.March 3, 1927.[[S. 4746](/us/bill/69/s/4746).][[Public, No. 740](/us/pl/69/740).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Cotton statistics.Annual publication of stocks of grades and staple lengths in warehouses on August 1 of each year. That the Secretary of Agriculture be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to collect and publish annually, on dates to be announced by him, statistics or estimates concerning the grades and staple length of stocks of cotton, known as the carry-over, on hand on the 1st of August of each year in warehouses and other establishments of Estimates of grades, etc., in current crops.every character in the continental United States; and following such publication each year, to publish, at intervals in his discretion, his estimate of the grades and staple length of cotton of the then *Proviso*.Three estimates of each crop.Statement of tender-aide or untenderable for future delivery.Vol. 39, p. 476.current crop: *Provided*, That not less than three such estimates shall be published with respect to each crop.
In any such statistics or estimates published, the cotton which on the date for which such statistics are published may be recognized as tenderable on contracts of sale of cotton for future delivery under the United States Cotton Futures Act of August 11, 1916, as amended, shall be stated separately from that which may be untenderable under said Act as amended. 1373 Sec. 2. That the information furnished by any individual establishmentInformation furnished considered strictly confidential. under the provisions of this Act shall be considered as strictly confidential and shall be used only for the statistical purpose for which it is supplied.
Any employee of the Department ofUnauthorized publishing, etc., information by employee, a misdemeanor. Agriculture who, without the written authority of the Secretary of Agriculture, shall publish or communicate any information given into his possession by reason of his employment under the provisions of this Act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not less than $300 or more than $1,000, orPunishment for. imprisoned for a period of not exceeding one year, or both so fined and imprisoned, at the discretion of the court.
Sec. 3. That it shall be the duty of every owner, president, treasurer,All holders of cotton to furnish, when officially requested, statement of grade and staple lengths of cotton on hand. secretary, director, or other officer or agent of any cotton warehouse, cotton ginnery, cotton mill, or other place or establishment where cotton is stored, whether conducted as a corporation, firm, limited partnership, or individual, and of any owner or holder of any cotton and of the agents and representatives of any such owner or holder, when requested by the Secretary of Agriculture or by any special agent or other employee of the Department of Agriculture acting under the instructions of said Secretary to furnish completely and correctly, to the best of his knowledge, all of the information concerning the grades and staple length of cotton on hand, and when requested to permit such agent or employee ofDepartment agents to examine and classify. the Department of Agriculture to examine and classify samples of all such cotton on hand.
The request of the Secretary of AgricultureManner of requesting. for such information may be made in writing or by a visiting representative, and if made in writing shall be forwarded by registered mail, and the registry receipt of the Post Office Department shall be accepted as evidence of such demand. Any owner, president,Refusal to furnish information, etc., a misdemeanor. treasurer, secretary, director, or other officer or agent of any cotton warehouse, cotton ginnery, cotton mill, or other place or establishment where cotton is stored, or any owner or holder of any cotton or the agent or representative of any such owner or holder, who, under the conditions hereinbefore stated, shall refuse or willfully neglect to furnish any information herein provided for or shall willfully give answers that are false or shall refuse to allow agents or employees of the Department of Agriculture to examine or classify any cotton in store in any such establishment, or in the hands of any owner or holder or of the agent or representative of any such owner or holder, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon convictionPenalty. thereof, shall be fined not less than $300 or more than $1,000.
Sec. 4. The Secretary of Agriculture may cooperate with anyCooperation with Federal agencies, States, etc. department or agency of the Government, any State, Territory, District, or possession, or department, agency, or political subdivision thereof, or any person; and shall have the power toAuthority for officers, employes, expenses, etc. appoint, remove, and fix the compensation of such officers and employees, not in conflict with existing law, and make such expenditures for the purchase of samples of cotton, for rent outside the District of Columbia, printing, telegrams, telephones, books of reference, periodicals, furniture, stationery, office equipment, travel, and other supplies and expenses as shall be necessary to the administration of this Act in the District of Columbia and elsewhere, andSums necessary authorized. there are hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be necessary for such purposes.
Sec. 5. That, of the reports issued by the Secretary of Agriculture,Monthly instead of semimonthly reports of condition, etc., to be published.Vol, 43, p, 115, amended. pursuant to the Act entitled “An Act authorizing the Department of Agriculture to issue semimonthly cotton crop reports and providing for their publication simultaneously with the ginning reports of the Department of Commerce/’ approved May 3, 1924, only five 1374shall be issued hereafter, one as of August 1, one as of September 1, one as of October 1, one as of November 1, and one as of December 1, each of which shall state the condition and progress of the crop and Issue simultaneously with Census ginning reports.the probable number of bales which will be ginned, these reports to be issued simultaneously with the cotton ginning reports of the Bureau of the Census relating to the same dates, the two reports to be issued from the same place at eleven antemeridian or the Date and time specified.eighth day following that to which the respective reports relate.
When such date of release falls on Sunday or a legal holiday the report shall be issued at eleven o’clock antemeridian of the next succeeding workday. Sec. 6. Report of acres in cultivation July 1, followed on September 1 and December 1 of acre-age abandoned since. The Secretary of Agriculture shall cause to be issued a report on or before the 10th day of July of each year showing by States and in to to the number of acres of cotton in cultivation on July 1, to be followed on September 1 and December 1 with an estimate of the acreage of cotton abandoned since July 1.
Approved, March 3, 1927.