HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 9 
the work can be strengthened by securing the advice and cooperation of one or two 
thoroughly practical men in the States most directly interested, viz, Louisiana and 
Texas. The Secretary of Agriculture, however, shou!d have full authority to organize 
the work for the sole object of securing, as already indicated, the most immediate 
practical results. 
In order to more effectually handle the problems which must necessarily fall to 
the work of the Division of Entomology, I have already recommended in my esti- 
mates that this important branch of the Department be made a bureau. The work 
that it has done in the past, especially in the field in question, certainly justifies this 
action; and I most earnestly recommend that this matter be given primary consid- 
eration in connection with the entire problem. It is very desirable, furthermore, 
that the fullest cooperation be effected by the Department with the experiment sta- 
tions in the respective States where the more important work will be conducted. 
This is especially true of Texas, where the Agricultural College is doing everything 
in its power to aid in the matter, but where it is more or less handicapped by lack 
of proper facilities and funds. 
The fund recommended to be set aside for the purposes mentioned, and used in 
accordance with the plans outlined, will give the Department such liberty of action 
as the exigencies of the case demand. An industry which brings to the country an 
annual income of something over $500,000,000 is threatened, and the time is at hand 
for energetic action. I again, therefore, most earnestly renew my recommendations 
for the means and authority to carry out the plans as herein set forth. 
Respectfully submitted. ; 
James WIxson, Secretary. 
Wasuineron, D. C., November 28, 1908. 
I take it that is a complete support of the unanimous proposition 
submitted to the Secretary by the Louisiana and Texas delegations, 
which, of itself, was nota hurried matter, but a matter that we have been 
thinking about for months and for years, and trying to evolve some prac- 
tical business way of getting at this evil that is growing, and growing, 
and growing, and that threatens, if not checked, to ruin the cotton 
States in the South. 
In passing, I say, with regret, that in the home county in which I 
live, a great historic old county in Texas, where the first gun was fired 
in the war of the Texas revolution, and where the early settlers organ- 
‘ized the town in which I live under the Mexican colonization laws, the 
loss this year, I know, of my own personal knowledge, will be not less 
than $1,000,000 in that one county alone. That is easily told by the 
receipts of the bales of cotton in former years and this year in the 
different towns where the cotton is marketed. 
When we reached this stage we had a meeting of the cotton growers 
of the other States, together with the Texas aad Louisiana delegation. 
They all indorsed this plan, and a large delegation from the different 
States, practically all the cotton States in the Union, was raised to call 
upon the President of the United States, to call his attention to this 
matter and to suggest to him our desire that some general mention of 
the important matter be made in his message to Congress. That was 
done. The delegation waited upon the President, who received us 
very courteously, and discussed the matter very fully, and finally took 
action in the matter, the detail of which is unnecessary, and in his 
annual message you will find these significant words, on page 22: 
The cotton-growing States have recently been invaded by an evil that has done 
much damage and threatens the entire cotton industry. I suggest to the Congress 
the prompt enactment of such remedial legislation as its judgment may approve. 
The bill was drawn by a subcommittee of the Texas and Louisiana 
delegation, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, and 
follows closely the lines of the statement which I have read, and the 
report and recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture. It is in 
line with the suggestion of the President as well, and in line with all 
