The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-17
Cleveland Men Cause Arrest of
Labor Commissioner Peck.
FOR DESTROYING STATISTICS.
His Report on the Tariff and Wages
Didn't Suit Free Traders.
Whitelaw Reid Addresses q Great Meet
ing ut Buffalo-rhe Republican
League Convention-Enroli oliment Of
Republican Women,

ALBANY. n. Y, Sept. 16.-at S o'clock
this afternoon. at the request of District
Attorney Eaton, warrants were issued for
the arrest of Charles f. Beck, commits
sioner of the state bureau of labor statis-
tics. and his stenographer, Elbcrt Rodgers,
by Police Justice Gutman. The arrests
were made under section ~ s,f the penal
code, which makes it a n,isdemeanor,
punishable by imprisonment for
five years or $500 fine. or both,
for destroying public record.
The charge is that certain circulars and
statistics received by Peck from manufac-
turers of this state from which, to compile
his report on the effect of the McKinly
tariff on wages and productions have been
removed from his Office ana destroyed.
The proceedings leading to the issuance of
the warrants begun this mor51ing before
Judge Gutman behind closed doors. Those
present were District Attorney Eaton.
Corporation Counsel Dellahans and Sena-
tor Norton Chase.
Janitor Dennison, Of the house where
Peck and Rodgers room, stated at the ex-
animation that two weeks ago an express
man brought twenty-five packages to the
house and stored them in Peaks room.
Last Sunday Peck gave him Usennison)$2
TO take them down and burn them in the
furnace. Dennison did so, keing kept
busy from Sunday afternoon until 3
O'Clock Monday morning burning the
packages. Norton Chase said after the
warrants had been issued that he had
proof that, if not all, at least part of the
tariff circulars received by Peck for his re-
port had been burned.
Commissioner Peck said tonight that he
and Rodgers had been served with notices
to answer warrants tomorrow morning.
He then said: ''The securing of these
warrants of arrest Is the culrpination of
the fight made by Mugwumps and anti
Hill Democrats on Gov. Hill and his
friends, and it is all they can ex pect hence
forth from these quarters" A committee
sent by the national Democratic commit
tee. comprising Nelson Smith, j. Schoon-
hoff, E. Eilery Anderson and. Edward
McSweeney. called on Peck this afternoon
and labored over an hour with him, en-
deavoring to secure the names of the
manufacturers reporting to him on the
effect of the tariff on their respective in
dustries. Peck held to his original state
ment that he could show nothing but
what was contained in his annual report,
which was hardly what the committee
was after. The discussion was very heated
at times. Finally Smith read lot of
questions, which. he said, if answered
would satisfy the committee. Peck said
most of the questions could be answered
by reference to his report, but ne voiun-
teered no answer.
Commissioner of Labor Statistics Peck, who
is. like his warm friend, David b. Hil;. a strong
protectionist. recently published a re sort show
ing that the Mckinley bill had increased wages
The report has had dSStrous effect on the
Democrats, and was reiersed to by President
Harrison in his letter of accs ptante.1