The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-17
III "LEAKED" IN WASHINGTON
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT WAS SENT
TO THE TELEGRAPH COMPANIES.
A Capital City Representative of IL
Financial Institution Sent 1t
to His New York Employers.

Washinton, November 16.-Secretary
Wilson of the agricultural department Is
investigating the complaint of the New
York cotton exchange that the special
cotton crop report issued Tuesday was in
the hands of private firms before it reach
ed the exchanges. The secretary himself
was absent at the cabinet meeting when
the report was issued and he therefore
has no personal knowledge of the oc-
currence.
Superintendent Hyde of the statistical
division stated today that the regular
telegraphic summary of the cotton report
was sent as usual November TO- Usually
the detailed report male up a few days
later is not telegraphed but owing to an
important statement 1t contained this
month it was deemed best to have it sent
30 the cotton exchange by telegraph. In
the report the department estimated the
crop at 100000 bales. In the supple
mental report it was explained that this
estimate was based on The fact that the
experience of past years had shown that
the actual crop exceeded the department S
estimates and ad ed that the reports on
partment Indicated a crop of less than
100000 bales, This supplemental report
was sent to the two telegraph companies
for transmission to the exchanges at II 55
a. m The secretary of the exchange wrote
Mr.. Hyde that it did not reach the ex-
change until 2:45, about three hours later
One OF the telegraph companies here re-
ported that the report was offered to New
iork Immediately on its receipt but it
peing unusual to receive supplemental
report New York refused to take 1t I'm
mediately. Meantime a correspondent of
one OF the finoncial agencies in New York
heard of the report and telegraphed its
substance to his agency The other COM
pany reported 10 the department that the
report was transmitted Immediately. Why
II did not reach its destination on time
as alleged Is not known here. Mr.. Hyde
mas written to the secretary of the ex-
change explaining all the facts SO far AS
the department is concerned,
New Orleans, November 16.-Secretary
Hester of The New Orleans Cotton Ex-
change. has written to John Hyde, statis-
ucian OF the agricultural department, rela-
1--WE TO the failure of the New Orleans and
other exchanges to get the cotton report
W WIG department lssucu November IL
until two or three hours after the specnla-
tors got the news.
Mr. Hester's letter closes as follows: THE
result OF all this was that the spectators
received the benefit OF the information
which was known on the streets and peo-
pie legitimately doubted the matter be-
cause they had nothing on which to base
positive assurance. The public is quite
sore at the impression conveyed by the
telegraph company that prominent official
mad Issued information Of the greatest Inn
portance to the entire Southern country.
ana permitted the trade to be victimized
Tor the benefit OF few spectators. or
course, you understand ] give this to you
Tor your information. knowing that one
good story is good only until another is
told. The Geographic account coming SO
soon after the Dewey day affair. when false
quotations on the price OF cotton were
published, has aroused a great deal of in
dignation and suspicion and the cotton ex-
change will insist that the matter be
probed to the bottom