The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-06-23
Spinach Seeds Said TO Have
Been Used for Beet Seeds,
and Weighing System En-
tirely Disregarded.
Many Complaints Received
by Department of Agri-
culture Offered in Evil
dence.


Allegations Of a most sensational
character are made in new evidence
which has been filed in the Court OF
Claims in the case OF the New York
Market Gardeners Association, which
alleges that the United States still owes
it something over $4,000 on the con-
tract for furnishing the seeds for dis
t-ibutioa under the contract Of 1890 and
1891
This evidence alleges that a number
Of most remarkable frauds were per-
petrated. and It points to gross careless
ness, II not something worse, on the
part OF some OF the officers Of the De-
partnent OF Agriculture
II shows. upon the face Of it. that the
Government must have lost L small
fortune in the transaction. but as vet
the Department of Agriculture has
taken nc action other than to oppose the
| collection of the money referred to in
the claim
The Allegations in Substance.
The allegations which appear in the
testimony referred to are:
That the manager of the New York
Market Gardeners Association, Arthur
! c. NelAs. violated a previous contract
n many Illegal ways. yet was permitted
! 10 get the second contract in 1880 and
1S9i
That shortages occurred in all seeds
sent out by the department under the
Nellis contract.
/ That packets were divided into ths
smallest compass. by which means the
/ light weight Of the packets sent out
was concealed.
That the cheapest kinds CT seeds we're
frequently and knowingly substituted fo-
the costly varieties.
| That the cheapest kind OF paper, mucn
below the standard required. was used
10 pack the seeds. by which the con-
tractor saved several thousand dollars
That though the contractor failed 70
I begin the assembling of seeds prepara-
tory to shipping them until two months
after the time stipulated by law. the
penalty of S25 a day was not inflicted.
That but few OF the Representatives
received the seed due them in the prop
er shape, which led TO floods OF pro-
| tests which were more or less ignored.
| That the employees of the contractor
we're instructed TO put UP all packers
| short ia weight.
That a certain officer in the Depart
meut of Agriculture was interested in
/ machines used for a time by the con-
tractor in making the packets for the
seed.
/ That though there were supposed to
| be a number of Government inspectors
watching the packing and shipping OF
| seeds, the alleged abuses were allowed
to continue until all of the Government
/ funds had teen spent with the exception
/ OF the $4,000.
That the abuses were called TO the
attention OF the proper authorities. but
/ that no action of decisive nature was
/ taken until certain protests had become
too loud to be longer ignored.
Story of the Contracts.
Arthur c. Nellis, the contractor IN
| the case. is New York man, who has
/ been more or less Identified with The
| seed trade for years His first contract
from tho Government. so far as is
/ known. was obts,n in 1895. He Is
known as tie manager Of the New YORK
4 Market Gardeners Association. which
| has headquarters at 80 and IL Cortland
Street. New York city.
There were many complaints about the
filling of this contract, and the year
/ following the contract was awarded 70
another firm
The second year following. however.
/ Nellis put in a bid so much below that
/ Of the ether seedmen that he was again
| awarded the contract.
! Congress appropriated Si0s.S74.12 for
! the purchase Of seeds. and of this amount
NeIIis is said to have received S90.5T4.36.
! leaving balance OF about SIS. .e00 which
he claimed from the department and
which the department refused 20 pay,
although a voucher certifying that he
had done the work according TO the con-
| tract lad been approved by Col James
Morrison. a subordinate 20 Secretary Will
son
According 10 the contract. Nellis was
TO do the work Of distribution from
Washington, and he hired place here.
/ The seeds were shipped to Washington
and a number of girls and men were
| Continued on Second Page.l