Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-03
Orders Issued to Weather
Bureau Employees.
RELEASE OF REPORTS
ALL BE GIVEN OUT AT THE SAME
TIME.
The Object is to Prevent Spectators il
One City From Having an Ad-
vantage Over Other Places.

The Department of Agriculture today is
sued orders to the employees of the weather
bureau located at all principal points in
the United States, to release weather re-
ports and forecasts simultaneously. The
atcion has been taken by Prof Willis L.
Moore, chief Of the weather bureau. and
acting secretary of the Department of Agri-
culture. in the temporary absence OF Secre-
tary Wilson, in view of many complaints
which have been made by boards of trade
and stock exchanges in Chicago, st. Louis,
Kansas City, and other cities both east
and west.
An Alleged Unfair Advantage.
1t was claimed by members of these bodies
that reports would reach st. Louis later
than Chicago, giving the state of weather
over the crops in the territory covered joint
ly by these two markets. This, it was
claimed. gave the Chicago operators
great advantage, allowing them to buy or
sell according to the indications In the re-
ports. before the news contained IN the
reports reached St. Louis. Counter charges
were made by Chicago operators and invest
ors. and by other persons Interested IN the
crops, all over the country.
An investigation Instituted by the Depart
ment of Agriculture developed the fact that
the telegraphic facilities in some cities were
much better than others, and that this was
to large degree, responsible FOR the late-
ness of some reports. The matter was con-
sidered by Prof. Moore and by Secretary
Wilson. Several schemes were suggested,
but the only one to be determined practical
BILE is the one which has just been an
nounced.
The Plan in Future.
In future the reports. as at present. will
be teegraphed to the agents of the weather
bureau in the larger cities as soon as they
cd h1yt ha
instead of poting them forthwith upon the
bulletin boards for the information and
edification of the brokers, dealers and in
vestors they will be held in strict confl-
dence until the signal for release Is given
from the home office.
This signal will not be telegraphlc, oul
will be a specific hour, Washington time
The agents will be required to keep exact
tab on the time in Washington, ana "hel
the moment arrives, to post the reports, as
formerly. This will obviate the dlsadVan-
tages of a poor Geographic service, ana
will render useless a better service, so tnal
the cities with the best telegraphlc faclll-
ties will be no better off than their MADE
uuately equipped neighbors. Acting Secre-
tary Moore, in discussing this order today
said:
The Numerous Complaints.
For a long while the Department of
Agriculture, and more particularly, Oh
course, the weather bureau, has been both
cred with complaints from various boards
of trade and other organizations In the
larger cities trading in grain and produce
commodities which are SO dependent upon
the weather. Our reports as we'll as our
forecasts are of vital Importance to these
SPECTATORS and investors, and We had to
adopt some method of distribution whlch
would be satisfactory to all. 1t Will hardy
become the cities with the best Geographic
facilities to oppose this order, because they
will get the reports at the same time as
their competitors. The result will be that
these better equipped cities Will have 10
release what might be construed as an I'M
fair advantage. They can't complain pc
cause they are placed on an equal footing
Prof Moore was asked if this order, per-
hitting the agents of the weather bureau
to be sole custodians of this very important
news while the spectators and investors
are bowling the outside for the IN
formation, would not be too great temp
tation for the agents.
Danger of Leaks"
I'VE thought of that phase of the stu
alton" he replied, and we realize We Will
have to exercise little extra vigilance
OF course We go on the supposition that
all our agents are honest but our force
of inspectors Will keep on the lookout,
nevertheless 1t is very probable that some
INSCRIPTIONS brokers, if any such there be,
will make tempting offers TO agents FOR IN
side information 1t places upon the agents
great responsibility. but l am sincere
when | say that | believe that practically
all of them are of caliber 10 resist such
temptation as may be placed before them.
The reports will be released at exactly the
same time in all parts of the United States,
and any active buying or selling by a broker
a few minutes before the release would eX-
cite suspicion. to say the least, particularly
if this was repeated three or four times,
and the broker was always on the right
side of the market. l think the depart
ment will be able to take care of itself in
this matter, and everybody will be better
satisfied