The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1905-08-04
WILSON HAS A NEW SCHEME.
Will Thoroughly Reorganize the Crop
Statistics Bureau.

OySleT bay, ~. :, Aug. L.-oSClc-
tary Wilson will reorganize thoroughly
the crop statistics bureau of the de-
partment of agriculture, according to
information here last night. Already
he is seeking men of character, stand
ing and education to conduct the work
of the bureau, men in whom the farm
ers and growers of the country will
have implicit confidence, and who will
place the reports of the bureau on a
standard of excellence never hereto
fore achieved. One man he has found
although he does not at this time wish
to publish his name. The other three
he hopes to secure in a short time
Two Of them will be Southern men,
and both will be experts in cotton and
tobacco statistics. This, in brief, is
one of the ideas which Secretary Will
son elucidated to President Roosevelt
yesterday.
Will Not Resign.
At the conclusion of his conference
Secretary Wilson talked frankly about
some phases of the work in his de-
partment He was asked whether
there was any likelihood of his early
REIMBURSEMENT of his portfolio as sec
retary of agriculture. He replied:
Il have not been asked to go, and |
am not intending to resign. | am go
ing to stick to my post and continue
to build up that great department.
You will recall that when | went there
I cti ioa t,uf 70
roll-top desks and half-dozen half
starved scientists. Since that time we
have built up an improved branch OF
the government. The agricultural de-
partment to-day is great department,
and ! may say is as sound as nut.
We are trying every day to make it
better. Since | took charge of it 279
people
Have Been Let Out
of it's service for various reasons,
many of them on charges of one kind
or another We make it a point to
keep only first:class men and women.
The purpose of the Investigations now
in progress is to purge the department
of all selfishness and corruption, and
that end will be accomplished. 1t is
my purpose, and it is the purpose OF
the president"
Then Secretary Wilson outlined his
, new plan for the bureau of statistics.
This is entirely new said he, ''and
| never has been published. 1t is my in
tentiOn to create a board with Assis-
tant Secretary Hays at its head which
shall handle all crop statistics. The
board will consist of four men, two of
| whom will be from the South. The
other two will be from other Parts of
[ the country. They
Will Be the Best Men
we can find in the country. men of
| character, standing and education
| They will be scientific experts in
whom the country will have absolute
| confidence. All reports will be sent to
| me from the field, and l will place
| them at the proper time in the hands
Of these scientists. Each will make
up his estimate and the four estimates
| will be resolved either by me or by
Assistant Secretary Hays. Through
| the work of this board l think we shall
have perfectly reliable estimates made
| of all crop conditions. This plan will
! be better than that providing for only
one man at the head of the bureau OF
| crop statistics. That one man might
| leave the department, he might get
| sick or he might prove to be rascal
| This irea eliminates any of these pos
| sibilities Then, too, it will insure
| perfect security and confidence