The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-08-04

Washington. July es.-The Feieras
government, acting through the depar.-
|ment OF justice, has taken notice of the
Ioften-repeated charges of Wholesale
violations of the internal revenue laws
land collision on the part of federal of-
lieiaIs in western North Carolina two
agents OF the department are
NOW ut work In the western dtstri>5
making an investigation, which. it IS
declared on good authroity will tie
Thorough and ~far-reaching. These rep
of the department of jus
ltice have been III the state several
weeks and their work will take thens
Ito every county where whiskey frauds
lare alleged TO nave been practiced.
They started in Wilkes and are still
lin the eighth district, where IL Is con-
tended that most of the evil practices
have been carried on.
lSTRONG PRESUMPTIvE EVIDENCE.
This investigation would ordinarily
lhave been conducted by the treas ny
department, but the fact that the claim
lis made that revenue officials are IN.
lvolved, made it necessary to conduct
1.-THE investigation through the depart
Iment of justice. To those familiar with
the workings OF the machinery of he
federal government, il is realized thar
1.-THE charges must have been accompa-
nied by strong p~resumptive evidence Ia
have secured the support OF an ex4;i-
Tive branch Of the government. A sen
ltleman who is somewhat familiar with
1.-The character of the investigation ex-
Ipressed the opinion that b inquiry
would disclose d situation almost rs
lintolerable as the land fraud cases IN
Itch western states. This authority Ee-
lclared that the investigation under WAY
lis directed against the guilty and that
lpresent influence will be impotent wden
the drag net is set in motion.
SPECIAL AGENTS HAVE BEEN
WATCHED.
The fact that special agents of the
department of justice hav been In the
lstate has been known for some time.
Ibut the significance of the inquiry ke-
ling made has been closely guarded. II
lis said that there is great anxiety / II
revenue circles in the state to find out
lwhat is being accomplished and that,
lin some instances. attorneys nave been
Iemployed to follow up the special
lagents and i~nterrogate the witnesses,
lwho have appeared before them. The
result of the investigation will hardly
Ibe known for some time, but that does
mot interfere with the sensational re-
lports that are to be heard, even here
lin Washington, with reference to the
~tprobing of conditions in the Internal
revenue department in North Carroll
Ina. Possibly mucn of this talk is cx-
laggerated. but the federal government
Undoubtedly believes that there is room
flor suspicion, and has zone ahead with
la determination to sift all the talk TIA.
has been heard with reference TO this
lsubject of whiskey fraud and COLLISION
lon the part of government officials.
SECRETARY WILSON MAY RESIGN.
From the agricultural department
lcame the story today that Secretary
Wilson had expressed a determination
Ito tender his resignation as soon as the
investigation of the scandal in his de-
Inartment is concluded. The secretary
lit is claimed, is anxious to give up MS
LOB, but does not want to retire under
lire. His department is discreIitet
lamong cotton men everywhere, n II
lis the opinion here that Mr.. Wilson vii
Ihaye to give way to a younger and
lmore active man. The secretary IS q
wears of age and the disclosures 81
lrascaIity that have gone on under his
| lnose are telling ON him. Ii Is not be
/ llieved that the President will PERM
IMr. Wilson to be pushed out OF Office
| Ibut il is believed here that 1t will no
| lbe very long before there Is a new Sc.
! Iretary Of the department or agricu'
l ifIlre.