Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-08-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
lErom our RequIar Oorrespondent.l J


The determination Of the gov
ernment to get to the bottom of
the irregularities in the Depart
ment of Agriculture is shown by
the action of the court to-day in
the cases of the recalcitrant brok-
ers Haas and Peckham who were
subpoenaed from n. Y, to appear
before the special grand jury and
who refused to answer the ques-
tions put to them. Both the brob-
ers were accompanied by counsel
and refused to answer the questions
asked them first on the ground that
the court had no right to inquire
into their private business and Sec
ond claiming that their answers
might incriminate them. This is
one of the last pleas that witness
usually adopts and made it seem
more apparent to the jury that the
brokers were keeping back some
thing that might be of vital inter
est in the investigation. The at
torneys for the witnesses asked that
they might have till Monday to
pass on the question, but the court
ruled that they must answer at the
meeting of the grand jury on
Saturday. 1t is believed that
Judge Wright, before whom the
hearing is being held, will direct
the witnesses to answer the ques-
tions put to them or take the alter
native of going to Jail. Both of
the witnesses have able counsel and
while they on Friday reiterated
their first decision not to reply to
the question asked them, it is prob
able that they alter their minds
when confronted with a Jail sent
ence for contempt of court.
There is another mild sensation in
the Department of Agriculture to-
day by the presentation and prompt
acceptance of the resignation of
DIR. Geo. T. Moore of the Bureau
of Soils. 1t appears that DR..
Moore had while connected with
the Bureau published a pamphlet
that was printed by the depart
ment on the enrichment of soils,
recommending the use of certain
nitrogenous compounds. The
compound as is the custom in any
such cases, was patented in the
name of DR.. Moore by the Depart
ment of Agriculture as a protec-
tion to the farmers and assuring
the freedom of the nitro culture for
farm use. At the same time a
company known as the Nitro Cul-
ture Company of West Chester,
Pa, was formed to manufacture
the compound and an offer of a
good block of stock in the company
and a liberal salary was made to
DR.. Moore for his services. DR..
Moore communicated the offer to
the Department but his resignation
was not accepted and raise of
salary was promised him. The
matter dragged along without the
increase of salary being granted,
and DIR. Moore's wife held the
stock in the company while DR..
Moore continued to work in the
bureau. This state of affairs con-
tinued till brought out at a hear
ing in the Department this week.
DR.. Moore promptly rendered his
resignation to the Secretary of
Agriculture and it was accepted
and the whole action made public
in a statement issued by the De-
partment.
The board Of inquiry into the
Bennington explosion has been APP
pointed and Commodore Stevens
has been ordered south from San
Francisco for duty with the board
in order that it should be compos-
ed OF officers of sufficiently advanc-
ed rank. The meetings of the
board will be held on the Chicago,
the flagship of the squadron.