Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-05
INQUIRY BEING MADE
DR.. SalmOn's Interest in the
Meat Label.
TARDY IN EXPLAINING
CASE REGARDED AS SIMILAR TO
THAT OF DIR. MOORE.
Admission by the Chief Of the Bureau
of Animal MISUNDERSTANDING
Wilson's Statement.
TARDY IN EXPLAINING

Secretary of Agriculture Wilson today
admitted that rigid investigation was at
present being made into the condition Of
affairs in the bureau of animal industry
as a result OF the admission by DR.. B. T.
Salmon. chief of the bureau, that for six
years prior to 1902 he was a silent partner
of George f. Howard. now vice president
of the George E. Howard Printing Com
pany. which has had numerous contracts
for printing meat inspection labels.
1t was apparent from the Secretary's ut
terances today that the case has not been
closed. 1t is considered probable that DR..
Salmon may decide to follow in the foot
steps of DR.. Moore Of the bureau of plant
industry. who resigned as result of the
discovery of his connection with nitro
culture concern
There has been considerabl surprise ex-
pressed that DIR. Salmon should have been
SO tardy In explaining his connection with
the Howard Printing Company. While it Is
quite true that Or. Salmon has had no con-
nection with the George E. Howard Print
ing Company since the formation of that
concern. and has held no stock in it. there
has been considerable comment because of
the delay in making clear his connection
with the business prior to the organization
of the company.
The case is deemed much similar to that
which cost DIR. Moore his position If the
latter had made a perfectly frank explana-
ton to Secretary Wilson at the time when
he was first asked as to his relations with
the nitro culture company in question 1t
is quite prObab BILE that he would have yet
been employe of the department.
The Secretary and the Investigating OFF,
Gals considered his action in endeavoring
to prevent the facts from coming to light
more serious than the original circum-
stances. In fact, it is doubtful whether
DIR. Moore was guilty of aught save indis-
erection.
DR.. Salmon's ''indiscretion,' to use term
which has been considerably OverwOrked of
late. appears to some at first glance to be
even more serious than that of DR.. Moore.
According to his own admission, DR.. Sal
mon was Towards business partner when
the first contract for the newly invented
meat label was made wit hthe Agricul-
tural Department.
This in itself is sufficient to make the case
a serious one. and the investigation now in
progress will determine whether the facts
are such to warrant Secretary Wilson in
calling for DR.. Salmons resignation. On
this point the Secretary would not talk.
pending a report of the results of the In
quiry.
DR.. Salmon's Admission.
DIR. D. E. Salmon. chief of the bureau of
animal industry of the Department of Agri-
culture, who has held that Office for many
years, has admitted that he was the bust
ness partner of George E. Howard of this
city when the gelatin meat label was pat
ented, and also when. in June 1901, the first
contract for the label was awarded by the
Department of Agriculture After the first
contract secured from the department
DR.. Salmon withdrew from his partnership,
having, he said, already practically with
drawn before that. His interest in the print
ing esta blishment was then appraised.
DR.. Salmon had talk yesterday with Sec
rotary Wilson. who is investigating num-
Der of matters in the bureaus of his de-
Dt.ty,
Mr.. Howard lasted about six years After
that time the Howard Printing Company,
which was thus financed did large amount
Of business with the bureau of animal in
dustry, of which DR.. Salmon was chief and
with other bureaus of the department. DR..
Salmon said last night that when he met
Mr.. Howard the latter had no money. II
advanced the sum necessary to publish the
Feather, a poultry journal in which he was
Interested said DR.. Salmon. I'VE con-
tinued in the printing business and he be-
came aware of the needs of the Department
of Agriculture for a meat label. Being an
ingenious young man, he met the conditions
and the patent was taken out. 1t was his
invention. l offered suggestions from time
to time. / told him what the requirements
were. 1 also urged him to perfect some de-
vice, as did companies that made bust
ness of dealing in tags. We were anxious
somebody should be able to furnish a de-
vice that would be acceptable
DR.. Salmon added that he had had abso-
lutely no interest in the meat LABEL d.
rectly or indirectly since July 1, 1901. THE
Howard Printing Company, I understand,
has done printing for the department in re-
cent years" he said. but with this I have
through the hands OF the disbursing officer.
It becomes simply question of who Is
the lowest bidder"
Mr.. Howard said that in 1901. on the
twentieth anniversary of the bureau of ami
NAL industry, he had prepared a suitable
souvenir. for which practically all in the
bureau contributed. 1t embraced write
ups of officials and employees The cost
varied. the prices ranging from 81 to 81 ap-
proximately, according to the size of the
pictures used.
Secretary Wilson's Statement.
Secretary Wilson said last night that Dr.
Salmon had explained his connection with
the printing company substantially re-
lated by the doctor in his conversation with
newspaper men, He also said that Mr..
Howard had come to the department bring
ing with him the books of his firm and
showed to him that no one in the depart
ment had any connection with the company
since DR.. Salmon had withdrawn
Regarding allegations of favoritism to the
great packing houses in the assignment Of
government meat inspectors, Secretary VIII
son and DIR. Salmon, chief OF the bureau of
animal industry, expressed the opinion that
there had not been any undue discrmina-
lions, although conceding that there had
been more or less complaint from small
meat packers because of the departments
inability TO send meat inspectors to them
promptly.
DIR. Salmon says that the number of in
spectors is not large enough and that the
department is required under the law to
consider the fact that the small companies
are not engaged in slaughtering for the ex-
trad