The Washington times., 1905-07-13
agricultural Department
To Be Investigated
Cotton Leak Scandal Leads President to Order
Cleaning Up of Various Branches Where
1t Is Thought the Probe Is Needed.

That there will be a thorough and
searching investigation of the Depart
ment OF Agriculture with view to
cleaning out several branches has been
practically decided upon.
There may, in fact, be two such in
yestigations, one conducted by Secre-
tGry Wilson and the other by the De-
partment of Justice. through the United
States Attorney for the District of Co
lumbia
Already Morgan II. Beach. the Dis
trict Attorney, has started on his in
vestigation OF the cotton leak scandal
His inquiry WILL for the present. have
to do only with the cotton leak, but it
may be that President Roosevelt will
direct the Department OF Justice to un-
dertake an investigation of the whole
Department of Agriculture, although
such work would be more the task Of
the Keep Commission, now engaged in
finding out what is wrong with the Gov
eminent Printing Office.
Out of Wilson'S Hands.
The present investigation by the De-
partment Of Justice is with a view to
proceeding against Holmes and his as
sociates under the criminal statutes. II
IS thought at the Department Of Jus
tice that a case lies against Holmes, but
! before taking the matter before the
grand jury the President wants his law
officers to get evidence themselves, and
not rely upon the report made by Sec
! rotary Wilson The Secretary of Agri-
culture is thought to have touched the
/ case too lightly, and for this reason the
/ President has taken the matter out OF
his hands
Whether this means that Secretary
| Wilson will leave tne Cabinet or not
cannot be determined at present, but the
| general belief is that even II the in
! vestigation of his department shows the
| existence OF bad conditions, he Will NOT
/ get out until the department Is sweep
| clean. President Roosevelt stood by
/ Postmaster General Payne during the
! cleaning out of the PoStofice Depart
| nent. and he is not likely to do other
wise in the case of Mr.. Wilson
Secretary Non-Committal.
When questioned this morning as to
! his intentions in regard to investigating
| his department, Mr.. Wilson was non
! committal.
III l should decide that such an IN
vestigation is necessary l would not go
about it with a brass band. There is no
+, opportunfty In this department for the
particular kind of crookedness thai was
| found In the Postoffice Department, 50
far. upon my initiative. have done
everything I considered necessary,
The Secretary lnVestlgatlon OF me
ldanartment will be entirely independent
of that now being conducted by the De
partment Of Justice through the District
| Attorney. He will likely appoint trust
| ed official of the department TO prose
| cute inquiries In a manner similar 10
/! that pursued by Fourth Assistant Post
! master General Bristow in the Postofiice
| Department.
| In several respects the situation in
| the Agricultural Department Is anala-
| gous 70 that which confronted the Post
| Office Department two years ago. When
! charges of corruption We're first laid be-
| fore the late Postmaster General Payne
| he did not believe them Questioned by
! newspaper men. he characterized the
charges as hot air.. When the recent
charges made by the Southern Cotton
Iplantrrs' Association were first presented
! TO Secretary Wilson by Richard Cheat
ham. the Secretary said: 'Oh. that S