Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-09

ton leak. Just what the officials expect to
prove through Mrs. Peckham's testimony
Is not clear, because OF the well-recognized
rule of law in the District of Columbia that a
wife. cannot testify against her husband,
or in case in which her husband Is In
volved Justice Wright has held that Mr..
Peckham is practically under accusation
and lawyers interested in the case are in
clined to discredft the rumor that the gov
extent upon the testimony Mrs. Peckham
might be able to give.
Will Not Discuss the Matter.
Mr.. Beach declined to discuss the matter
from any point of view. When the subject
was preached to Secretary Wilson he threw
up both hands and declared most en-
phatically that Peckham and Mrs. Peckham
and everybody else connected with the cot
ton leak troubles were being examined by
the Department OF Justice.
When Secretary Wilson was at Oyster
Bay week or SO ago. he asserted that the
cotton scandal would never have material
lied had not two New York gamblers
qrarrelled over a woman" The Secretary
declined today to say whether or not he
had Mrs. Peckham in mind when he made
that statement.
way or the other" said Mr.. Wilson. "by
making any further declarations or admis-
siops."
The Secretary declared there is no ground
for the rumor that Mr.. Hyde, former stat
tsfician, will not return Immediately to the
United States.
I'VE received Mr.. Hyde's cable" said the
Secretary, I'm which he said he would come
as soon as possible. l have received no
word from him one way or another since
that cable. and have every reason to be-
Iieve he will keep his word
In addition to the subpoena for Mrs.
Do L. Hnv, fr,
ployes Of the bureau of statistics will be
summoned to testify before the grand jury.
Mrs. Peckham's name has appeared sew
eral times during the course Of the inves-
tigatton. She was. up to a short time ago,
extremely friendly with Mr.. and Mrs
Holmes. Mr.. Peckham was before the
grand jury last week He and Moses Haas
whom Secretary Wilson declared was go
vance information. refused to answer Ger
tain questions. They held 1t would incrim-
mate them. Mrs. Peckham did not accom-
pany her husband to Washington.
Mrs. Peckham Summoned for Aug. IS.
Mrs. Peckham has been summoned to ap-
pear August IL at IL am. The records in
the case show that Frederick A. Peckham,
c. H. Van Ripper and William c. Judd,
whose names were mentioned prominently
In the recent cotton-leak scandal. were all
three more or less Interested in the bank
ruptcy case OF Mrs. Peckham, and that
strenuous efforts were made to prevent the
court from opening safe deposit box
owned by Mrs. Peckham in the Madison
Safe Deposit Company.
After Lesser Bros attorneys for the Pc
titioning creditors. refused all offers of a
settlement, w. w. Judd, acting for Mrs.
Peckham, came forward and paid all claims
against her in full.
Mrs. Peckham a witness. said the box
in question contained things of too much
value to be seen by any person. 1t is now
claimed that the box contained papers cen
nected with the cotton crop prospects
1t ~ said that District Attorney Beach
desires to interrogate Mrs. Peckhan about
the contents of the safe deposit box.
Solicitor McCabe Investigating.
Mr.. George H. McCape solicitor fer the
Department of Agriculture is probing deep
into the bureau Of animal industry scandal.
He was requested to do this work by Secre-
tary Wilson. and has been given full au-
thority to go as far as he likes" Rumor
had 1t that DR.. D. E. Sal non. chief of the
bureau would be relieved while the inves-
tigation is in progress, but Secretary VIII
son would not admit this today. lie said
that Mr.. McCabe had been commissioned to
get the facts, and that no action would be
taken unit. the investigation developed
facts to warrant the action. Mr.. " ilson
does not intend to exercise snap judg-
ment," but 1t Is evident that IL he is con-
viI,ced DR.. Salmons removal will facilitate
the investigation such removal will be
made at once.
The inquiry into the affairs of that bureau
not only involves the charges concerning
the tags attached to the meat inspected by
the government, cut also, II Is said, charges
that meat inspection as now administered
rebounds to the benefit Of the so-called
beef trust .
An additional inspection of meats is now
a matter desired by. Secretary Wilson, and
he will ask Congress at the next session
for an appropriation Of $4,000 for the pur-
pose. In Chicago, Omaha and Kansas City
1t is impossible, 1t is alleged, for the inde-
pendent packers, supplying the local mar
kets, to obtain inspection of their output.
1T Is not right" said the Secretary. for
the big packers to have monopoly
through government inspection. That is a
matter which municipal authorities could
regulate without difficulty. 1t should not
be necessary to have government inspec-
ton for the domestic trade. At present
our hands are tied.
Mr.. Hutchins' Assignment.
Mr.. P. L. Hutchins of New Orleans, the
third member of the recently organized
board to prepare future cotton statistics,
has reported to Secretary Wilson. and will
be assigned to the southern districts The
otHer Two IHemDtrS Oh the DOarO, ALREADY
appointed. are Victor Olmstead and Stephen
D. Fessenden. The fourth member has not
been selected.
II am doing all 1 can in selecting this
board" said Secretary Wilson today II
am getting the best men in the south; men
of character and ability and education; men
In whom the south must have confidence II
their work is not satisfactory don't know
what else can be done"
The District Attorney.
District Attorney Beach retired to his pri-
vate office early this forenoon and began a
series OF important consultations" He
denied himself to callers of every descrip-
ton. except those who had been summoned.
and It is believed that certain employees Of
the bureau of statistics were being subject
ed to a searching examination. This belief
is strengthened through a remark by the