The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-10
THE COTTON REPORT SCANDAL,
STiTISTICIAN EDWIN II. HOLMES
SPENDED FROM DUTY.
other Off1cers OF the Department May BE
Involve Charges That the Cavern.
mcnt Figures Have Been Manipulated
Before Their Ohiciul P,fbIicat iOn.

WASHINGTON, June edwin H. Holmes,
associate statstician of the division of
statistics, Department of Agriculture. was
to-day suspended from duty by Secretary
Wilson pending an investigation Of the
charges Of Richard Chcatham, secretary
Of the Southern Cotton Association, that
Holmes was responsible for leaks in Govern
ment cotton reports. Mr.. Holmes an
nounced that he was suspended at his own
request This was not denied by Sec
rotary Wilson. 1t is known, however,
that whether or not Mr.. Holmes had made
such request he would have been re-
lieved from duty for the present at least
Officers Of the Department, among them
Secretary Wilson, were at first inclined
to minimize the importance of the Cheat
ham charges. They explained the system
used in the preparation and publication
of the cotton reports and contended that
it was impossible for any one to commit
irregula rites, as no one in advance Of the
executive meetings, when the figures were
totaled, knew what the results would be.
When Mr.. Cheatham submitted his proof
to Secretary Wilson that officer first ex-
pressed establishment and then alarm and
he instituted searching investigation. As
an incident Of the inquiry it was deemed
best that Mr.. Holmes should be suspended
in order that the Department might not be
open to the charge of a whitewash in the
event that the Cheatham charges were
proved on inquiry to he umfounded.
There is good reason to believe that
others in the Department may be involved
before Secretary Wilson finishes the work
which he has mapped out Reports are
current that persons in New York are also
entan gled, and it is understood that Secret
Service agents are already at work in that
| city looking into statements embodied in
| the evidence filed 10y Mr.. cheatham.
| 1t was developed to-day that the most
serious charge preferred by Mr. Cheatham
Is that the returns from various sources
which are used as a basis in the preparation
OF the Government cotton reports have
been manipulated after reaching the De-
partment. Chief attention has been paid
so far to alleged leaks, but it was not
publicly known until to-day that Secre-
tary Wilson had been confronted with a
statement that the Government figures had
been manipulated before their official
publication under his signature.
Secretary Wilson undoubtedly made every
! the Government cotton reports would be
absolutely accurate. no far as the Depart
ment could make them 40, and so to ar
| range the tabulations that it would be
impossible for any one to give out advance
information or manipulate the figures. If
the statements Of Mr.. Cheathsm are to be
accepted. the Secretarys system has
proved an utter failure, because, according
I A. 49,. ALL A 49,,
the figures have been manipulated, and
there is almost absolute evidence that
officers of the Department have been re-
| sponsible for the leaks
| Mr. Cheatham said to-day that the docu-
| ments which he had placed in the hands of
Secretary Wilson had been prepared with
the greatest care and that they had been
scrutini2ed by able counsel before it was
decided to move on the Department of Ag
| riculture. Il consulted firm Of attorneys
in Wall street he said land they advised
me that the case was complete in every
respect and that it would hold"
| Mr.. Cheatham maintains a mysterious
silence as to the nature of the papers he
submitted to Secretary Wilson. 1t was
| agreed between us. he said that it would
( be better to make the inquiry without beling
| the cat believe that this is the thing to
| do. As | understand it, the results will be
made public when the Secretary completes
the investigation.
Secretary Wilson, his private secretary
said to-day, had no desire to comment on
the suspension of Mr.. Holmes, All that Mr.
Holmes had to offer on the subject was that
he suggested suspension pending the in
quiry and that he did not fear the outcome