Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1905-08-05
OUR WASHINGTON Letter

get 10 lie DOtGOttl Ol TIE HItSuidiitACS IA
the Department of Agriculture is shown
| by the action of the court to day in the
cases of the recalcitrant brokers Haas and
! fecktIam wiro we're sHbPeeaaea from,
New York to appear before the special
grand jury and who refused TO answer
the questions put to them. Both the
brokers 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 second, claiming that their
answer 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 something that might be of vital
interest in the investigation. The attor-
news or the witnesses asked that they
might have till Monday to pass on the
questions, but the court ruled that they
| must answer at the meeting OF the
grand jury OH Saturday. 1t is believed
that Judge Wright, before whom the
hearing is being held, will direct the wit
nesses to answer the questions put to them
or take the alternative 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
questions asked them, it is probable that
they alter their minds when confronted
with Jail sentence for contempt oil
| court.
| ~
There was another mild sensation in
the Department of Agriculture today-by
the presentation and prompt acceptance
of the resignation of DIR. Geo. 7. Moore
of the Bureau OF Soils. 1t appears that
DIR. Moore had, while connected with the
Bureau, published pamphlet that was
printed by the department on the en-
richment 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 DIR.
Moore by the Department OF Agriculture
as protection to the farmers and assur.
| ing the freedom of the nitro culture for
farm use. At the same time company
know as the Nitro Culture Company
of West Chester, Pa, was formed to
manufacture the compound and an Offer
of good block of stock in the company
and liberal salary was made to Dr.
Moore for his services. DR.. Moore com
municated 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 bu'
reau. This state of affairs continued till
brought out at a hearing in the Depart
ment this week. DR.. Moore promptly
rendered his resignation to the Secretary
OF Agriculture and it was accepted and
the whole action made public in state
ment by the department.
~
Itseems that the affairs Of the Govern
ment Printing Office are not to rest with
the conclusion of the Keep Commission
which has been investigating the pur-
chase of seventy-two setting machines
for use in the department. This commits,
sion has concluded its investigation but
the results have not yet been made pub
lie. Meantime there is a congressional
committee headed by Senator Platt ol
New York, that has been authorized to
inquire into the affairs OF the officer. Ii
is stated that the Governments printing
bill has increased from three and hal
millions in 1898 to 81, 900, 900 at present
This increase has been largely in connec-
ton with matter that Congress thought
the government need not be required to
print, and the first meeting of the H.
yestigating committee is looked forward
to with considerable interest. tits prob
able that the committee will cut off some
OF the useless expenditure and that a
good deal of useless printing will be dis
pensed withwithout hurting the efficiency
of the largest printing establishment ii
the world.
~
The Navy Department is congratuiatlng
itself on the receipt to-day OF communi
cation from the armored cruiser Pe1nsyl
vania that has just arrived at Tompkins
vile, showing that she has broken the
record for armored vessels by doing 6
trial with a regular crew on board at :
rate of 22.S knots. This makes her no
only the fastest armored vessel in the
navy but the first time that vessel ii
the Navy has beaten her builders tria
with regular crew. The speed OF thu
Pennsylvania on her builders trial wa'
22.4 knots.
*x*
An interesting communication to the
Navy Department has Come from Lieut.
Kaiser, in charge of the wireless, appar
atus on board of the Brooklyn when sht
brought, home Paul Jones body from
France. He states that the Brooklyn'l
wireless installation sent and received {
message while at sea from a distance o
HOO miles. The message came so strong
that it is quite evident that it could have
been received at a considerably greate
distance. During the same voyage signals
we're observed up to distance OF l70t
miles.
+.*
The board of inquiry into the Benning
ton explosion has been appointed ant
Commodore Stevens has been ordered
south from San Francisco for duty Will
the board, in order that it should bs
composed of officers of sufficiently ad
vanced rank. The meetings OF the boart
| .iI L. LII -, tba Cl,iaaoo tho AaUehiT