New-York tribune., 1905-07-12
TO PROBE COTTON SCANDAL
Evidence Goes to Department of
Justice-Crop Report Precautions.
IFRoM THE TRIBUNE b-REAU.

Washington, July 1.-THE Secretary of Agri-
culture. acting on a suggestion from the Presi-
dent, has turned over TO the Department Of
Justice all the evidence in the cotton report
scandal, and-every effort VIII be made TO bring
former Associate Statistican Holmes and those
implicated with him TO justice. In the absence
of Attorney General Moody Solicitor General
and now Acting Attorney General Hoyt has
taken the matter in charge and viii make care
ful examination of the evidence in hand with
view TO ascertaining if prosecution Will lie.
If tie evidence proves on examination to be
insufficient further effort may be made through
the Secret Service TO secure supplementary evil
dtnce which viii establish the governments
case.
The President is much interested in the affair
and is entirely unwilling that the perpetrators
Of the fraud shall be permitted to escape with
out prosecution. AT least until the government
has exhausted every expedient TO compass their
punishment.
Secretary Wilson has also determined to push
the investigation Of the Bureau of Statistics
somewhat further with a view to discovering
any further evidence Of fraud or Of exonerating
any one connected with the bureau save Holmes.
There are some indications that the President
is disinclined TO regard Chief St2tistcian Hyde
as entirely blameless, although there is no evil
had knowledge Of Holiness breach Of trust The
opinion is. in fact. general that Nj Hyde was
at least blameworthy in that he did not sooner
detect the dishonest practices Of Holmes. espe-
cially as there had been many reports 10 the
effect that a leak existed before Secretary
Cheatham demonstrated the existence of a leak
to Secretary Wilson, and the impression pre-
walls that the President shares this view
1t is regarded as entirely natural that the
Presidents love OF thoroughness should have
dictated that further investigation of the
Bureau of Statistics be undertaken and the
change Of opinion exhibited by Secretary Will
son between yesterday and to-day would seem
10 indicate that he has come 10 share the Presi-
dents desire for a complete overhauling of a
bureau which has afforded the first real scandal
in Mr.. Wilson's long and capable administration
Of the affairs of the Department OF Agriculture
1t is assumed that Mr. Hyde will. if only for ap-
pearances sake. ask that he be suspended pend
Ing the completion of the investigation of his
bureau.
The new system OF preparing the monthly
crop report devised since the cotton investiga-
ton began was put in force to-day. That re-
port was made public late this afternoon and the
Secretary believed that the steps taken TO safe
guard the figures were well nigh perfect. Early
in the day Assistant Secretary Hays, Chief
Statistician Hyde and several experts Of the de-
partment were placed in a room under lock and
key and they not permitted TO come out
until o'clock in the afternoon The telephones
IN the room were disconnected and careful
scrutiny was kept OF the windows TO avoid the
possibility of a leak through private signals.
L. c. Van Riper. who went TO Washington and
exposed leakages in cotton crop estimates wrote
letter 10 Secretary Wilson OF the Department Of
Agriculture, yesterday in which he regretted that
the controversy between himself and the Secretary
had been made public. He says he understood that
the information given by him TO be used con-
hdentaly.
i do not see that any good arise from any
further criticism OF your attitude in the matter"
he says, and wish 10 state that I hold myself
ready TO assist you in any further Investigations" "
He then reviews the facts. published heretofore
and concludes by requesting the Secretary col
ect new data regarding the actual acreage of cot
ton being grown and publish the in cOnnec-
ton with the forthcoming August report.