Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-10
New Investigation by Secre-
rotary Wilson.
OWNERSHIP OF STOCK
INTEREST OF EMPLOYEES IN DE-
PARTMENT CONTRACTS BARRED.
Report on DR.. Salmon's Case May Be
Made Next Week-District At
torney Beach's Activity.

To determine whether or not any EN-
| ployes of the Agricultural Department own
| stock or are otherwise interested In con-
| Germs directly or indirectly connected with
! matters before the various bureaus OF the
department Secretary Wilson has deter
mined to make a more thorough and ex-
haustive investigation than has been con-
| templated at any time heretofore
The delay shown by DR.. Moore of the
bureau Of plant industry. recently resigned.
and Dr. Salmon of the bureau of animal In
dustry, now under investigation In explain
| ing their connections with two concerns
having business with the department. has
been largely instrumental In influencing the
Secretary to order this latest inquiry.
The investigation will undoubtedly take
considerable time. and active work along
the lines indicated will not be begun for
several days-probably some time next week
when the inquiries now In progress in the
bureau of animal industry and the summer
annex to the weather bureau will be out
of the way.
Report Next Week.
The report on the investigation In the bu-
reau of animal industry will be handed to
Secretary Wilson early next week and it's
findings Immediately made public. ...
Secretary Wilson would not discuss the
case today.
At the same time that he makes public
the findings in the Salmon case Secretary
Wilson will issue a statement dealing with
the charges of extravaganza In the hiring
of unskilled labor by officials of the weather
bureau at the Mt. Weather annex.
Mr.. Beach's Conferences.
District Attorney Beach spent yesterday
in conferences with employees Of the bureau
Of or eft ipc Chief CIarL q
Clark, in connection with the investigation
of the cotton report irregularities. Mrs.
John Hyde, wife of the former statistician Of
the Department Of Agriculture. said that
Mr. Hyde was probably in London consult
ing his physician. Mrs. Hyde added:
II don't know when Mr.. Hyde will return.
I did not know he intended to return until I
read In the newspapers that he had cabied
Secretary Wilson that he would come back
as soon as possible / know only from the
newspapers that Secretary Wilson received
such message. Mr. Hyde would probably
consult his physician before writing such a
letter and it has hardly had time to reach
here. Mr.. Hyde left solely on account of
his health, which was our first considera-
ton. 1t may not have seemed to officials at
the department that he was very sick
man, but If they could have seen him at
home they would have thought differently"
Numerous Witnesses Examined.
District Attorney Beach Is devoting all
his energies to the cotton scandal proceed
ings. Yesterday and today he examined
numerous witnesses who will appear before
the grand jury when 1t meets August Is.
and his time between now and the date
mentioned will be occupied in a similar
manner More than two-score witnesses
have been served with subpoenas In the
cotton scandal affair. but of those 1t is
probable that few viii contribute testimony
of value.
In this connection it Is interesting to
note that of all the witnesses summoned
those knowing the least of real value are
the most anxious to testify, while those
whose testimony would be of real value to
the district attorney are extremely reluctant
to appear at all, much less to answer the
searching questions Of the district at
torney. AS matter of fact the four most
important witnesses on Mr.. Beach's list
are at present recalctrant and are likely
from all indications, to prove obstinate.
The district attorney does not despair
He is working on the little drops of water,
little grains of sand principle" and APP
parently he thinks he sees the goal ahead
He is believed to be looking for the per-
sonal equation of self-interest to do more
than his strongest arguments to induce
those with a knowledge of the facts in the
cotton crop report leakages to tell what
they know.