Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-07-13
New York Exchange De-
mands Investigation.
Pres. Hubbard Writes Pointed
Letter to the President.


July IA IlSW dIlu
teresting phase of the cotton leak in
vestigation was developed, today,
through the publication of the letter of
Walter c. Hubbard. president of the
New York Cotton Exchange, address,
ed to President Roosevelt, in which
the writer declares that the members
of the Exchange had been greatly
shocked by the recent disclosures of
venality in the department of agricul-
ture" and requesting a full investiga
ton Of the methods which led to the
corruption with view of preventing
the possibility Of recurrence.
That letter, is believed here to be the
outcome OF recent correspondence be-
tween Sec. Wilson and Mr.. Hubbard
in which the latter called upon the
secretary to make him public apology
because he had some years ago called
the secretary's attention to alleged
leaks and that no notice had been CIV
en- the suggestion. The secretary wrote
a tart reply, in which he informed Mr..
Hubbard that he owed no one an
apology in the light of having done
his duty to the best of his ability and
that when he got anything that looked
like facts he promptly sent it to the
secret service officers to hunt down.
The case to which Mr.. Hubbard re-
fered in his recent letter to the sec
rotary occurred in 1900. On Dec. 20 Of
that year, Mr.. Hubbard sent to the
secretary certain papers showing that
a Mr.. Steinberger wanted to sell infor-
nation to New York cotton broker
age firm, claiming that he could get
1t advance from the department.. Sec
rotary Wilson Immediately turned the
matter over to the secret service Of
ficers but in about a week Chief Will
kie reported that at looked like an at
tempt of Steinberger to bunco the New
York firm" After allowing two months
to elapse and not hearing anything
further, the secretary, March 26, 1901,
called upon the secret service for in
formation as to whether they had made
Secretary of the Treasury Gage re-
piled as follows:
THE action of this man who want
ed to sell information was done with
the hope Of being able to sell informa-
ton. but as matter of fact his eff
forts to obtain the advance .informa-
ton failed, as he received no asss-
lance from the person in Washington
upon whom he depended for informal
ton"
This report of Mr.. Gage was trans
mitted to Mr. Hubbard by Secretary
Wilson. the next day, and the matter
was allowed to drop. But in January,
1902, Mr.. Hubbard complained CT hav-
ing been advised that Southern gin
ners were sending to the department
returns of their ginning operations
bearing date of Dec. 90 or % and"
said Mr.. Hubbard, Il am unable to
understand why additional returns
from ginners should be obtained, sine
the result is to be published"
1t seems. however that the depart
ment of agriculture had not called for
but that the circulars had been issued
from the census bureau.
In the same month, Mr.. Hubbard
wrote the department of agriculture
asking for certain information on cot
ton. but the secretary in the course OF
a sharp letter denying the request.
written under date of Jan. II, 1902,
said:
1--WE take the ground here that moth
ing goes out unless it goes to the
whole people. We have no favorites."
Secretary Wilson. today. permitted
the examination of the correspondence
in order to show that, as far back as
five years ago. he had taken prompt
action to discover any leaks in his Of
flee.