The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-06
lMPEACHING COTTON REPORT.
SOUTHERN COTTON MEN WANT
OFFICIAL REMOVED.
Evidence Amassed Here by brokers and
Lawyers In Effort to Show That Gov.
eminent Figures Have Not Only Leaked
Out IN Advance but Have Been Falsifed

Richard Chatham Of Atlanta, secretary
OF the Southern Cotton Growers Associa-
ton, went to Washington yesterday intend
ing to call President Roosevelts attention
to matters which he considers gross irregu-
larities in both the preparation and the
publication Of the Government cotton report
issued last Friday. Mr.. Cheatham will make
no charges Of bribery or any other crime
but his nt,nton is to ask for rigid in
vestigation and to ask that the resi- gnation
Of one Of the important employees in the
statistical bureau OF the department Of
Agriculture be demanded.
The Southern Cotton Growers Associa-
ton ia an organization OF planters and
Southern brokers whose object 1t Is to
regulate as far as possible the acreage Of
cotton and to protect the planters and
other Southern cotton interests from manip-
ulation OF the market tending to bear
the price OF the staple. This association
says 1t has as many experts as the Depart
ment Of Agriculture has and makes every
effort to secure the most Trustworthy in
formation regarding the condition Of the
crop. For several months the statistics
gathered by the association have been
at variance with those emanating from
Washingto and the officers of the assocta-
ton, together with brokers and cotton mer-
chants in this city, have conducted secret
investigation in the hope Of ascertaining
the reasons for the discrepancies.
prominent broker OF this city. whose
name is withheld on his insste nee that
he does not care to be known as an inves-
tigator on these lines, gathered the most
important OF the documentary evidence
in the case. From employees Of the De-
partment Of Agriculture. he says, some
OF whom are in the habit of making fire.
quent visits to this city, he learned that
advance information in regard to the re-
ports could be secured He followed up
this line by inquiring whether or not the
report could not be changed, the figures
of the Governments expert reporters
altered so that a false impression might
be made Of cotton conditions. He was
successful In this endeavor also, he says,
receiving letters from at least one en-
ployee OF the department and learning
that at least one OF the prominent firms
OF cotton brokers in this city had such
an understanding with at least one official.
Mr. Cheatham was notified of the dis
coveries by telegraph and made hurried
trip to this city. From Z o'clock yesterday
morning until noon a conference between
Mr.. Cheatham, cotton brokers and at
torneys was held In the offices OF Wall
Street law firm. All o'clock, Mr.. Cheatham.
on advice OF the attorneys, left for Wash
ington.
Mr.. Cheatham will charge that the figures
OF the Bureau OF Statistics have been
manipulated In the interests Of 'Oeftain
bearish element In the market here and
this charge will include not only the fur
nishing Of advance info rmaton pertaining
to the Government figures. but also falsi-
fcation Of those figures to indicate crop in
excess Of that indicated by the actual CON-
ditions.
In the case Of the report issued last FRI
day he will charge that plans were laid
practically a month in advance to secure
a tearish report and that the employee he
accuses perfected the arrangements him
self. And because OF this manipulation.
Mr.. Cheatham will further charge, the
crop condition percentage, announced as
772 per cent, was much higher than the
real figures from the Go vernment's oorre-
spondents warranted and the acreage
reduction Of IA per cent. was very much
lower than was warranted by the actual
returns.
John Hyde, statistician OF the Depart
ment OF Agriculture. IL under no suspicion
Of implication in the alleged Irregularities.
Mr.. Hyde had planned to sail for Europe
to-day. 1t Is believed by those behind
the charges that Mr.. Hyde will postpone
his European trip when he hears what
Mr.. Cheatham has to tell him.
Mr.. Cheatham considered the matter of
the greatest importance to Southern cotton
interests.
Planters who will 60 to the extremity
OF burning a part Of their crops to keep
down the supply OF the staple and secure q
fair price for that which remains must not
he subjected" he said. ito the detriment Of
an unfair price produced by false Govern
ment figures. In the New Orleans market
last Friday the price fell 81 bale solely on
account OF this manipulated report. The
continuation Of such condition would
mean the loss OF hundreds of thousands OF
dollars to planters In the cotton belt In ad-
dition to the loss that has been caused al
ready"
WASHINGTON June 5.--Mr. Cheatham
arrived here from New York this evening
and after a prolonged conference with
persons interested in the case started back
for New York on night train. He declined
to make known the identity OF the men
whom he met here, but said that he was
returning to New York to secure the sig
natures Of persons who are supposed to
have knowledge Of the facts and expects
to be in Washington again tomorrow
or Wednes day.
He will then confer with Secretary OF
A griculture Wilson and later with President
Roosevelt laying before them. it Is under
stood, information that at least one Official
in the Bureau OF Statistics. Department OF
Agriculture, has been guilty Of giving
advance information to cotton brokers,
who desired to use it to depress the market.
The immediate cause of the present
trouble Ia the difference between the es-
ii mates on acreage by the Cotton Associa-
ton and those OF the Government, the
lattere returns being per cent. less than
the former The estimate OF the associa-
ton was made public or Nav 81, and that
OF the Cove came out a few days
later. This YVES followed by a meeting OF
cotton men at New Orleans and Mr.. Cheat
ham Immediately sta rted for New York
He came to Washington tonight for the
purpose OF taking UP the matter tomorrow
with tho President and Secretary Wilson.