New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-07-29
MOSES HAAS WARY.
COTTON scandal FIGHT
NeSc- York Brokers Trying to Dodge
Testifying in WASHINGTON.
lF1oM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

"aSHlnspon' July 2s-The federal grand Jury
Tor the District OF Columbia to-day certified 70
Judge Wright Of the Supreme Court Of the r,is-
lIlcI mat both Moses Haas and Frederick A
Feckham- OF New York, had denied the right %
me grand jury to summon them as witnesses
@-4O compel Their testimony matters peril
nen1 to the cotton leak investigation. Thav ara
Tonight at liberty on their personal recor-
hlzances' consulting with their attorneys as IN
~ie "lsest course to pursue when the conteu1pt
oaAe against Haas comes I'D before Judge
wright Tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock OnIv
Haas has thus far been cited for conter1nt br+
FeckhaIn is in the same boat and will be guided
Oy the outcome Of the test proceedings against
his friend
District Attorney Beach anticipated recalci-
U'aIlcy when he on Monday, adopted the IN
usual step OF having the grand jury taken into
court 10 be instructed to make a prompt report
OF any refusal to answer pertinent questions. In
me lace OF these instructions the action OF both
Haas and Peckham yesterday, in refusing 70
testify has aroused the jury and Judge Wright
Is determined TO send 10 jail any one who can
not show ample cause for not testifytng before
the jury.
As soon as the rule against Haas was re-
turned to the court this afternoon. his Iauya-s
Arthur A Brney Of Washington. ard Marx
Alter. OF New-York. tried to persuade the indga
TO postpone the hearing until Monday.
Upon what grounds?' inquired Judge V-hite
-n1s Is case OF considerable Importance
answered Mr.. Birney, and We think We ought
to have time for consultation"
But retorted the court. "the report NJ +ba
grand jury indicates that your clients have AL
ready had ample legal advice, and more does not
seem necessary
>'OoIney after whispered something in his as
soclate's ear. and the latter urged the court n
DEFER action until Monday. because Alter da-
slTeo 10 De IN New-York tomorrow. "If that IS
So responded the court 1--WE can go on NTH
the case now or tomorrow morning. inst az z,c,,
prefer"
The court was unyieIding. and the LAWYERS de-
cided to put the case over one day in order 70
hold consultation tonight
The grand jury desired to have Haas and
Feckharn bound over by the court not TO depart
from its Jurisdiction but this was waived unon
Alters personal suggestion that he knew both
Of the men personally. and that he would be
responsible TO the court for their appearance.
Haas. who refused TO state anything to the Jury.
except that he had lived "off and on" in New
York since 1873 and that he was in the millinery
and horse racing business, refused TO tell the
jury whether he was employed in the Agricul-
tural Department In a statement prepared by
his counsel and read TO the jury he said:
l may De the person one Of the persons
against whom this inquiry is directed"
He was sworn over his protest, and before
answering any question whatever wanted TO
know whether he was a defendant actual or by
implication in the action in any manner The
District Attorney only reply that while
the inquiry was at present directed against Ed
win s. Holmes, Jr., further developments grow
ing out Of the alleged offence can be properly
pursued by the jury"
It was discovered to-day that Haas's record
in the Department OF Agriculture dated from
his appointment as labOrer on April Is, 1898, in
the Division OF Statistics. at $50 a month. He
was appointed from the 14th New-York Dis
trict- On June Is. 1893, he was appointed ''on
probation" as conlputer in the Bureau Of For
estry. 81 600 annually. On December 10,
1888. the appointment made absolute
and two weeks later he was promoted 70 s, 200
on June 80. 1900, he was promoted to a s., 400
clerkship and on Nay To- 1901 he resigned IN
der pressure brought 10 bear by Chief Clifford
PinchOt Of the Bureau OF Forestry, who had
learned that Haas had been lending money out
on interest TO government clerks Chief Pin
chot then wanted Haas removed, but he
I n