New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-07-14
MR.. WILSON NOT TO RESIGN
BUT HYDE MAY RETIRE.
Possible Results of the Cotton
Scandal Investigation.
[FRox THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

[FRox TRIBUNE BUREAU
Washington. July 13-The Secretary of Agri-
culture has no intention or expectation of re-
signing from the Cabinet because of the cotton
scandal which has occurred in his Department.
This statement was made authoritatively to-
day. Secretary Wilson said that he had received
instructions from the President and that he
had taken every step in connection with the
affair his initiative.
The impression grows stronger. however that
John hyde, chief statistician of the Department
OF Agriculture, viii be asked TO resign by the
time the investigation OF his bureau ends. 1t is
not believed by those in possession Of the facts
that Mr.. Hyde viii be found to have violated
his trust in any respect. but il is thought that
careful examination Of his record chief Of
the Bureau Of Statistics will show incompetence
and lack OF administrative ability Incompatible
with his retention in his present important post.
Persons familiar with the history OF the Bureau
Of Statistics since Mr.. Hyde became its head
are confident that the investigation instituted
by the Department Of Justice Will reveal numer-
Gus instances OF bad judgment on the part of the
chief. and that it VIII become obvious to the in
vestigators that Mr. Hyde is not suited to the
heavy responsibilities which devolve on the chief
statistician.
It is asserted that Holiness the former asso-
ciate statstician, is not the only employe of the
bureau who has apparently lived far beyond his
income. It is said that house was purchased
and a trip 10 Europe was taken by employe,
who boosted of having $1,000 to spend abroad.
and whose salary. despite the fact that in
crease was secured at every favorable oppor-
tunity did not warrant such expenditures The
investigators will also find that on one occasion
this employe came into violent collision with the
Civil Service Commission. having furnished to
contestants in special examination copies Of
the questions prepared for the examination, and
at that time it required great efforts the part
OF Mr.. Hyde and Secretary Wilson TO save the
from prompt dismissal at the instance of
The commission.
While it may be impossible TO prove actual
wrongdoing on the part of Mr.. Hyde's sub
ordinates other than Holmes. who, despite the
fact that he bore the title Of associate Stats
cian," was a subordinate of the chief Of the
bureau, It is believed that the investigators Will
discover state Of Generalization which could
not have existed under a competent adminstra-
tive officer. II is further declared that the
records viii show that on many occasions Sec
rotary Wilson called the attention of Mr.. Hyde
TO the fact that there were ugly rumors regard
ing leaks in his bureau. and that in every in
stance Mr.. Hyde not only assured the secretary
that every one Of his subordinates trust
worthy, but that the system employed rendered
whose confidence in Mr.. Hyde's ability appears
not TO have been shaken. accepted his state
ments proof that no leaks had occurred.
While Secretary Wilson undoubtedly believes
that the recent investigation was thorough, be-
cause a large percentage Of the employees of
the statistical bureau were examined. it is as
serted by some members of that bureau that no
one was Investigated but Holmes; that all the
questions asked bore only on his relation to the
crop estimates. and that no attempt made
10 ascertain the possible relations of others with
the admitted leak.
That the investigation conducted by District
Attorney Beach by the Secret Service opera
tives viii. if thorough, bring to light &. number
of cases in which Mr.. Hyde has either misled
Insled IS regarded certain By his en-
plOyes Mr. Hyde is described as a man of strong
likes and diskes given to playing favorites, ="
and blind TO faults in those who win his regard
in other words, as man without judgment
in dealing with subordinates.
When asked to-day what he had to say re-
garding the limitations Of Secretary Cheatham
and other cotton men that he was not possessed
Of proper ability, Mr.. Hyde said:
II is unnecessary that reply TO Mr. Cheatham's
differences. l win make only this statement: In
Mr.. Holmes who was my associate and not my
apparently most capable, and no suggestion of
mine for further safeguarding the figures. as l
thought was unheeded. In 1903 was absent from
the bureau Tor eight months partially on account OF
illness. and when returned was still so I'll that Mr..
Holmes continued for some time practically in
charge During that eight months and for some
time thereafter the associate statiStician was the
trusted man in the compilation OF the reports. Ii
was impossible that subordinates I'm the bureau
should have conspired with him. Under the sys-
tenn he alone could have been guilty Of wrong
doing.