The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1905-12-13
Extraordinary Precautions Taken
in Preparing the Cotton Report.
STATESMEN SHUT IN.
Convincing Demonstration Of the Fast
ness OF ths Estimate Room Given
Two Southern Representatives
Who Wanted to See How
the Work Was Dune.

A letter from washington says Sec
retary Wilson is taking extraordinary
precautions against leaks in the cotton
report. He has had enough Of scandal
in that connection, and Is determined
that hereafter no leaks shall occur; If
it takes 2 corps Of watermen to pre-
vent it. In making ready for the De-
cembsr report he placed the individual
reports from the various agents
throughout the country in an iron
box, and then placed over the box,
one of the most trusted employees In
the department., armed with a large
revolver. The faithful guardian OF
the papers remained on duty all night,
and until he was relieved on Monday
morning by, the Secretary.
The Secretary himself TOOK the re-
ports from the box and delivered them
to four men appointed to uabulate and
make the required estimates. The men
and the precious papers were hurried
to a roorn assigned for them, and the
doors Of the room were securely lock-
ed, and guarded on the outside by
two men, who were ordersd TO permit
no one to enter or leave the room until
the work Of the board was completed.
Before the board entered the room
the telephone connection was severed
so that no possible communication
could be had with the outside world.
It took five hours to make the requir-
ed calculations, and the board was
kept In close confinement all that
time.
A good story is being circula tied on
Representative Burleson, of Texas,
and Representative Bowie, of Ala
bama, In connection with this last
cotton report. Ga Monday they visited
Secretary Wilson, being much inter
ested in the cotton matter. The Sec
retary politely invited them to remain
and witness the method OF tabulation,
and the precautions ugsd to prevent a
leak. Tine two representatives gladly
accepted the invitation and were
taken to the tabulation room. After
witnessing the work for some time.
and being deeply impressed with the
way in which 1t was done, they
thought it was time for them to go to
the capitol to take their seats aJ tine
opening of the session.
They thanked the Secretary for
what he had done, dorlned their over
coats and prepared to leave, when they
were told that no one could leave
until the work was completed. Tney
plead and argued, but 1t was all In
vain, so their places In the house re.
maiued vacant for three more weary
hours. They were not permitted even
to send q note explaining their situa-
5ion and could not telephone as the
instrument had been disconnected. So
it was that two distinguished Con-
gressmen from the South we're not
present at the lottery for seats, but
they were willing to swear there was
no leak in the December lotion re-
port.
Representative Lewis, OF Georgia,
has introduced q resolution looking to
the adoption Of some new method for
collecting and tabulating cotton stat
istics. The resolution provides for the
appointment Of a committee consist
ing of seven members to take the
whole subject into consideration and
evolve a system that will make the
reports as reliable as possible.