The Washington times., 1905-07-17
Department of Agrlcul-
ture to Be InVeS-
tigated.
ALL LEAKS TO BE FOUND
Peremptory Orders Sent
From Oyster Bay Upset
Vacation Plans.

The Keep investigating commission
mas taken up the Department of Agricul-
ture, under specia lrush order from the
President, it is understood. and will un-
dertake to locate all the leaks to plug
them properly, and to bring every guilty
man 10 punishment.
With this discrimination of the Presi-
dent. the Agricultural Department is
now undergoing two Investigations.
Two Inquiries On.
District Attorney Morgan H Beach
already had established himself with
special office at the main building Of
the department. to carry on his inquiry
as agent Of the De- ~aTtment OF Justice.
To his activities are now added those OF
the Keep commission as representatives
OF the Presidents interest in the matter.
It is known that the Keep investiga-
ton is being started under direct orders
from the President, which permitted no
delay A few days ago. when they were
sweltering through their sultry expert
ence at the printing office. with the win
d0ws and doors closed and the ther-
mometer cavorting among the high
spots, they gave out that after the print
ing Office inquiry was ended they would
quit FOR the summer and try to squeeze
in some vacations.
President Not Satisfied.
But the strenuous President has pain
fully interfered with these warm wealth
er arrangements by ordering forthwith
an Inquiry into the Agricultural Depart
meut. Saturday afternoon reremptory
orders came from Oyster Bav 10 the De-
pertinent of Justice 10 have Edwin S.
Holmes, the LATE assistant statisrician
TE4f 10 }EzszF TaFaF
dently doubling If Holmes was the only
guilty person, the President now turns
loose the commission headed by Assist
ant Secretary Keep to hunt for more
leaks and more people responsible for
them.
Preliminary Conferences.
Things were doing about the depart
nent this morning. Chairman Keep.
of the Keep Commission called on Sec
retary Wilson. discussed the forthcom-
ing inquiry, and conferred with the
Secretary and Chief Statistician John
Hyde. There has been a determined
effort by some powerful influences to get
Mr.. Hyde out of the department, and
his conference with his Cnief and Mr..
Keep was, therefore, the occasion Of
wide interest about the department.
The Keep commissioners. indeed. did
not permit Sunday to pass without
some manifestations of eagerness 10 get
after their quarry35 They did a deal
for people whom they wanted 10 assist
in getting this crop report inquiry
started in the right way. and this morn
ing preliminary conferences were afOOt
early.
VIII Probe Deeply.
II is understood that the Presidents $
orders are that the most complete in
vestigation possible is 10 be made. and
that it is to have special reference to
bringing 20 justice every offender, Of
whatever degree.
The whole distasteful series Of stories
that have received circulation lately
about intrigue, and pull, and graft in
the department are 10 he analyzed un-
der the commissions searchhght.
Cotton Report Leaks.
The cotton crop report leaks are TO get
especial consideration. bat the commits
sion will not confne itself TO this
IT is going 10 learn all about the max
ing OF crop reports from the bottom
upward: 10 determine, il possible the
actual facts, so much c0ntroyerted. as
TO the accuracy. merits, and practical
value Of these reports; to learn To what
terests would be disarmed against the
attacks of the spectators II there we're
no Government reports. or If the Gov
crnment reports were manipulated or
handled dishonesty.
Mr.. Beach Active.
While the Keep commissioners were
organizing for this new attack, District
Attorney Beach set out for New York
Continued on Fifth Page