Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-06
EXPLOSION OF WRATH
HOW CERTAIN PUBLIsHED RE-
PORTS WERE RECEIVED.
Presence of Two representatives in
Congress at Tabulation Of Cot
ton Report Explained.

1Here was Wratn, explosive and violent,
in the ONCE Of the Secretary OF Agriculture
yesterday over the stories printed to the
effect that the Secretary had locked up
two congressmen-Messrs. Burleson of
Texas and Bowie of Alabama-while the
cotton tabulation was going on at the de-
partment. and had held them In durance
vile until after Congress met and kept
them from being present 'at the drawing
for seats, privilege much esteemed at the
opening of the session.
1t was good story, and 1t is almost a
pity 1t was not true Representative Bur-
Lesson did go over to the department early
Monday morning and watched the crop
report made up. They had both wanted
to be present, but Mr.. Bowie arrived too
late for admittance to the room. Both of
them come from the cotton belt and being
originally much interested in the cotton
scandal In the department they were
equally interested to see what steps had
been taken to prevent Its recurrence. Mr..
Burleson knew when he went into the
room that he would have to stay there
also that 1t would subject him to very ugly
suspicion II he came out before the news
was flashed over the wires. So there was
every evidence of probability against the
truth of the story on the face of it.
Anxiety for Accuracy.
1t is quite true, however that there was
a hitch in the compilation Of the report,
and this was due entirely to the anxiety of
the Secretary to have 1t right. 1t has been
the custom heretofore to have only one re-
porter for given locality, but since the
leak occurred and the numerous questions
as to the accuracy of the report arose
there have been three reporters appointed
for each district to keep check ON each
other They kept check yesterday to such
an extent that in some of the districts 1t
was hard to tell whether there had been a
record crop planted or any cotton planted
at all. 1t was this that kept the statisti-
clans tied up TIL the middle of the after
noon. though it was explained in more Off
cial language on the end of the sheet given
out bearing the crop figures. The incident
however, has raised serious doubts as to
the quality of some of the reporters en-
ployed and there is question whether,
after all, the crop reports are as near
right as they might be. There Is one thing
certain, and that is that, though the reports
might have been less accurate with one
reporter than with three, they were good
deal easier to compile.
Man With a GunP
Then there was another story going the
rounds that a man with gun kept watch
over the crop returns all of Sunday night
before they were made up, with orders d.
rect from the Secretary to shoot and shoot
to kill. II any prowling marauder dared to
lay hands the sacred documents. 1t
was explained that the armed guard was
the night Waterman of the building, who
always has a revolver within reach and
never needs it. while the reports IN question
were locked up in the safe out of reach
of anybody except gang of expert cracks
men, and quite unintelligible to anybody
but expert, even If they had been
opened.
AS to the story that there was hair
pulling match in the statistical room over
whether cotton bales should be reckoned
as 475 pounds 800 pounds in weight, that
matter, 1t was explained. was settled before
the board went into session 1t has been
the habit of the department to calculate
the gross weight of the bale at 500 pounds.
OF this about AIS pounds is cotton and the
rest wrapping and ties. The census office
has been calling bales 415 pounds net
weight. and the only question was to settle
whether to announce the crop by gross or
net weight.
1t was decided to stick to the old method,
and the words gross weight" We're in
serted to make the matter perfectly clear.