The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-11
Getting Out July Report
At Department Today

Preparation of the july crop report at
the Department of Agriculture is the
great subject of interest there this
afternoon Under the new regulations
promulgated by Secretary Wilson last
Saturday the work is being done with
the utmost secrecy
At 9 o'clock this morning Chief Sta"
t;stician Hyde, Assistant Secretary of
Agriculture Hays, and force of clerks
were locked up in the rooms of the
Bureau OF Statistics, to prepare the
report. which is to be issued at O'Clock
this af >ernoon.
Telephone communication with the de-
partment and city systems was severed,
and even the windows commanding
views of the other buildings in the
neighborhood were curtained Messen-
gers were stationed at the stairway
leading to the Offices and admittance
was refused to everyone, no matter what
his rank or business. II looked as II the
oft-repeated assertion that there Is no
chance for a leak, would apply this time
fully.
Figures on Tobacco.
Reports that tobacco growers have
made accusations that the bureau Of
statistics has juggled figures on the pro-
duetion of that staple Tor the benefit of
the trust are discredited here. because
the system of tobacco reports is prac-
tically in its infancy and so far has Of
fered little opportunity for manipua-
tion- and has never exercised an lmpor-
tant influence in the tobacco markets OF
the country.
There is no doubt about suspicion
being rife amonr producers of all crops
since the Holmes incident, said Secre-
tary Wilson.
Inquiries as to the reason why the re-
port was not given out yesterday, which
was the regular day for it, were readily
,,,- IL caiI Z ba
although Statistician Hyde worked all
day Sunday on the figures, he could not
make up for the lack of expert assist
aDce due to the dismissal of Holmes and
the two days and a half lost by the half
holiday of Saturday. July /; the Fourth
of July, and the official holiday the
next day. when Secretary Hays funeral
was held.
II may add that the delay is in no
way attributable to any manipulation OF
the figures, as has been suggested. add
ed the Secretary.
Preserving Secrecy.
The Secretary determined to adhere
to the department practice of having
Z only the statisticians and himself, or
the Assistant Secretary, present when
the monthly cotton reports are prepar-
: ed for publication. He so declared in a
dispatch to President r. NJ. Miller, jr.,
Of the American Cotton Manufacturers
Association, now at Charlotte, N c..
who telegraphed the Secretary that if
the representative OF any organization
interested In cotton is to appear before
the department when the August cotton
report is being prepared, his organization
also desired representation.
Secretary Wilson says there have been
but few exceptions TO the rule now fol-
lowed and these occurred only when
ne was anxious that some Representa-
live in Congress should observe the
method adopted by the department in
the preparation OF the reports. He sees
no reason why this practice should be
changed, in view of the added safe
guards he has thrown around the COM
pilation OF the monthly reports.
Watching the Curtains.
When told that clerk In the room
had on one occasion signaled to confed-
crates outside the building by raising
and lowering curtain at Intervals, the
Secretary commented sagely: We'll
that will not happen again-we will nail
those curtains down, IL necessary.