Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-24
PROBING COTTON SCANDAL
Grand Jury Regins Investigation Of Leak
in Statistics Today.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Inquiry VIII Begin. To-day and No
Further Statements VIII BE
Made Untn Report II
Ready.

WASHINGTON, July 2S.--The grand jury
of the District of Columbia will tomorrow
take up the allegations that there has been
jugglery in the cotton crop statistical re-
ports of the Department of Agriculture
with view to possible indictment or in
dictments.
This action is the Immediate result Of
the recent disclosures In the department
which eliminated in the dismissal of Edwin
S. Holmes. the associate statistician. The
announcement that the grand jury would
meet TO consider the subject was made in
statement issued by United States Dis
tTict Attorney Morgan II. Beach tonight.
II was in pursuance OF a cali issued by
the district attorney July 20 and is TO con-
slider among other things certain criminal
practices alleged to exist and TO have ex-
listed in one of the executive departments"
Mr.. Beach absolutely declined to admit
which one of the departments this state
ment had reference to, but it is known that
it relates to the Department Of Agriculture.
Mr.. Beach's statement adds;
Pending action by that body 1t is earn
estly hoped. as II is confidently believed,
that no inquiries will be made of the dis
trict attorneys office on the subject. To
inquire of any member of the grand jury
or of witness, either under subpoena or
after discharge az to anything transpiring
before that body constitutes contempt. This
general statement is made to excuse the
district attorney from personal interviews
with gentlemen of the press. They have
always shown this Office the greatest con-
sideration and preserved his confidence in
| vioable. But the very LIMITED time and
force at his disposal renders this course
! imperative and no further statement will
be made until the grand jury announces
i In open court the result of the investiga-
| ton. There may be much, or little. or
| nothing to report, but while the examina-
/ tion is pending Il must. as the law COM
!
| Samuel c. Smoot, well known merchant,
| is foreman of the grand jury.
Several Indictments Expected.
The Post tomorrow will say that there
| is no doubt that the district attorney hopes
to secure the indictment of two or three
| or more persons, at least one of whom 'Is
now OF was formerly an official of the
| Department of Agriculture, and that it is
a certainty that the investigation con
Quoted by the department of justices has
brought to light great mass of informa-
tion. some of which is far more sensa.
tidnal than anything that has so far beer
made public 1t is proposed to summon
before the grand Jury every of1cial anc
employe who could possibly know any
thing about cotton leaks. E. S. Holmes, jr.
the former associate statistician, who wal
dismissed. has left Washington for Chi
Caga.
Hyde Goes TO Europe.
John Hyde. the former statistician OF th'
Department Of Agriculture. who resigreC
INST week, has returned 80 England
whence he was summoned at the begin
ming of the department investigation which
resulted in the dismissal Of Associate Sta
tistician Holmes. It is stated that Mr.
Hyde has gone abroad TO consult a Londoi
specialist and will be absent month O.
six weeks