Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-08-05
Hoe Uncle Sam Collects His Crop STATISTICS;
LeakS" nil Occur In Spite Of KeeneSt VigiJance

fsZygSTYTXaT 4 o'clock on a recent
!. !: {: !: !: :. !. {: :.
Rf(lsee%e-{J afternoon the govern
ME IA fNl ment crop report for
tA HAXl5N the month was made
~ AkYA M public at the depart.
MA AD ment Of agriculture
gsssN-sfSJ Precisely at the strik-
CS9cHNS5 ing OF the hour the
door OF the ofiice Of
ne chief statlstlclau opened and AS
astant Secretary Willet N. Hays APP
neared bearing in his hand a dozen
sheets OF paper covered with figures,
These papers were seized eagerly by a
dozen waiting messenger boys, who
rushed off with them to the telegraph
Offices
Then Mr. Hays drew a long breath.
DTwo hours ago | had no idea what
those totals would be- he unused. "I'll
he nightly surprised, though, II there
isn't story In some paper tomorrow
morning about those same totals being
Known 10 certain favored stockholders
for several days Twas ever thus"
Mr.. Hays had not misoalculated on
the following morning all the leading
dalles In the country published the re-
mort and commented freely upon It.
Some OF them did little more than hint
darkly at abuses which seemed 10 pre-
vail IN the department. Some OF them
printed IN full the charges OF the South
cu Cotton Growers association that
the reports Of the cotton crop were
"doc,ored" systematically and furnish
ed I'm advance to favored operators
But this was by no means tho begin
ming Of the trouble, For months the
criticism and accusation had been GO
Ing on. Charges had been preferred
against some Of the department en-
poyees and some of them had been
asked 20 resign The most recent crop
reports were less satisfactory than
ever II was charged boldly by those
most interested that leaks" were oc-
curing constantly Secret service
agents reported that discriminating owl
dence could be found against more than
one trusted clerk in the statlstician's
Office Some Of them had become rich
IN most unoxplsinable and mysterious
manner. The president demanded
speedy reform, Secretary Wilson be-
gan an overhauling OF the department.
From the first he exhibited willing
ness to cooperate with all outside e.
forts looking toward full and Inn
partial investigation and showed In
every way his determination TO put an
end to the department abuses and TO
restore the government crop report to
It's former position IN the public conf.
dence
About year ago a sharp attack was
made on Chief Statistican John Hyde
by combination Of cotton growers.
The matter created good deal OF dis
cussion and Ill feeling, and there was
talk Of a congressional investigation,
but nothing was done at the time. The
committee OF agriculture ot the house
gave a preliminary hearing to some Of
the charges Of jobbery, but It was de-
cided not to attempt a formal inquiry.
Since then Secretary Wilson has been
standing stanchly by his crop fore
casters lie IS thoroughly familiar
with every detail Of the complex scheme
By which news Of local crop conditions
Is picked up from all parts Of the
country and combined in a comprehen-
sive statewoot covering the general
situation fhc system is surrounded
with so many safeguards to prevent
leakage ane mn,t OF the men who
handle thc rcloTts have been tested
through SO many years Of temptation
mat the socl 2tary has found II very
hard to Sas,iyc that the methods en-