Milford chronicle., 1905-08-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.

e irregularities IN the Department o
II Agriculture is shown by the actor
. of the court Saturday in the case:
the recalcitrate brokers Haas and o.
: Peckham who were subpoenaeC
( from New York to appear before
= the special grand jury and who re-
. fused to answer the questions put
to them. Both the brokers were
accompanied by counsel and refused
to answer the questions asked them
first on the ground that the court
had no right to inquire into their
private business and second claim
ing that their answers might in
criminate them. This is one of the
last pleas that a witness usually
adopts and made it seem more ap-
parent to the jury that the brokers
were keeping back something that
might be of vital interest in the in
vestigation. The attorneys for the
witnesses asked that they might
have till Monday to pass on the
questions, but the court ruled that
they must answer at the meeting of
the grand jury on Saturday. 1t is
believed that Judge Wright, before
whom the hearing is being held,
will direct the witnesses to answer
the questions put to them or take
the alternative of going to Jail.
Both of the witnesses have able coun-
sci and while they on Friday reit-
Grated their first decision not to re-
ply to the questions asked them, it
is probable that they alter their
minds when confronted with a Jail
sentence for contempt of court.
There was another mild sensation
in the Department of Agriculture
Saturday by the presentation and
prompt acceptance of the resigna-
ton of DR.. Geo. T. Moore of the
Bureau of Soils. It appears that
DR.. Moore had while connected |
with the Bureau published pam
phlet that was printed by the De-
partmeAt on the enrichment of soils,
recommending the use of certain
nitrogenous compounds. The COM
pound, as is the custom in any such
cases, was patented in the name of
DR.. Moore by the Department of
Agriculture as a protection to the
farmers and assuring the freedom
of the nitro culture for farm use.
At the same time company known
as the Nitro Culture Company of
West Chester, Pa, was formed to
manufacture the compound and an
offer of a good block of stock in
the company and liberal salary
was made to DR.. Moore for his ser
vices. DR.. Moore communicated
the offer to the Department but his
resignation was not accepted and a
raise of salary was promised him.
The matter dragged along without
the increase of salary being granted,
and DR.. Moore's wife held the stock
in the company while DR.. Moore
to work in the Bureau.
This state of affairs continued till
brought out at hearing in the De-
partment last week. DR.. Moore
promptly rendered his resignation
to the Secretary of Agriculture and
it was accepted and the whole ac-
ton made public in statement is
sued by the Department
It seems that the affairs of the
Printing Office are not
to rest with the conclusion of the
KeepCommission which has been in
vestigating the purchase of seventy
two setting machines for use in the
This commission has
its investigation but the
results have not yet been made
public. Meantime there is a con-
gressional committee headed by
Senator Platt of New York, that
has been authorized to inquire into
the affairs of the Office. 1t is stated
that the Governments printing bill
has increased from three and half
millions in 1898 to 81, 100000 at
present. This increase has been
largely in connection with matter
that CONGRESS- thought the govern
ment need not be required to print,
and the first meeting of the inves-
.igating committee is looked for
ward to with considerable interest.
1t is probable that the committee
will cut off some of the useless ex-
and that a good deal of
iseless printing will be dispensed
With without hurting the efficiency
# the largest printing establishment
II the world.
The Navy Department is con- c
ratulating itself on the receipt Sat 7
rday Of communication from the |
rmored cruiser Pennsylvania that