Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-01
GAS REPORT SECRET
No One Who Has to Do With
1t Will Talk About 1t.
BAKER LOOKING INTO IT
Bonaparte. Who Transmitted It for
Consideration, Silent.
WILSON PLEADS IGNORANCE
Whether 1t Condemns Washington
Product as Especially Produc-
tive of Carbon Monoxide
Is Conjecture.
BAKER LOOKING INTO IT
WILSON PLEADS IGNORANCE

or course there was a special gas re-
port and analysis which determined tire
quality furnished for lighting and heating
PURPOSES in the District of Columbia.
prepared in the bureau OF chemistry.
transmitted through DR.. Wiley to the De-
partnlent of Justice and from there re-
ferred to United States Attorney Baker.
This report presumably is the result Of
a mandate from the White House. But
all along the line officials In any way
connected with the report preserve a
silence thats refuses to be broken.
Secretary Wilson of the Department OF
Agriculture said yesterday he knew moth
ing of second report, but made reference
to the report of Drs. Haywood and Skin
ner of the bureau OF chemistry. arising
from the conditions surrounding the
death of the three members of the Rrem-
erman family early in November. This
report was published in The Star of De-
cember ).
Important. Says Somebody.
One employee OF the bureau of chemistry,
not connected with the report, but who
knows something of its contents. said
this morning that the secrecy was MAIN
tanned because of the Importance of the
findings. He intimated that the report
was of such character that it could not
be made public properly through other
channel than the courts, assuming that
the United States attorney proposes TO
take some action in that way.
Dr. Wiley said this morning that the
report would positively not be made pub
lie by him.
II have said all about it that I can
1t is out of my hands now, and ! cannot
discuss it other than to say it contains
some valuable Information.
Attorney General Bonaparte also re-
fuses to talk about it. All he has said
up to today has been:
II sent the report along to United
States Attorney Baker. He will examine
the matter and report upon its local
phases.
Bakers Finger on Lips.
Mr. Baker is silent. He will not even
admit having seen the report. But I'M
doubtedly he will make his reply through
the Department of Justice and so on back
20 the President
1t is common talk among the employees
of the bureau of chemistry that the re-
port makes a great deal of the fact that
water gas is used in Washington.
Whether Or not the findings are adverse
to the local gas is not positively known
to any one outside of small official cir
Gle.
At the time that carbon monoXide was
discussed after the Bremerman tragedy II
was stated that water gas contained
a much higher percentage of this ele-
ment than other Illuminating gas.
The first report from ,ne bureau of chem.
istry dealing with the local gas was sub
mitted to Coroner hewitt after the Brem-
erman tragedy. The coroner asked for
the assistance of q gas expert after the
three persons were found dead. two in
the kitchen and one in the next room,
with every evidence of gas poisoning
Dr.. Skinner Had First Chance.
4 hasty examination by DR.. Skinner Of
the bureau of chemistry showed the cause
of death to be carbon monoXide. thrown
off from an improperly regulated gas hot
water heater. This conclusion was veri-
fed by experiments in the bureau of chem
is,ry lasting nearly one month.
The effort was made at that time TO
get some important data on the subject
Of water gas 1t is probable that the
findings at that time resulted i'll the sec
ond special report, about which there Is
SO much secrecy.
The only suggestions given out from the
bureau last month related chiefly to the
construction of gas hot-water heaters.
burners, gas stoves and ventilation and
fueS.