Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-02-10
MARTINsBURG. W. VA. SATURDAY. FEBRUARY TO- 1872 Z
NC CABE s DENIAL
INLAND FRAUD CASE
Solicitor Declares Accusations About
Land Promoters Is Untrue and an
Effort to Beemirch Wilson.

Wa1hingson, Feb g. Thorough In
vstigation of the charges shak gov
erninent reports ON FLORIDA ssersiade
lands were suppressed BY oAlcials OF
the department OF Agriculture at the
instance OF land speeulato.s. and that
department engineers were dismissed
because OF controversies in tails con-
necton, was deselr.ined upon by the
Democratic member O. the house
committee on expenai u.e s in the de-
partmenl OF agriculture.
A statement issue D. solicitor NC
Cabe, OF the DEPT -.snt OF agricui'
ture, with the app4o...i OF Secretary
Wilson, declares tuat tne charges
against the Department are untrue and
that the eiforl 10 Desmirch the sec
rotary Of agriculture will tail"
solicitor McCaDe's statement fol-
lows:
In a prejndiced, one sided state
ment given out by Representative
Frank Clark, OF Florida, on the ever
glades controversy. it is sought to
show that the reason the secretary Of
agriculture suppressed circular o.
information which had been prepared
by the Office of drainage Investigations
and declined TO print complete re-
port OF the drainage work which the
department had done In the everglades
was because the secretary did not re-
gard the circular and reports as sum
ciently favorable to please the Ind
promoters who we're operating In the
glades. In Mr.. Clarks statement 1t Is
further sought to show that the re-
cent dismissal of Messrs Elliott and
Morehouse, drainage engineers, was
for failuer to show sufficient favors to
the land promoters.
Beth of these statements are I'M
true and Mr.. Clark's effort to besmirrh
the secretary of agriculture Will fail.
The secretary refused to print the re-
port OF the work done In the glades
because not only were his engineers,
Mr.. Wright and Mr.. Elliott, in dis
agreement as to the correct interpre-
tation Of the work done by the de-
partment in the glades, but Mr. Elliott,
without further investigation, radically
changed his position, and the experts
Of the bureau Of plant industry. IA
miliar with Florida conditions, dis
agreed both with Mr. Wright and Mr..
Elliott.
Elliott and Morehouse were dis
missed by the secretary Of agriculture
because they had certified and pre-
scented false accounts, knowing them
10 be false, on which the government
had paid out moneys. Not only did
they know the accounts were false,
but they procured the persons to make
the false accounts. telling these per
sons that they would receive money
Tor their trouble. They admit they did
this; they concealed their unlawful
acts from their chief, Dr. A. c. True,
and when DR.. True discovered the
facts, he recommended their disnis-
sal The secretary dismissed them,
and as there was violation of law
involved. sent all of the facts and pa
pers in his possession to the attorney
general for certification to the dis.
IflCl dltoFHcs IOi piOscNuiuh anu lVi
such other action as the attorney gen
oral might deem proper"
Secretary Wilson and Solicitor Nc
Cabe are accused Of suppressing re-
port unfavoreble to land spectators.
who are selling farms In the ever
gIades in Florida. n is said the land Is
under water and may never be of any
value