The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-08-19
WILSON
ESCAPED
CENSURE
Majority and Minority Reports
Were Filed
Democratic Majority Takes
Slam at Department
Investigators Could Not Find
Any Graft

Washington, D. c., Aug. 19.-The
MOSS committee today presented to the
house two records of it's investigation
OF the Florida everglades charges and
subsequent inquiry into the conduct OF
the drainage division OF the depart
ment of agriculture. The reports take
up charges that certain circulars un-
favorable to the sale of everglade lands
were suppressed in the department OF
agriculture through the influence Of
real estate operators. The relations
between Assistant Secretary Hays Of
the department and K. o, Wright,
former government employe I'm a land
project at Lake Mattamuskeet, N. c.,
and the dimissal of c. G. Elliott and
A. d. Morehouse from the drainage
division of the department on techni-
cal charges involving transfer Of gov
ernment funds from one account to
another were also investigated.
Secretary Wilson escaped a person
al arraignment at the hands of the
majority in the findings on the ever
glades charges. The departments policy
toward the everglades was character
ized as Vacillating most unfortun-
ate" and having subjected the depart
ment to much suspicion and criticism.
The minority signed by Representa-
tive Sloan of Nebraska who said his
views were approved by Representa-
tive Higgins and Madden held that
Wilson had acted within his discre-
ton. Hayes was condemned by the
majority for his relations with Wright
in the North Carolina project while the
minority held his interest was not for
personal profit but only because Of
his we'll known desire to develop rural
community life. -. I
Both the majority and minority
agreed the dismissal of Elliott and
Moorehouse on technical charges to be
oVeFsevere discipline.
The majority report was signed by
Chairman Moss and Representatives
Flood of Arkansas. and Doughton OF
North Carolina, democrats. The min
ority report was signed by Represen-
tative Sloan, of Nebra ska, who stated
that Representatives Higgins of Con-
nectlcut, and Hadden of Illinois, ap-
proved it. All are republicans. Many
features OF the agriculture depart
ments work in connection with the
Everglades were attacked by the dem
ocratic report, which arraigned the
department as vascillating and Engi-
neer Wright as having been ION fam
iiiar terms with real estate promoters
and spectators"
Wilson Not Criticised.
No real criticisms of Secretary Will
son was contained in the majority re-
port the burden of criticism being laid
on Assistant Secretary Hays. The
minority report, on the other hand, ac-
quilted the latter of the charges that
he "despised all restraint and attempt
ed to capitalize his official position and
draw quick dividend from official op-
portunity"
The Everglades Investigation arose
through the charges that certain re-
ports prepared by government engi-
neers had been withheld from publ
cation. with the inference that such ac-
ton was in the interest Of land deal
ers. c. g. Elliott, chief of drainage,
and Assistant Engineer Moorehouse,
who were brought into the contro-
Versy, were found by the committee
TO nave made an arrangement in con-
nection with North Carolina swamp
lands that was in violation of the law;
but inasmuch as there was no profit in
tended In 1t the committee declared
tnat the men had been too severly dis
cipiined by agriculture department Of
ficfals.
Assistant Secretary Hays connection
with the matter arose through q pri-
Yate arrangement he made with j. o.
Wright, former drainage engineer, for
the handling of some drained land in
North Carolina which did not belong
to the government.
The majority report cited Wright's
admissions of his familiarity with real
estate promoters and OF accepting de-
Velopment company stock and fees
while engaged officially in making sur
veys to reclaim land. It declared that
while thus engaged as paid salesman
ana an interested purchaser he ap-
peared before the North Carolina Leg
islature as an official Of the department
OF agriculture ostensibIy to advise in
the framing of drainage legislation.
He later boasted, the report said, OF
securing the passage Of special sta