Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1912-08-20
REPORTS MADE
ONEvERGLADES
LAND CHA AR G.ES
Wilson Exonerated and AS
sistant Secretary Hays is
Criticised by M ajority
But Upheld by Minority.

Washington, D. c., Aug. 19-The
Moss committee today presented to
the house two reports % it's investiga-
ton Of the Florida everglades charges
and the subsequent inquiry into the
drainage division of the department
OF Agriculture The reports take up
the charge that certain circular un-
favorable to the sale Of the everglades
lands was suppressed In the depart
ment of agriculture through influence
OF real estate operators; the question
OF relations between assistant secre-
tary Hays Of the department and 4. y.
Wright, a former government employe
In a land project at Lake Mattamus-
skeet, ,sN. c.. and the dismissal OF z. u.
Elliott and A. D. Morehouse from the
drainage division of the department on
technical charges involving the trans
fer of government funds from one ac-
count to another.
Secretary Wilson escaped personal
arraignment at the hands of the ma
jority in the findings on the ever
glades charges. The departments
policy toward the everglades was
characterized as vascillating, most
unfortunate" and having subjected the
department to much suspicion and
criticism. The minority report, signed
by Representative Sloan of Nebraska,
who said his views were approved by
Representatives Higgins and Madden,
held that Secretary Wilson had acted
within his legal discretion.
HAYS was condemned by the ma
jority for his relations with Wright in
the North Carolina project, while the
,r;<x 1.o11 h "a inf
for profit but only his we'll known in
terest in development of rural COM
munity life.
Both majority and minority agreed
that the dismissal of Elliott and More
house on technical charges was "over
discipline
The COMMITTEES Conclusions.
The committee conclusions are:
The department majority report call
ed the department vascillating and
lacking conception Of the vast invest
ment OF millions Of dollars in undertake
ing the defamation Of the everglades.
Said 1t constantly subordinated the In
quiry to other work In which members
cf congress were particularly interest
ed and finally abandoned 1t after an
expenditure Of $11,107 without definite
results. It's accounting system deficient
and its discipline lacking. The minority
upheld the department.
Secretary Wilson-Falsely credited
with authorship Of the circular letter
to which real estate promoters first
ture. Promptly suppressed It and re-
fused publication OF revised bulletin
excerpts as a report on the everglades
Minority reported that he did not abuse
his legal discretion.
Assistant Secretary Hays-Arraigned
by majority. Minority called the crit
icism Of Hays unfair and unwarranted;
that his interest In the possible sale of
North Carolina lake bed to Leigh Hunt
and others was due to his well-known
public interest in the development Of
community country life.
Drainage Engineer Wright-Majority
said he accepted fees and commissions
whenever offered" Minority reported
that no evidence was established that
great gains from the Mattamuskeet, N.
G., project were exhibited by Wright
to Hays. Financial statement reaching
committee was faulty and ridiculous
and would have discredited the scheme
at once"
and Assistant Drainage Engineer
that they admitted making an arrange 4l
ment which the majority regarded as
in violation Of the law and Of sound
public policy but that there was no
profit intended in it and the depart
menr had disciplined them too severe
ly. The minority agreed as to the over
disciplining but added that the com
amittee had no oversight Of the depart
ment's discipline and that If such over
sight were fixed Institution the sec
retaries of agriculture and their sub
ordinates would become abject slaves
IN "red tame"