The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-08-20
H ARSH CENSURE
OF DEPAR TMENI
Its Conduct Is Called Vascil-
lating and Most I'm
Fortunate
SECRETARY WILSON ESCAPES
Moss Committee Makes Its Re
port Of Investigation OF
Everglades. j..

Washington. August le-Thc Moss
committee to-day presented TO the
House two reports OF its investiga-
ton Of the Florida everglades charges
aud the subsequent Inquiry into the
prainagc division Of the Department
OF Agriculture. The report takes up
the charge that certain circular un-
favorable to the sale OF everglades
lands was suppressed in the Depart
mcnt Of Agriculture through influence
OF real estate operators. tho question
OF relations between Assistant Score
thry Hays OF the department. and J
-. Wright former government; en-
ploye. In land projec, at Lake Mat
tumuakcet. \ g. and the dismissal
OF G. @ Elliot and A. -. Morehouse
from the drainage division OF the de-
partment 81 technical charges in
volying the transfer or government
funds from one account to another
Secretary Wilson escaped personal
arraiguinout at the hands OF the com
mittee ia the hndins Of tho ever
SHADES charges The departments
policy toward the everglades ~as
cha ractet!zed "a vascllatiug most
unfortunate.' and having subjected
the department, o. much suspicion and
criticism The minority report. signed
ly Representative Sloan. 81 Nebraska.
held that Secretary Wilson had acted
~iihin lis legal discretion Hays was
condemned by the majority for ms
relations with wright in the Sorth
Carolina project. while the minority
hold his interest was not one Tor
profit but only his well known inter-
est in development, of rural community
lie
Both majority and minority agreed
that the Dismissal Of Elliott ana More
house on technical charges was over
disc!nllno.'
Hn,s Condemned.
The conduct OF Assistant Secretary
HAYS. whose relations with former
braiaase Engineer j. O Wright were
tho subject OF especial attention by
tho committee. was declared in a ma
joIi,y report presented vs. Chairman
Moss 1Dcmocrai 20 have nrcn not IN
harmony with proper tsnGards II
onicial proprloty II not Official rec,i-
iude'
The minority report naae IS Repre-
sentative sloan, ot Nebraska tR.pub-
llcanJ INSERTED. on tAe Otaer hand.
siDns were more Of charge against
the mcHtl. capacity and honesty OF
the committee members tha1 against
Assistant Secretary Hays
The majority report was signed uy
chairman Moss and Representative
IlOoa. % ARKANSAS. and DoushtDn. %
North Caiolina, Democrats. The min
Gritty report was signed Toy KepTcscn-
tatlye Sloan. Of Sebraska. VINO stated
ihat Representatives. Higgins. % Con-
uectlcui. aud Madden. 81 Illinois, APP
proved it, an are Republicans Many
features OF thc Agricultural Depart 4
tnents work IL connection with the
everglades We're attacked hy The DEM
ocratlc report winch ARA .sncd the de-
Iartmcnt IS vascllatlng ana Engineer
Wright as having been "on familiar
terms with real estate promoters and
tpeculAtors."
80 real criticism o.; Secretary VIII
son was contained ia the majority re-
uort the burden o.; criticism being
laid Oh Assistant Secretary Hays. The
minority report on the other hand,
acquitted the latter Of the charges
That he "despised all restraint and at
tempted TO capitalize MS official posi-
tion and draw quick Giv dends from
unic!ai opportunity"
The everglades investigation arose
through the charges that certain re-
ports prepared by government ens!-
necrs had been withheld from pub
i!catlon. with the Inference that such
action was In the Interest OF land
dealers g @ Elliott. chief OF drain
age. and Assistant Engineer More
mousse VINO We're uEVubHl INTO 'N' con
troversy. were found by the committee
10 have made an arrangement IN con
nect!on with North Carolina swamp
lands that was in violation O; the
law but inasmuoh az there was no
prom, intended in il the committee
declared that the men had been TOO
.cverely disciplined by Agricultural
Department officials
Assistant Secretary Hays's connec-
ton with tho matter arose through
private ARRANGEMENT he made with
j. O Wright. former drainage engi-
nacr. for the handling Of some drained