Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-08-21


Hays and Engineer Wright, who has
since become state drainage engineer
of Florida, concerning the purchase
and sale at a profit Of the bed of
Lake Mattamuskee, n. G. Mr..
Wright, the majority declared, did
not seem to realize the improperly
OF his own conduct. In view Of his
confidential relations with Mr.. Hays
the majority found it difficult to
escape the conviction that Mr.. Hays
was in full possession of the facts
relative to Wright's deals and trans
actions when they were being ne
gotiated," and that Hays should
have condemned them rather than to
have encouraged them.
There was no evidence, however,
that Mr.. Hays actually received any
money profits out of any of these
transactions. Mr.. Hays office, said
the majority, should be free from all
connection with Speculative enter
prises and get-rich-quick schemes"
1T is useless" the majority added
ito frame regulations for the gov
eminent of employees, many of whom
work for low salaries, and permit
those in high position to despise all
restraint. This is particularly true
when the offense is to capitalize Of
fetal position and collect dividends
from official opportunity. Your
committee has no authority to deal
further with this matter. 1t calls
the particular attention of Secretary
Wilson to the record"
The committee conclusions are:
The department majority report
called the department vascillating
and lacking conception of the vast
investment of millions of dollars in
undertaking the reclamation of the
Everglades. Said it constantly
subordinated the inquiry to other
work in which members of congress
were particularly interested and fl
nally abandoned it after an expendi-
ture Of $11,1O7 without definite re-
suits. Its accounting system de-
ficient and its discipline lacking.
The minority upheld the depart
ment.
Secretary Wilson-Falsely cred
tied with authorship Of the circular
letter to which real estate promoters
first objected because of its caution
airy nature. Promptly suppressed it
and refused publication of revised
bulletin excerpts as a report on the
Everglades. Minority reported that
he did not abuse his legal discretion.
Assistant Secretary Hays-Ar-
raingned by majority. Minority
called the criticism Of Hays unfair
and u~nwarranted; that his interest
in the possible sale of North Caro-
lima 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 - Ma
jority said he accepted fees and
commissions whenever offered"
Minority reported that no evidence
was established than any financial
statement indicating great gains
from the Mattamuskett, n. c., pro-
jects were exhibited by Wright to
Hays. Financial statement reach
ing the committee was faulty and
ridiculous and would have discred-
tied the scheme at once"
DIR. c. G. Elliott, chief Of drain
age, and Assistant Drainage Engi-
heel MISUNDERSTANDING report
stated that they admitted making
an arrangement which the majority
regarded as in violation of the law
and of sound public policy but there
was no profit intended in it and the
department had disciplined them too
severely. The minority agreed as
to the over-disciplining but added
that the committee had no oversight
Of the departments discipline and
that if such oversight were a fixed
institution the secretaries of agri-
culture and their subordinates
would become abject slaves to red
tape"