Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-08
'IAMA jim answers
SECRETARY SAYS ATTEMPTS TO
RESMlRcH CHARACTER WILL
FAIL.
ENGINEERS WERE DISCHARGED
FOR INTERPRETATIONS
Declares Employees Took Money Be-
longing to Observation-Disclosures Not
Published Because Of Disagreement
House Democrats Decide on Invss.
tisation.

Washington. Feb. S.-Investigatton
Of the charges that government re-
ports on Florida Everglade lands were
suppressed by officials fthe depart
nlent of agriculture at the instance Of
land SPECTATORS and that department
controversies in this connection, was
determined upon by the democratic
members Of the house committee on
expenditures in the department of ag-
riculture.
After conference. Representative
Moss Of Indiana, chairman Of the
committee, declared that the formal
order for the inquiry would be exc
cuted at meeting of the full COM
nlittee today.
The committee has determined that
there are circumstances in connection
6ith this case that need thorough in
vestigation,' said Chairman Moss. and
we already have decided to subpoena
as one of the first witnesses, ]. O..
Wright, the chief drainage engineer of
the state Of Florida, formerly an en-
gineer in the drainage division of the
department OF agriculture, who made
charges against his former associate
engineers in the department which re-
suited il their dismissal last Saturday
by order of Secretary Wilson"
Abatement issued last night by So
lcitor A1cCabe, of the department Of
agriculture with the APPROVAL of Sec
rotary Wilson, declares that the charges
against the department are untrue and
that the effort to besnirch the secre-
tara OF agriculture will fall
c. G. Elliott, former chief engineer
Of the drainage division, and his as
sistant, A. D. Morehouse, who were
dismissed upon recommendation Of
Solicitor McCabe yesterday engaged as
counsel to represent them at the hear
ings, DR.. Henry E. Davis, who defended
DR.. Wiley.
Solicitor McCabe's statement. ap-
proved BY Secretary Wilson. follows:
Preiudiced tSatenent.
IN a prejudiced. one-sided state
ment given out by Representative
Frank Clark, of Eldora. on the Ever
gIades controversy, it is sought to show
that the reason the secretary of agri-
culture suppressed a circular on in
formation which had been prepared by
the office of drainage, Investigations
ard declined to print a complete report
of the drainage work which the depart
ment had done in the Everglades be-
cause the secretary did not regard the
circular and reports as sufficiently ia
vorable to please the land promoters
who We're operating in the glades.
These statements are untrue and
~
secretary OF agriculture will fail. The
secretary refused to print the report
Of the work done in the slades be-
cause not only were his engineers, Mr..
Wright and Mr.. Elliott, in disagree
nlent as to the correct Interpretation Of
the work done by the department in
the glades, but the experts of the bu-
reau OF plant industry familiar with
Florida conditions. disregard with both
Mr.. Wright and Mr.. Elliott.
Present False Accounts.
"Elliott and Morehouse were dis
missed by the secretary Of agriculture
because they had certified mad pre-
serted false accounts, knowing them
to be false, on which the government
had paid out moneys. Not only did
they know the accounts We're false,
but they procured lNe PERSONS 10
make the false accounts, telling these
persons that they would receive money
for they trouble.
The department courts the fullest
investigation Of this matter and has
irrefutabIe documentary evidence ready
to present to the investigating COM
nittee at moments notice, which
cieaTiy shows that the action of the
secretary has been proper and consist
ent thruout.'