Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-02-10
CALLS LAND
CHARGE FALSE
McCab3 SAYS Il is Effort to
BeSmirCh Wilson.
COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE
Solicitor Declares Attempt to BE.
smirch Secretary Of Agriculture
VIII Fail.


Thorough investigation of the ever
glades land controversy will be made
By the house committee on expendi-
tures In the agricultural department,
when Chairman Moss will be directed
to issue subpoenas for witnesses.
Henry T.. Davis. former United
States attorney for the District OF Co
lumbia. mas been retained by Chef
Engineer Elliott and Assistant Engi
neer Morehouse, OF the draining divi.
sion, who were dismissed By Secretary
wilson last Saturday. and by Account
ant Singleton. who was suspended. TO
represent their interests before the
committee during the investigation.
A statement issued b. Solicitor Nc
Cabe, OF the department OF agricul-
ture. with the approval of Secretary
Wilson. declares that the charges
against the department are untrue and
that tine effort 10 besmirch the sec
rotary OF agriculture will fail"
Solicitor McCabe's statement fol-
lows:
In prejud!ccd. one sided state
ment given out by Representative
Frank Clark. OF Florida. on the ever
glades controversy. 1t is sought to
show that the reason the secretary OF
agriculture suppressed circular OF
information which had been prepared
by the ofiice OF drainage Investigations
and declined TO print complete re-
port OF the drainage work which the
department had done In the everglades
was because the secretary did not re-
gard the circular and reports as sufli-
GENTLY favorable to please the land
promoters who were operating in the
glades. In MIR. Clark's statement II Is
further sought to show that the re-
cent dismissal of Mcssrs Elliott and
Morehousc, drainage engineers. was
for failuer to show sufficient fayors TO
the land promoters.
"Both OF these statements are un-
true and Mr.. Clark's effort to besmircb
the secretary OF agriculture will fail.
The secretary refused to print the re-
port OF the work done In the glades
because not only were his engineers.
Mr.. Wright and Mr. Elliott. in dis.
agreement as TO the correct interpre-
tation of the work done by the de-
partment IN the glades. but Mr.. Elliott.
without further investigation. radically
changed his position. and the experts
OF the bureau OF plant industry. IA
miliar with Florida conditions. dis
agreed both with Mr.. Wright and Mr..
Elliott.
Elliott and Morehouse were dis
missed by the secretary of agriculture
because they had certified and pre-.
sented false accounts. knowing them
to be false. on which the government
had paid out moneys. Not only did
they know the accounts were false
but they procured the persons to make
the false accounts. telling these per
sons that they would receive money
for their trouble. They admit they did
this: they concealed their unlawful
acts from their chief. DIR. A. C. True.
and when DR.. True discovered the
facts. he recommended their dismis.
sal Tho secretary dismissed them.
and as there was violation of law
involved. sent all of the facts and pa
pers In his possession 20 the attorney
general for sertification. to the dis
trict attorney for prosecution and for
such o'her action as the attorney gen.
ernl might deem proper
Secretary Wilson and Solicitor Nc
Cabe are accused Of suppressing n re-
port unfavorable TO land spectators.
who are selling farms In the ever.
glades in Florida. II is said the lanl is
under water and may never be of any
value