The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-08-20
Special TO The Journal.

Special 60 The Journal
Washington, Aug. 19.-The Moss
committee today presented to the
house two reports of it's investigation
of the Florida Everglades charges and
the subsequent inquiry into the drain
age division of the department OF agri-
culture. The reports take up the
charge that a certain circular unfa
vorable to sale of Everglades land
was suppressed in the department Of
agriculture through the influence of
real estate operators; the questions of
relations between Assistant Secretary
Hays of the department and j. 0.
Wright, a former government employe,
in the land project at Lake Malta
muskett N. c., and the dismissal of
G. G. Elliott and A. D. Moorehouse
from the drainage division of the de-
partment on technical charges involv
ing the transfer of government funds
from one account 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 too much suspicion and
criticism. The minority report, sign
ed by Representative Slona, Of Ne
braska, who said his views were ap-
proved by Representatives Higgins
and Madden, h~li that Secretary Will
son had acted w1Sisa his legal dis
Hays was condemned by the ma
jority for his relations with Wright
in the North Carolina project, while
the minority held his interest was not
one for profit, but only his well known
interest in development in rural COM
munity life.
Both majority and minority agreed
that the dismissal of Elliott and More
house on technical charges was "over-
discipline"
Origin of Investigation.
The Everglades investigation arose
through the charges that certain re-
ports prepared by government en-
gineers had been withheld from pub
lication, with the inference that such
action was in the interest of land
dealers. G. G. Elliott, chief of drain
age, and Assistant Engineer More
house, who were brought into the
controversy, were found by the COM
mittee to have made an arrangement
in connection with North Carolina
swamp lands that was in violation of
| the law, but inasmuch as there was
no profit intended in it the commit
| tee declared that the man had been
too severely disciplined by agricuI-
tural department officials
Assistant Secretary Hays connec-
| ton with the matter arose through a
| private arrangement he made with ].
0. Wright, former drainage engineer,
! for the handling of some drained land
in North Carolina which did not be-
long to the government.
| Wright and North Carolina Incident.
The majority report cited Wright's
admissions Of his familiarity with real
| estate promoters and of accepting de-
velopment company stock and fees
while engaged officially in making
| surveys to reclaim land. It declared
| that while thus engaged as a paid
| salesman and an interested purchaser,
| he appeared before the North Caro-
lima legislature as an official of the
| department Of agriculture ostensibly
| to advise in the framing Of drainage
| legislation
He later boasted, the report said, of
securing the passage of a special
statute there under which he was en-
| abled to close a deal. HIS transactions
were denounced by the majority as
| repugnant to a high sense Of honor
anu integrity, which would justify dis
| nIissal if he were still in the gov
| erEment service. The report added
that his transactions were not brought
to the knowledge of his superiors of
the drainage division.
The majority report cited testimony
regarding frequent conferences of AS
sistant Secretary Hays and Engineer
| Wright, who has since become state
drainage engineer of Florida. concern
ing the purchase and sale at a profit
of the bed of Lake Mattamuskee. N, c
Mr.. Wright, the majority declared, did
not seem to realize the impropriety of
his own conduct. In view of his CON
fdentiaI relations with Mr.. HAYS the
majority found it difficult to escape
the conviction that Mr. Wright was
in full possession of the facts reIa-
tive to Wright's deals and transactions
when they were being negotiated" and
that Hays should have condemned
them rather than to have encourag ged
them.
Clear Gard For Hays.
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 al
Il Continued on Third Pagel