Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-29
TAFT REPORTED TO BE SEEKING
SUCCESSOR FOR CABINET
OFFICER.
OFFERED TO THREE MEN,
ALL REFUSE POSITION
Another Scandal in Department, in
Which Assistant Secretary Hays 10
Frequently Mentioned-Swamp Land
Deal Being Investigated BY Con.
eressional Committee.

Washington. Feb. 2e.-President Taft
has offered James Wilson's portfolio.
that of secretary of agriculture, to
three different men since the Florida
Everglades scandal was taken up by
the house committee on expenditures
IN that department. and as soon as his
successor is definitely determined upon
Mi Wilson vii leave the cabinet
Additional light was thrown. not on
the Everglades scandal. but on the
proposed exploitation Of the Lake Mat
tanuskeet marsh lands in North Caro-
lima. John Selp. a North Carolina land
owner. read to the committee the orig
inais OF the letters which were printed
Feb. %. showing that Williet VI. Hays,
assistant secretary Of agriculture,
sought TO make money ont Of the marsh
lands which had been passed upon
tavorabIy by ]. O. Wright, then de-
pa-tmenr engineer.
Solicitor McCabe. OF the agricultural
department. read statement on be-
half Of Hays admitting the charges.
Half Million at Stake.
Mr. Hays. according 10 Solicitor Nc
from. sociological standpoint. but
and telesraphed Wright 10 reserve
friends This investment. Hays fig
ured. would ret $500 900 or more.
Wright is the engineer who resigned
take charge ot the exploitation OF the
- - az
time thar he was sent 70 North Caro-
lima 70 repor, on the possibility Of re-
claiming the marsh lands there that he
met Seip. The latter produced before
the committee today mass OF CORE
spoRdence which passed between him
and Wright while they were trying 10
set the lands cheap" from the state
u North Carolina. II was the plan 10
buy the properties for $4,000 and sell
;i2eIn for more than $500 600.
Offered $500 comnisson.
Seip told the committee that he made
an agreement 10 pay Wright $500 as
! commission eor floating the COM
pany's bonds and $4,000 in stock for
handling the properties while they
we're being reclaimed. The $500 was
nor paid because, according TO Seip.
Wright failed TO carry out his bar
gain.
Wright had examined these prop
critics for the government and was
thoroughly conversan, with their
worth seip said. I agreed with
him that il he would get the 1aRds for
NE at approxin arely ss0ooo-there
we-e $4,000 acres il the tract-I would
form a company With 100000 capital.
Wright wanted $4,000 in stock for
handling the reclamation work. but
COMPROMISED On $4,000. OF the re-
-a;nder q the stock .:50o00 was 10 De
sold and the receipts were 70 be used
for drainage.
Afraid Of Joint Interest.
When l discovered that Wright was
receiving q commission o. 5000 cor
acting as sales agent Of the state OF
North Carolina, l feared that his Joint
irte-es. might affect our title and I an-
ally withdrew the proposition.
Before we could go ahead with the
deal, however. certain changes had TO
De made in The state laws. Wright.
who vas I'll the time OF the pay roll
OF the agricultural department, went
70 the state capital and had the laws
changed so that our scheme would go
thru.
y atterward received letter from
Wright 70 the effect that ne had sold
the land TO other people. and had col
lected mis- commission from the state"
Letters Go Into Record.
The lerte-s showing HAYS interest
in the scheme we're read into the rec
GRO. They were in W-i-ht's hand
writing Here is one Of them:
Il was speaking 70 Mr. HAYS, the as
sista.t secretary Of agriculture. about
the survey We made in HYDE county.
and ne became very much interested
ard invited me 70 come 70 his Office
c.d talk the matter over with him. He
thinks there is a great opportunity TO