The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-08-20
A DOUBLE-BARREL REPORT

The Moss committee of the House Of
Representatives presented to the
House Monday two reports OF its in
vestigation of the Florida Everglades
charges and the subsequent inquiry
into the drainage division OF the de-
partment of agriculture. The reports
take up the charge that a certain cir
cular unfavorable to the sale of Ever
glades lands suppressed in the
department of agriculture through in
huence of real estate operators; the
question of relations between Assist
ant Secretary Hays and the depart
ment and j. o. Wright, a former gov
eminent employee, in a land project at
Lake Mattamuskeet, N c.; and the dis
missal of c. G. Elliott and \. ID. Moore
house from the drainage division of
the department on technical charges
involving the transfer of government
funds from one account to another.
Secretary Wilson escaped personal ar
raignment at the hands OF the ind
ings on the Everglades charges.
The departments policy towards the
Everglades was characterized as vacil-
lating, most unfortunate" and hav-
ing subjected the department to much
suspicion and criticism. The minority
report held that Secretary Wilson had
acted within his legal discretion.
Hays was condemned by the major
ity 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 in
terest in development of rural COM
munity life.
Both majority and minority agreed
that the dismissal of Elliott and
Il. -
"ov erdiscipline."
The conduct of Assistant Secretary
Hays of the agricultural department,
whose relations with former Drainage
Engineer ]. o. Wright were the sub
ject of special attention by the COM
mittee, was declared in a majority re-
port to have been not in harmony
with proper standards of official pro-
priety If not official recitude." The
minority report asserted on the other
hand that the unstable" majority con-
illusions were more of a charge
against the mental capacity and hon
esty of the committee members" than
against Assistant Secretary Hays.
No real criticism of Secretary Will
son was contained in the majority re-
port, the burden of criticism being
laid on Assistant Secretary Hays. The
minority report, on the other hand,
acquitted the latter of the charges
that he "despised all restraint and at
tempted to capitalize his official po-
sition and draw quick dividend from
official opportunity"
The majority report cited Wright's
admissions Of his familiarity with
real estate promoters and of accept
ing development company stock and
fees while engaged officially in max
ing surveys to reclaim land. 1t de-
clared that while thus engaged as a
paid salesman and an interested pur-
chaser he appeared before the North
Carolina legislature as an official of
the department of agriculture osten-
sibly to advise in the framing of drain
age legislation.
He later boosted, the report said. of
securing the passage of special
statute there under which he was en-
abled to close deal His transactions
were denounced by the majority as re-
pugnant to high sense of honor and
integrity, which would justify dis
missal If he were still in the govern
ment service. The report added that
his transactions were not brought to
the knowledge of his superiors Of the
drainage division.