The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-08
Solicitor M cCabe Is
Sure Their Efforts
Will Fail.
PROBE WELCOMED
BY DEPARTMENT
House Committee Decides to
Make Full Investigation of
Charges That Secretary of
Agriculture Has Been Work
| ing Hand in Glove With
Everglades Exploiters.

Washington February Thorough
ernmcnt reports on Florida everglades
lands were suppressed by officials Of
the Department Of Agriculture at the
Instance of land spectators. and thA:
department engineers were dismissed
because Of controversies in this con-
ncction. was determined upon to-day
By the Democratic members of the
House Committee on Expenditures in
the Department OF Agriculture.
After j conference, Representative
Moss, OF Indiana. chairman of the COM
mittee. declared that the formal order
OF inquiry would be executed at a
meeting Of the FULL committee -mor-
row.
The committee has determined that
there are circumstances in connection
with tins case that need thorough in
vestigation,' said Chairman Moss, and
We already have d=cided TO subpoena
as one of the frst witnesses ]. q.
Wright, the chief drainage engineer
OF the State OF Florida. formerly an
engineer in the drainage division of
the Department of Agriculture. VINO
made charges against his former as
sociatc engineers in the department
which resulted in thar dismissal last
Saturday By order of Secretary VIII
SON."
McCabe Is Defiant.
y statement issued Tonight By So
licltor McCabc. of the Department Of
Agriculture, with the approval Of Sec
rotary Wilson. declares that the
cnarses against the department are
untrue, and that THE effort to be-
smirea the Secretary OF Agriculture
will fail"
,,a
The House committee Tomorrow
Will plan tn. form OF the investigation,
and probably the first witness viii be
the chief accountant of the Depart
inent of Agriculture, Mr.. Zapphon, who
also was first to appear as witness
against DR.. Wiley.
Engineer Elliott, and his assistant.
"A. u. MOI ehouse, who were dismissed
upon recomm of Solicitor Nc
cabe, to-day engaged as counsel 10
represent them at the hearings Henry
T. Davis. who defended Dr. Wiley.
The determination TO sift to the bot
tom the circumstances concerning the
Department of Agrlculture's relations
with The Florida land cases was pre-
eeded BY a conference between Sena-
tors Duncan L. Fletcher and Nathan
r. Bryan. of Florida. and Chairma n
MOSS early in the day. The Senator's
called upon the Representatives as
soon es they learned OF the proposea
inquiry Neither of them would make
statement. but both asked to hs
present at the hearings
solicitor McCabes statement,
proved by Secretary Wilson follows.
In a prejudiced. one sided state
ment given out by Representativs
Frank Clark. OF Florida, on the ever
siades controversy. it is sought to show.
that the reason the Secretary of ACri.
culture suppressed a circular of in
formation which had been prepared hv
the office of drainage and declined 10
print complete report OF the drain
age work which the department has
zone In the everglades, was because
me secretary did not regard the cir
GUAR and reports as sufficiently favor
able to please the land promoters who
we're operating In the glades. In Mr.,
Clarks statement 1t is further sought
to show that the recent dismissal Of
Messrs. Elliott and Morehouse, drain
age engineers. was for failure to SHOW
sufficient favors to the land pro-
moters.
Both of these statements are I'M
true, and Mr.. Clark's effort to besmirch
the Secretary of Agriculture will fail
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