Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-07
HOLDS EXECUTIVE SESSION
steps Taken for Thorough Inquiry
Into Recent Dismissals.
DRAINAGE REPORT REVISED
Chief Engineer Elliott and Engineer
wright Both Make Changes Be-
fore Printing, Is Shown.

congressional investigation into the at
utude or high officials of the Deps rtment
OF agriculture toward the exploitation OF
the FLORIDA everglade lands were promis-
ed today, when Chairman Moss of the
mouse commttee on expenditures In that
department called meeting OF the DEM
ocratic members of his committee and
went into an executive session with Sem
ators Fletcher and Bryan of Florida
Neither senator would discuss the situa-
ton, and Chairman Moss indicated the
result of the meeting might be made
known late today.
Solicitor McCabe of the Department of
Agriculture had planned to appear today
before the committee and tell the depart
ments side Of the case, but this WAS
ferred at the last moment.
Representative Moss stated that the
conference would consider what plans
to pursue in consideration of the
charges and investigation of circum-
stances which led up to the dismissal
from that department last Saturday by
Secretary Wilson of c. @. Elliott. chief
engineer of the drainage division. his
assistant, A. ID. Morehouse and the sds-
pension of the department auditor.
f. E. Singleton.
Wright Revises His Report.
The Senate document ord-: ed printed
last summer containing all publ.E ia pcrs
relating to the Florida everglades c.'i not
contain the report made by form, De-
partment Engineer J. y. Wright, as re-
vised by Chief Engineer Elliott b.t CON-
tained a second revision of the .eport as
made by Wright himself. after he had
left the employ of the government and
had become chief engineer OF the state
of Florida. In a letter from Mr.. Wright
10 Secretary Wilson, under date of No
vember %. 1911, the former department
engineer stated that in the revision OF the
report he was aided by Senator Fletcher.
Wright's letter to the Secretary Of Ag-
riculture followed a letter wr;t'ei, oy
Chief Engineer Elliott to the secretary
November ii last. in whi.:-. outlined
the whole history Of the everglades report
and the suppl essiOn of il from puplica-
ton, together with an account o. thieats
made against hum by agents OF one of
the land Syndicates II he refused to re-
wise public circular regarding everSiade
conditions.
Not Printed in Senate Do, ument.
in this letter Elliot: recounted nov the
Senate had passed a resolution August
:, 1911, callins for publication Of ali docu-
ments bearing on the case. lie said that
when Secretary Carter Of the committee
on printing came to the department for
the documents ne did no, wish to take
the department report as revised by
Elliott, nor the copy of the circular to
the public which had been suppressed by
Secretary Wilson. He did finally take
them. however but neither of these docu-
nan ic tod in, ha ara <,fs
ate known as Senate document So
Senator Fletcher is reported by Wright
to have been amazed" when he saw
how the original Wright report had been
with other engineers. In his letter to
Secretary Wilson. Engineer Wright wrote
the following:
Senator Fletcher got permission from
the last session of Congress to publisl.
this report as part Of Senate document.
A copy was procured from your depart
ment and sent to the government print
ing office. When the galley proof was
struck of Elliott received a copy and
proceeded to rewrite the same.
When it was returned to the committee
it no longer appeared to be my report.
but Elliott's report. My name had been
stricken out and Elliotts inserted I'm
many places. Page after page had been
stricken out and many typewriter pages
supplied to take their places. Matter had
been injected that was not in the original
report, and conclusions drawn that were
not warranted by facts.
Senator Fletcher was amazed, and re-
queSted me to come to Jacksonville ana
go over the matter with him. / did this.
and the report was corrected to conform
to the manuscript secured from your de-
partment. / have recently received u
page proof Of this document
Wright Report Printed.
This edition of the Wright report was
the one eventually printed in the Senate
document In It is none Of the refer
ences such as were included in the public
circular issued by Elliott in response TO
public demands from prospective in
vestors in Florida Everglade lands. which
were being promoted by the land syndi-
Gates.
1t was this circular. which the Senate
document also eliminates, that was or
dered suppressed by Secretary Wilson
after Elliott had refused 10 temper il al
the request OF land syndicate representa-
tives. The circular contained unfavorable
references to conditions-that Is, condi-
lions unfavorable for immediate eXploita-
ton of the lands.
Solicitor McCabe of the Department
of Agriculture has told the expendi-
when this controversy over the ever
glade reports was on, consulted DIR.
B. T. Galloway, chief OF the bureau
of plant industry. who had seen some
Of the Florida everglade lands.
He said DIR. Galloway told the Secretary
that he thought DIR. Goodrich OF the bu-
reau of plant industry should be consult
ed before the report was published, and
that DIR. Goodrich had reported that he
regarded the reports as entirely too opti-
mistic" Because his own men disagreed
about the matter. the solicitor declared.
was the reason that Secretary Wilson or
dered that the report be published as
Of Agriculture document.
Representatives Clark Of Florida and
Bathrick of Ohio said today they would
Insist upon a thorough inquiry.
Wilson Awaits Hearing.
Secretary Wilson said today:
'.I do not want to make any statement
for the press at this time. II we are
riyen a full hearing before the congress
sional committee we have q lot of inter-
esting data, and that hearing will be my
answer II we are not called on, then
am willing to prepare statement for the
press"
Solicitor McCabe had his desk piled up
with documents ready for q call before
the House committee. and said that he
had the whole story ready for oficial
II called on. He said, how
ever, that the gist of the whole story, %
far as the public was interested. lay In