Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-08-21
TWO REPORTS ON
EVERGLADES MATTER
ASSISTANT SECRETARY HAYS
SEVERELY CRITICISED
Majority Report Declares, However,
No Evidence Could be Found that
Hays Had Made ANY Money Out
of Land Deals.
Associated Press.

4
| investigation Of the department Of
agriculture's connection with the
| Florida Everglades drainage project
ended today when the house Of rep
| resentatives' committee on eXpendi-
lures in the department of agricul-
ture submitted to the house its find
ings in majority and minority re-
ports Of its members
The conduct of Assistant Secre-
tary Hays of the agriculture de-
partment, whose relations with
former drainage engineer j. 0.
Wright were the subject of especial
attention by the committee, was de-
clared in a mapority report pre-
sented by Chairman Moss, demo-
crat, to have been not in harmony
with proper standards of official
propriety if not official rectitude.
The minority report made by Rep
| resentative Sloan Of Nebraska, re-
publican, asserted on the other hand
that the unstable majority con-
clusions were more Of charge
against the mental capacity and
| honesty Of the committee members
than against Assistant Secretary
Hays.
The majority report was signed
| by Chairman Moss and Representa-
tives Flood of Arkansas, and Dough
| ton of North Carolina, democrats.
The minority report was signed by
Representative Sloan Of Nebraska
who stated that Representatives
Higgins of Connecticut, and Hadden
Of Illinois approved it. All are re-
publicans Many features Of the
agriculture departments work in
connection with the Everglades
were attacked by the democratic re-
port, which arraigned the depart
ment as vascillating and Engineer
Wright as having been "on familiar
terms with real estate promoters and
Spectators
No real criticism Of Secretary
Wilson was contained in the major
ity report, the burden of criticism
being laid on Assistant Secretary
Hays. The minority report, on the
other hand, acquitted the latter OF
the charges that che despised all re-
straints and attempted to capitalize
his official position and draw quick
dividends from official opportunity
The Everglades investigation
arose through the charges that GER
tain reports prepared by government
en- ngineers had been withheld from
publication, with the inference that
such action was in the interest Of
the land dealers. c. G. Elliott. chief
of drainage, and Assistant Engineer
Moorehouse. who were brought into
the controversy, were found by the
committee to have made an arrange
ment in connection with North Car
olina swamp lands that was in vio-
lation Of the law, but inasmuch a.
there was no profit intended in II
the committee declared that the men
I had been too severely disciplined By
i agriculture department officials.
Assistant Secretary Hays connec-
ition with the matter arose through
private arrangement he made with
-J. o. Wright, former drainage en-
!. gineer, for the handling OF some
!. drained land in North Carolina
!. which did not belong to the govern
I ment
Z The majority report cited Wright
Z admission of his familiarity will
!. real estate promoters and of accept
I ing development company stock an'
= fees while engaged officially in max
: ing surveys to reclaim land. 1t de
:. clared that while thus engaged a
: a paid salesman and an intereste
]. purchaser he appeared before tn
= North Carolina legislature as an OF
x fetal OF the department of agricul
= ture ostensibly TO advise in The fran
Il ing Of drainage legislation.
1, He later boasted. the report saiC
:, OF securing the passage of specis
statute there under which he wa
1, enabled to close a deal. His trans
d. actions were denounced BY the mi
I. jority as repugnant to a high sens
=. of honor and integrity, which woul
Justify dismissal if he were still
the government service. The repo
added that his transactions wei
not brought to the knowledge OF h
" superiors of the drainage division
The majority report cited test
Continued on page FOUR