The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-02-16
SUPPRESSION OF REPORTS ON
EVERGLADES LAID TO AoRI-
CULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
THE FACTS SUPPRESSED
House Expenditure Committee VIII
Investigate Conditions In Florida.
Gigantic Land Fraud, lnvoiv-
wing Millions Of Acres.

tigation of the department of agrfcul-
ture involving orders Of Secretary Will
son and Solicitor McCabe. similar in
many respects to the recently con-
cluded McCabe-Wiley controversy, but
which embraces charges of suppressed
reports and influence of land specula-
tors over government officials. Is to
be instituted by the house committee
on expenditures in the agricultural
department.
Circumstances, smoldering for
months, relating to exploitation Of
Florida Everglade lands, millions Of
acres Of which have been sold
throughout the country by syndicates
in the past few years. burst into a
fame before the committee following
the summary dismissal from the gov
eminent service by Secretary Wilson
of c. G. Elliott. chief engineer of the
drainage division of the department,
and Assistant Engineer A. ID. More
house. and the suspension of F. E.
Singleton. an accountant. on a techni-
cal charge of transference of public
funds.
Representatives Frank ClarE of Flor
ida and Z. r. Bathrick of Ohio. who
have instigated the investigation,
charging the congressional committee
that officials of the department Of ag-
riculture had been influenced by Flor
ida Everglade land promoters in the
suppression Of a report on the condi-
ton of the lands made by the drainage
department; that Chief Engineer e.
lott was threatened by agents of the
land promoters unless he would revise
circular letter to the public which
| did not contain laudatory references to
the lands they were selling, and that
upon his refusal, the circular and a
subsequent fuller report were sup
pressed by the order of Secretary Will
son and that later. Engineers Elliott
and Morehouse were removed from Of
fee.
Mecabe Before Committee.
Solicitor McCabe, who was called be-
for the house committee. OF which
Representative Moss of Indiana is the
chairman, denied that the dismissal Of
tht was III any
way caused by the Florida land case
and declared that the action was TAX
en- following charges that the dis
missed men had misapplied funds. All
the papers relating to this feature OF
the case he turned over to the depart
ment OF justice for possible prosecu-
ton.
The charges involving tine dismissed
men were reported to have been made
to Solicitor McCabe recently by J. o.
Wright, former subordinate of Ell.
lott. but at present chief engineer of
the board of trustees of the internal
improvement fund Of the state OF
Florida. Wright made favorable re
port upon the Everglade lands and
soon afterward resigned from Office to
enter the employ of the state of Flor.
ida.
]. o. Wright and a corps of engi
neers of the drainage department were
sent to Florida by Chief Engineer Ell
lott to make a survey and to compile
complete report. Here. according
to Representative Clark. began the
trouble that has led up to the presen,
controversy.
The circular sal dto have been sup
pressed by Secretary Wilson. also will
be in evidence before the committee
Purposes Of Circular.
This circular was made up on &C
count of a public demand for infor
nation. while the printed report from
Engineer Wright. which was bulky
was being awaited. Engineer Elliot
outlined portions of the circular. un
favorably to the exploitation schemes
of the land syndicate. which he de
clared Howe and viii demanded tina
he retract. The circular in the mali
recited the government reclamation
and drainage plans for the Everglade
and included many favorable refer
ences to the prospects.
The charge against the discharge,
officials is that several years ago the.
ran short in the appropriation for tn
drainage division because funds hat
been irregularly loaned to the irriga
tion division of the department. Drain
age work was in progress in Nortl
, Carolina and a private contractor wa
engaged who finished the work AM
. was compensated in the next year
appropriation. being carried on tn
pay roll as an employee.
Singleton. who is suspended, il dc
clared to have suggested this mean
Of carrying on the uncompleted wori
The total was about $500, but no 4
nancial gain accrued to any Of the Of
ficials in the transaction.
100000 Washing Hung Out to Or,
, New York, N. Y. - The staff Of tn
, United States Life Insurance compan
has just completed ten-day job Q
washing and ironing which was prot
ably without precedent in New Yorl
The wash" which they hung out o
lines strung across the vault of bi
: Wall street bank and then ironed on