The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-08-22
WILSON NOT BLAMED
IN EVERGLADES DEAL
Assistant Secretary, However,
Is Accused OF Conduct I'm
becoming Official.

I1ouSS lWO TSpOI - VI us llFeStlSdllO
of the Florida Everglades charges and
subsequent inquiry in the drainage d.
vision of the department of agricul-
ture. The reports take up the charge
that a certain circula unfavorable to
sale of everglades lands was sup
pressed in the department of agricul-
ture through the influence of real es-
tate operators; the question of rela-
tious between Assistant Secretary
Hays, of the department. and X. O.
Wright, a former government employee,
In a land project at Lake Mattamus-
keet, N. c., and the dismissal of C. G.
Elliot and A. D.. Morehouse from the
drainage division Of the department,
on technical charges involving the
transfer of government funds from one
account to another.
Sloan Offers Different View.
Secretary Wilson escaped personal
arraignment at the hands of the ma
charges. The departments policy
toward h everglades vas character
lied as vascillating, most unfortu-
nate" and having subjected the depart
ment to much suspicion and criticism.
The minority report, signed by Repre-
his views were approved by Represen-
tatives Higgins and Madden, held that
Secretary Wilson had acted within his
legal discretion.
Hays was condemned by the ma
jority for his relations with Wright in
the North Carolina project, while the
minority held his interest was not n
for profit, but only his well known
interest in development of rural com
munity life.
Both majority and minority agreed
that the dismissal of Elliot and More
house on technical charges was lover
discipline"
Hays is Condemned.
The conduct of Assistant Secretary
HAYS of the agriculture department,
whose relations with former Drainage
Engineer j. O.. Wright, We're the sub
ject of especial attention by the COM
mittee, was declared in a majority re-
port presented by Chairman Moss,
democrat, to have been not in har-
mony with proper standards of Of
icial propriety. if not official recti-
tude," The minority report made by
Representative Sloan, of Nebraska, re-
publican. asserted on the other hand
that the unstable" majority CON
illusions We're more of a charge
against the mental capacity and hon
against Assistant Secretary Hays.
Two Records Submitted.
The majority report was signed by
chairman Moss and Representatives
Flood, of Arkansas, and Doughton, of
North Carolina, democrats. The mi
horlty report was signed by Represent
tative Sloan, of Nebraska, who stated
that Representatives Higgins. of Con-
necticut, and Madden. of Illinois, APP
proved it. All are republicans. Many
features of the agriculture depart
ments work in connection with the
Everglades were attacked by the demo-
cratic report, which arraigned the de-
partment as vascillating and Engineer
Wright as having been ION familiar
terms, with real estate promoters and
spectators"
Wilson Exonerated.
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. ac-
Quilted the latter of the charges that
he "~despised all restraint and attempted
to capitalize his official position and
draw quick dividend from official op-
~portunity."
The Everglades investigation arose
through the charges tina certain re-
ports prepared by government engi-
neers had been withheld from publica-
tion Win the inference that such &C
ton was in the interest of land deal
ers. G. G. Elliott, chief of drainage,
and Assistant Engineer Moorehouse
who We're brought into the controversy,
We're found by the committee to have
made an arrangement in connection
that was in violation of the law, but
as there was no profit in
tended in 1t the committee declared
that the men had been too severely
d1sclplined by Agricultural depart
ment officials.
Hays Implicated.
Assistant Secretary Hays connec-
nection with the matter arose through
a private angeme he made with
]. O. Wright, former drainage engi-
neer, for the handling of some drained
land IN North Carolina. which did not
belong to the government.
Inc majority report cited Wright's
admissions of his familiarity with real
estate promoters and of accepting de-
velopment company stool and fees
While engaged Officially in making sur
eys to reclaim land. 1t declared that
While thus engaged az a paid salesman
and an interested purchaser he APP
peared before the North Carolina legis-
lature as an official of the department
OF agriculture ostensibly to advise in
the framing of drainage legislation.
Wright Too BoastfuI.
lie later boosted, the report said. of
securing the passage Of q special stat
ute there under which he was enabled
to close a deal. His transactions were
bv the majority as repug-
liant to a high sense of honor and in
tegr1ty. which would justify dismissal
II ne We're still in the government serv-
ice. The report added that his transac-
tons Were not brought to the knowl-
edge of his superiors Of the drainage
division.
The majority report cited testimony
regarding frequent conferences of AS
sistant Secretary Hays and Engineer
Wright, who has since become state
engineer of Florida. concern
ing the purchase and sale at a profit
OF the bed of Lake Mattamuskee, n. C.
Mr.. Wright, the majority declared, did
not seem to realize the improperly of
ms own conduct. In view of his con-
fldential relations with Mr.. HAYS the
majority found it difficult to escape
the conviction that Mr.. Hays was in
full possession of the facts relative to
Wrlghts deal n transactions when
they We're being negotiated" and that
HAYS should nave condemned them
rather than to have encouraged them.