Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-19
Dismissal of Elliott and
Morehouse is Called
"0VerdisCipIine.
CAUSE FOR SUSPICION
Agricultural Departments Pol
icy Toward Transaction Is
Held VaSCiIIating.

Washington, Aug 19.-The Moss
committee today presented to the
house two reports or It's investigation
OF the Florida everglades Charges and
the subsequent inquiry into the drain
age division of the department OF az
Iiculture. The reports take up the
charge that certain circular unfavor.
able TO sale of everglades lands was
suppressed in the department Of ag
riculture through influence Of real es-
tate operators; the question OF rela-
tions between Assistant Secretary
Hays OF the department and K. 0.
Wright. a former government en-
ploye, in a land project at Lake Mat
tamusskeet, y. c., and the dismissal
% &. G.. Elliott and y. d. Morehouse
from the drainage division OF the de-
partment on technical charges involv-
ing the transfer of government funds
from one account To another.
WILSON ESCAPES.
Secretary Wilson escaped personal
arraignmeut at the hands OF the ma
jority in the findings on the ever
glades charges The departments
policy toward the everglades was
characterized as vascillating. most
unfortunate" and having subjected the
department 10 much suspicion and
criticism. The minority report sign
cd by Representative Sloan Of Ne
braska. who said his views were ap-
proved by Representatives Higgins
and Madden. held that Secretary VII
son had acted within his legal disCre-
ton
Hays was condemned by the major
ity for his relations with Wright in
the North Carolina project, while the
minority held his interest was not
cuc for profit. but only his we'll known
interest in development Of rural com
muuity life.
Both majority and minority agreed
that the dismissal Of Elliott and More
house on technical charges was over
discipline"
CONDUCT OF HAYS.
The conduct OF Assistant Secretary
Hays OF the agriculture department,
whose relations with former Drainage
Engineer j q. Wright were the sub
ject OF especial attention by the com
mittee, was declared in a majority
report presented by Chairman Moss,
democrat, 10 have been not in har-
mony with proper standards OF OFF,
cial propriety II not official rectitude."
The minority report made by Repre-
sentative Sloan OF Nebraska, repub-
llCau. asserted on the other hand that
the unstable" majority conclusions
we're more OF a charge against the
mental capacity and honesty OF the
committee members" than against AS
sistant Secretary Hays.
The majority report was signed by
Chairman Moss and Representative
Flood OF Arkansas. and DOughton OF
North Carolina, democrats. The mi
nority report was signed by Represen'
tative Sloan OF Nebraska, who stated
that Representatives Higgins OF Con
necticut and Madden OF Illinois ap'
proved II. All are republicans. Many
features OF the agriculture depart
mcut's 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"
REPORTS WITHHELD.
No real criticism OF Secretary VII
son was contained in the majority re
port. the burden OF criticism beini
laid on Assistant Secretary Hays. The
minority report, on the other hand
Ecquitted the latter OF the charge:
that he "despised all restraint and at
tempted 20 capitalize his Official pO
siilon and draw quick dividend from
Official opportunity"
The everglades investigation arose
through the charges that certain re
ports prepared by government engl
reers had been withheld from publ
cation. with the inference that suci
action was in the Interest OF lan'
dealers G. G Elliott. chief OF drain
are. and Assistant S2gineer Moore
house. who We're brought into the con
t-a,orsy. were found by the commit
tee - have made an arrangement 4
connection with North Carulin;
swamp lands that was IN violation
of the law. hUt 'nasmuch as Their
was no profit intended in IL the com
uittce declared that the men had beef
too severely disciplined by agriculture
department officials
Assistant Secretary Hays conneC
tion with the matter arose through
private arrangement he made with
q Wright. former drainage engineer
for the handling of some drained Ian
a D.
long to 'he government
The majority report cited Wright