Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-08
TO PROBE.
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licitor MeCabe of the department of
rotary Wilson, declares that the
charges against the department are
untrue and that the effort to besnirch
the secretary of agriculture will fail
Tomorrow the House committee viii
plan the form of the investigation ana
probably the first witness will be the
chief accountant of the department a.
Zappone, who also was first to appear
as a witness in the case against DR.
Wiley.
Today, c. C. Elliott. former CHIEF
engineer of the drainage division, and
his assistants, A. ID. Morehouse, who
We're dismissed upon recommendation
of Solicitor McCabe, engaged as coun-
sci to represent them at the hearings
Henry f. Davis. who defended DIR.
Wiley.
The determination to slft to the bot
tom the circumstances concerning the de-
partment of agriculture relations with
the Florida land cases was preceded BY
a conference between Senators Duncan
Z. Fletcher and Nathan p. BRYAN of
Florida and Chairman Moss. early in the
day Neither of them would make n
statement but both were asked TO be at
the hearings Solicitor Mccabe's state
ment approved by Secretary Wilson fol
lows:
In a prejudiced. one-sided statement
given out by Rep, Frank Clark of Flor
ida on The Everglades controversy, 1t Is
sought to show that the reason the secre-
tary of agriculture suppressed circular
of information which had been prepared
by the office of drainage Investigations
and declined to print a complete report
of the drainage work which the depart
nent had done in the Everglades, was
because the secretary did not regard the
circular and reports as sufficiently IA
vorable TO please the land promoters who
were operating in the Glades. In NJ.
Clark's statement il is further sought 10
show that the recent dismissal of Messrs.
Elliott and Morehouse, drainage engi-
neers, was for failure to show sufficient
favors to the land promoters.
Both of these statements are untrue
and Mr. Clarks effort to besmirch the
secretary of agriculture will fail. The
secretary refused to print the report of
the work done in the Glades because not
only were his engineers. Mr.. Wright and
Mr. Elliott, in disagreement as to the
correct Interpretation of the work done
by the department in the Glades, but Mr.
Elliott, without further investigation
radically changed hiss position, and the
experts of the bureau or plant industry
familiar with Florida conditions, dis
agreed with both Mr.. Wright and Mr..
Elliott
'Elliott and Morehouse Were dismissed
by the secretary of agriculture because
they had certified and presented false
accounts knowing them to be false, On
which the government had paid out mon
eys. Not only did they know the ac-
counts were false, but they procured the
persons to make the false accounts-tell-
ing these persons that they would re-
ceive money for their trouble. They adj
init they uld this, they concealed their
unlawful acts from their chief, DR.. a. G.
True, and when DR.. True discovered the
facts he recommended their dismissal.
The secretary dismissed them, and as
there was a violation of law involved,
sent all of. the facts and papers in his
possession to the attorney general for
certifcation to the district attorney for
prosecution and for such other action as
the attorney general might deem proper.
'"The department courts the fullest in
vestigation Of this matter and has r
REPUTABLE documentary evidence ready q
present TO the Investigating committee at
a moments notice which clearly shows
that the action of the secretary has been
proper and consistent throughout If the