Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-07
SECRETARY WILSON AND AoRl.
CULTURAL DEPARTMENT
AGAIN INVOLVED.
COMMITTEE iNvEsTloArEs
SUPPRESSION or REPORTS
Ensinssr's Findings Regarding Ever.
sladss Observation-Disclosures Of Land
Syndicate Alleged to Have Been
Ussd-simiIar to Wiley cass-Me.
cabs Also Involved.

Washington. Feb. Another inves-
tigation of the department Of asricul-
ture involving orders Of Secretary Will
son and Solicitor McCabe, similar in
! many respects to the recently conclud-
| ed McCabe-Wiley controversy is to be
| made by the house committee on ex-
renditures in the agricultural depart
ment.
Circumstances relating to exploita-
ton Of Florida everglade lands, millions
Of acres Of which have been sold thru
| out the country by syndicates in the
\ last few years, come to light before the
committee yesterday following Secre-
tary Wilson's summary discissal last
Saturday of c. G. Elliott, chief engineer
Of the drainage division Of the depart
ment, and Assistant Engineer A. D.
Morehouse. and the suspension of F. E.
Singleton, an accountant, on technical
charges Of transference Of public funds.
Representatives Frank Clark Of Flor
ida and E.. r. Bathrick of Ohio. who
instigated the investigation, charged
| that officials of the department of ag-
riculture had been influenced by Flor
ida everglade land promoters in the
suppression Of report on the condi-
ton of the lands made by the drainage
department.
Misuse Of Funds Alleged.
Solicitor McCabe told the committee
the dismissal of the department Off
Gals was not caused by the Florida
land case. He said the action was TAX
fall oh =
missed men had nisapplied funds.
These charges are reported to have
been made to Solicitor McCabe, re-
Gently by ]. o. Wright. a former SUBJ
ordinate Of Elliott, but at present chief
engineer Of the board Of trustees Of
the internal Improvement fund Of the
state OF Florida. Wright made a ia
vorable report upon the everglade lands
and soon afterward resigned from Of
flee to enter the employ Of the state
of Florida.
Solicitor McCabe told the committee
that all reports and papers bearing on
the everglades case had been collected
by the department and would be turned
over to the committee for its investi
cation.
He declared further that the reason
Secretary Wilson had ordered that the
report on the everglades be not printed
was because the engineers in the drain
age department were so at variance in
the matter.
Admits Suppression Of Report.
Representative Clark said Secretary
Wilson would be summoned as a wit
ness and would be asked concerning
an interview he had with the Florida
representative some time ago in which
the secretary is said to have admitted
he had suppressed the report of the
! everglade lands. Mr.. Clark said he.
with four Florida citizens, called on
Secretary Wilson to ask why the re-
port was suppressed.
One of these men was w. r. Hardee
of Jensen, Fla, who recently made
statement that Secretary Wilson said:
II am not running this office for the
protection Of fools who do not know
any better than to buy something that
they never saw and do not know any
thing about"
Mr.. Hardee also will be summoned
before the house committee as wit
ness.
Representative Clark stated that in
1907 the department. of agriculture was
flooded with requests from people thru
out the country regarding the condi-
ton of Florida everglade lands which
syndicates were exploiting. ]. o.
Wright and a corps Of engineers Of the
federal drainage department were sent
to Florida by Chief Engineer Elliott to
make a survey and to compile re-
port.
Elliott Tells Of Threats.
A part of the evidence submitted to
the committee is copy of letter
written by Mr.. Elliott to Secretary
Wilson last November. In this the
engineer said he was threatened by
agents Of the land dealers when he re-
fused to alter or suppress a circular
sent out concerning the everglades.
Some time in January. 1910. II re-
member correctly" said Mr.. Elliott, In
his letter to Secretary Wilson. "E. c.
Howe and Thomas H. Will. agents for
the Florida Everglades Land Company.
called upon Director A. G. True Of the
office of experiment stations and pro-
tested against our sending out these
circulars and threatened me
personally with public exposure If any
further information concerning the
everglades should be furnished to cor
respondents.
"a few days later Mr.. Howe in
formed me. in somewhat strong Ian
guage, that unless acceded to their
wishes they would take the matter
higher up and compel me to suppress
all information regarding the ever
glades. Both Director True and myself
oann . tWR