The Washington herald., 1912-02-08
FLORIDA LAND CASE
OPENS NEXT WEEK
Mr.. Clark's Statements Are
Said to Be Untrue.
DEPARTMENT MAKES REPLY
Explanation ReEardinE the Dis
nIIssaI of Elliott and Morehouse.
Secretary Wilson's Letter To
Prospective Investors Quoted.
Attorney Retained.

Thorough investigation OF the Ever
glades land controversy will be begun
this morning by the House Committee
on Expenditures in the Agricultural De-
partment, when Chairman Moss win be
directed to issue subpoenas for witnesses
and outline the course Of the inquiry.
Henry z. Davis, former United States
attorney for the District OF Columbia,
has been retained by Chief Engineer
Elliott and Assistant Engineer More
house, of the drainage division, who were
dismissed by Secretary Wilson last Sat
urday, and Accountant Singleton, who
was suspended. to represent their inter
ests before the committee during the
Investigation. Mr.. Davis represented DIR.
Harvey w. Wiley before the committee
during last summers inquiry. when the
chemist was up on charges from which
he was later eXonerated.
Engineer Wright to Testify.
Hearings will probably not be begun
until some time next week, but Chairman
Moss to-day will direct the issuance of
a subpoena for ]. o. Wright, formerly
an employe Of the department, and now
chief engineer Of the Everglades drainage
project, who on january 10 Of this year
brought to the attention of Solicitor Nc
Cabe the charges upon which Elliott and
Morehouse were fired and Singleton sus-
pended. The first witness called, how
ever, will be 4. Zappone, chief Of the
Division OF Accounts OF the department.
He will be asked to tell the committee
all the details of the alleged irregulari-
ties in the accounts OF the drainage divl-
sion in 1900. which resulted in the punish
1.-Y G,N Of tho fhraa nff1rialg
in question.
Denounced as Untrue.
There were several new developments
in the Everglades controversy yesterday.
The department issued a statement de-
nouncing as ''prejudiced and one-sided
and untrue the statement given out on
Tuesday by Representative Frank Clark.
of Florida, declaring that Secretary Will
son suppressed a warning circular and
an engineers report on the Everglades
because the circular and report did not
please the land SPECTATORS operating in
the Everglades. The departments state
ment also declares that Elliott and More
house were dismissed because they had
certified and presented false accounts.
knowing them to be false. on which the
government paid out money" Mr.. Clarks
statements are declared to be untrue,
and IL is said that his effort to be-
smirch the Secretary Of Agriculture will
fail"
Senators Fletcher and Bryan, Of Flor
ida, are interested in the matter, mas
much as certain public papers relating
to the Everglades were printed last sum-
mer as a Senate document. There is a
dispute as to the manner in which a re-
port written by Wright was edited.
Representatives Clark and BathrIck
who brought the controversy to a head,
insisted even more emphatically yes
terdsy than on the day previous that
inquiry would demonstrate that the
Agricultural Department has loaned
itself to exploitation OF the Everglades
by land companies.
Departments Letter.
Attention was called yesterday at
the Agricultural Department to a form
letter headed, United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture, ONCE OF the Sec
retary," which, 1t is stated, has been
sent out to those inquiring about the
lands in place OF the circular
alleged by Representative Clark to
have been suppressed because of its
comment on the Ever
glades for investment. This form let
ter says that the department cannot
furnish information concerning the re-
liability OF land companies, and adds
that investors should not buy land
which they have not seen.