The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-08-20
Both Accused and
Excused By Committee
Continued from FIRST Page)


connection with Speculative enter
prises and get-rich- quick schemes"
ct is useless the majority added,
ito frame regulations for the govern
rent of employees, many of whom
work for low salaries, and permit
those in high position to despise al
-eslraint This is particularly true
when the offepss IS to capitalize off,
cial position and collect dividends from
official opportunity. Your committee
has no authority to deal further with
this matter. 1t calls the particular at
tention of Secretary Wilson to the rec
ord"
The committee conclusions are;
Department Too VasciIlatinq.
The majority report called the de-
partment vascillating and lacking con-
ception of the vast investment of mil
lions Of dollars in undertaking the
reclamation Of the Everglades; said 1t
constantly subordinated the inquiry to
other work in which members Of con-
gress were particularly interested and
finally abandoned 1t after an expendi-
ture Of s11,1O7 without definite re-
suits. Its accounting system was de-
flcient and It's discipline lacking. The
minority upheld the department.
Summary of Two Reports.
Secretary Wilson-Falsely accredited
with authorship Of the circular letter
to which real esta to promoters first
objected because of its cautionary ma
ture. Promptly suppressed 1t and re-
fused publication OF revised bulletin
excerpts as a report on the Ever
glades. Minority reported that he did
not abuse his legal discretion.
Assistant Secretary Hays-Arraign-
ed by majority. Minority called the
criticism of Hays unfair and unwar-
ranted; that his interest In the pos
sible sale of North Carolina lake bed
to Deigh Hunt and others was due to
his well-known public interest in the
development of community country life.
Drainage Engineer Wright-Majority
said he accepted fees and commits
sions whenever offered"
Minority reported that no evidence
was established that any financial
statement indicating great gains from
the Mattamuskeet, N. c., project were
exhibited by Wright to Hays. Finan-
cial statement reaching committee
was faulty and ridiculous and would
have discredited the scheme at once"
DR.. c. G. Elliott, chief of drainage,
anu ASSlSlduL DTdlHdBG IAuSluGS1
Moorehouse - Majority report stated
that they admitted making an ar
rangement which the majority regard
| ed as in violation Of the law and of
sound public policy, but that there was
| no profit intended in it and the de-
| partment had disciplined them too
| severely. The minority agreed as to
the over discipltning, but added that
| tho committee had no oversight of the
| departments discipline and that il
such oversight were a fixed institution
the secretaries of agriculture and their
| subordinates would become abject
| S ayes to red tape"
HAYES MAKES DISCLAIMER.
Assistant Secretary Hayes gave out
statement in which he declared his
| investigation of the Mattamuskeet
property was in connection with a plan
| to bring about the organization of q
model country life community OF
''racially efficient people on scientific
| ally designed FARMS
I'm addition 1 at no time made g
! decision to become a part owner Of
! the lake bed said Mr.. Hayes. Il did
| not invest any money nor induce any
one to invest, or authorize my name
/ to be used in making any sale OF
promoting Of any company. did not
| receive a cent of profit in anyway.
had no financial connection with the
land in any way"