The herald., 1895-01-25
RIVAL wNE0s OF AN INSECT.
How Professor Riley Claimed Credit Not
HIs Own,

San Francisco Examiner: Postmaster Nc
Coppin, speaking yesterday OF the introduce
ton of the Vedalia lad ybug into California and
the controversy between Professor Riley and
Secretary belong, said:
1.-THE whole thing grew out OF a suggestion
made to me by ]. de Barth Shorb shortly after
1 was appointed commissioner TO the Mel
bourne exposition He said that there was an
insect in Australia that was inimcal to the
scale bug, and suggested that might do some
thing in tae way of investigating its value
and getting it introduced here. l wrote to Mr.
Bayard saying that was was willing to spend
$1,000 OF the commissions funds toward TAX
ing out Mr. Riley or some OF his men. Koe-
belle and Webster went out. Riley sent Koe-
belle after parasitic fly which he dropped af-
ter while and took up the investigation of
the Vedalia cardinals, which was the insect
brought over, and l need not speak of the
great benefit it has been to this state.
1.-THE work done by the bug was so quick and
satisfactory that it almost Immediately at
tracted attention throughout the world. 1t
attracted Mr.. Riley's attention. too, and he
then commenced the trouble that caused his
removal-the row that went on until Mr.. Mo-
ton got tired of him. When he came back from
the Paris exposition my report as United States
commissioner to the Melbourne exposition was
being printed in Washington, under the editor
snip OF Lieutenant MdrlA, WHO ndu DecH al
tached to the commission as secretary and dis
bursting officer. Riley demanded that it should
be made to appear that Koebeles report had
at first been submitted to him and that he. by
courtesy, had furnished Il copy to the COM
mission.
"This was so at variance with the facts and
with the truth that | declined to permit it to
be done, but told Mr.. Mark that if Mr.. Riley
wanted to inject himself into that particular
branch of the bug business he could write
supplemental report on what the vedaia
had accomplished and that we would publish
that.
This he declined to do and appealed to the
state department, where he was overrued and
his statements discredited He then went into
the newspapers in this and other countries,
where he misrepresented the whole business
from beginning to end and tried in every way
to belittle those who refused to countenancs
his false pretenses.
sqt is evident that Sterling Morton, the Sec
rotary of agriculture, has grown weary of the
professor, and has given him vacation which
some call dismissal. Now he is out here
trying to make out his case in the newspapers.
He has compelled several of his subordinates
IN tho agricultural department notably
Koebele and Howard, to tell downright false
hoods. The whole business was disgraceful.
Notwithstanding the fact that it was settled
by correspondence between the agricultural
and state departments that whatever report
should be made by Riley, or whoever he might
send to Australia, should, as condition p e.
cedent to the furnishing of the money, be first
| submitted to the commissioner Riley. through
| n secret correspondence. compelled Rochelle,
| who was then in Alameda, to send his report
| TO mel being in an Franciscoo-by way OF the
chronological department at Washington,
where it was opened and surreptitiously
copied by the late chief of the department be-
| lore it was placed in my hands"