The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-03-04
EATON OLD ENEMY
OF W|LEYS BUREAU
Anlmus in Latest attack,
Says Doctor.
ASKED PART I'M CONFERENCE
Became Angry at Invitation TO Ad-
.visory Voice at Consultation
on Pure Food Bill.
ASKED PART IN CONFERENCE

e. n. Eaton. the Illinois chemist. who
has instigated the latest attack upon
the work of the Department of Agri-
culture, in procuring the establishment
of food standards and the enactment of
a pure food law, is merely carrying on
a campaign in which he has been en-
gagged far four years"
DR.. H w. Wiley. chief of the bureau
of chemistry in the department, made
this statement yesterday in reference
10 a publication inspired by Mr. Eaton
and backed by the opponents of pure
food legislation. Mr.. Eaton heads a
committee Of the Interstate Food Com
mission, known formerly as the National
Association of State Dairy and Food De
partments-
Trouble Over Experts.
The trouble has its origin in that
clause Of the agricultural appropriation
bill designed Ito enable the Secretary
Of Agriculture, in collaboration with the
Association of Official Agricultural
Chemists. ard such other experts as he
may deem necessary, to establish stand
ards Of purity for food products and to
determine what are regarded as aduI-
terations therein"
The Association of Agricultural
Chemists, at the invitation of the Sec
rotary. nominated a committee to carry
on this work, and the Secretary ap-
proved il. The committee consists of
DR.. William Frear. State chemist OF
Pennsylvania and vice director of the
agricultural experiment station Of the
State. who is chairman; Prof. NJ. A
Scovell, food commissioner ard director
of the agricultural experiment station OF
Kentucky; DR.. f. II. jenkins, director
of the agricultural experiment station
of Connecticut; Prof. H. A. Weber, pro
1essor of agricultural chemistry in the
University of Ohio, and DR.. H. W.
Wiley, chief of the bureau of chemistry
in the United States Department of
Agriculture. This committee will be
here on Monday for the purpose Of con-
sidering the recommendation Of Secre-
Tary Wilson of additional food stand
ards, especially IN the case of edible
oils. favoring extracts. and fruit
products.
The Interstate rood Commission, at
a meeting in Chicago. decided it would
like 10 have representation at this
standard fixing conference and so noti-
fed Secretary Wilson by wire. The
Secretary's attention was called to the
difficulties that would flow from the
establishment Of a double standard of
prrity and he was requested to recog-
nize the executive committee Of the
Interstate Food Commission by the
selection Of some or all of its men,
beTs.
Wilson Asked Them.
The Secretary replied he would be
delighted TO have some or all the mem
bers of the committee come to Wash
ington and meet with the committee
from the Association of Agricultural
Chemists. The petitioners thereupon
became angry. declared they had been
invited TO coma 49, Y in an advisory
o have anything
meeting.
wholly satisfied
standing, attain
he committee of
icultural Chem
1trusted to it,"
and sees no
o its member
---.44lI4LJe5 and the DEPART
ment. however, would be delighted IN
hear any suggestions Mr.. Eaton and
his associates have TO offer and I wired
them a cordial invitation to come IN
Washington and participate in the de-
alterations.
The standards are promulgated by
the Secretary; I am the Responsible
official and the work Of the COMMITTEES
from the Association OF Agricultural
Chemists is merely advisory. I feel
myself authorized to disregard il, if I
see lit Therefore, the status Mr.. Eaton
and his associates were invited to uc-
cupy is not different in essentials from
the status of the original committee.
regret they have seen fit to read into
my courteous response to their sug-
gestion any other conclusions than
these"
DIT Wiley expressed himself WITH con-
siderably more freedom than the secre-
Iary as 10 the animus underlying this