Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-16
The Presidents Letter.

Beverly, Mass. Sept. 15.-The
Presidents letter to Secretary Wilson
reads as follows:
return herewith the papers which
YOU have submitted to me in the mat
ter OF the report of the committee on
personnel of the Department of Agri-
culture. In which after summarizing
the evidence adduced before them,
they recommend that DR. III. H. Rusby
pharmacogfosist in the bureau of
chemistry, be dismissed from the ser
vice; that Dr. H. f. kebier. chief of
the drug laboratory in the Bureau of
Chemistry. be reduced from his pres
cnt position aud Dr. H. w. Wiley. chief
OF the bureau of chemistry, aud DR..
W. ID. BigeloW. assistant chief of the
bureau be given an opportunity to re-
sign from the positions which they
now hold in the bureau of chemistry.
on account of irregularities in the ap-
pointment of DR.. IL. H. Rusby.
The facts shown by the papers
stated shortly are as follows:
DR.. Rusty lived in New York. and
was employed as a scientific expert in
the bureau of chemistry to examine
importation of drugs, under an agree
ulent by wnicn ne received $40 a day
for laboratory work. and $50 a day for
attendance in court.
On May "a, 1909. the attorney gem
eral advised the secretary of agricul-
turc that, under the act of March 4,
1907, GA stat 1880 no classified
scientific investigator should receive n
salary to exceed SO day. On May
80 1919 an order was issued putting
him on the roll at salary of 50 a
day when actually employed. DIR.
Rusby objected to this and applied TO
DIR. Keber chief of the drug
rangement. The matter seems to
have been held in allegiance for some
time. Finally. as result of the con-
ference between DR.. Kebler, DIR. Bige-
low and DR., Wiley, with respect to the
request of DR.. Rusby for an increased
compensation. DR.. Wiley said he
would submit to you for your APP
proval, an appointment OF DR.. Rusby
at a salary at the rate of $1,000 per
annum on the miscellaneous roll. Dr.
Bigelow then wrote to DIR. Rusty UNI
der date of Jan. 21st, 1910. as follows:
"KebIer and I took the matter up
with DR.. Wiley today and he said he
would approve it If we had on record
all understanding with you so we
could not be held responsible for your
receiving an annual salary and not
idevoting your whole time to the bu-
reau. told him that if you were
given an appointment at the rate OF
$40 a month, you would agree not TO
receive more than $50 a day for time
actually employed By that | mean
the usual official day of 71a hours.
This would be equivalent to Sc days
a month on the average. ] told MN
| that if it happened that your work Tor
the department amounted on the aver
age to less time than that you would
ask for leave of absence for SUFFICIENT
| time to bring it to that basis.
| DR. Rusby answered this letter, and
questioned what was meant by it, He
said he did not understand Bigelow'
letter clearly. and supposed that If he
| did not earn the entire salary, ne
would not expect to receive any more
| than was earned.
Meantime, on February 9th DR..
| Wiley submitted to you an appoint
ment of DR.. Rusty at salary at the
rate of $500 per annum on the mis-
cetlaneous roll. He made the reduc-
ton after examining the records and