Evening star., 1911-08-14
Miss Davis Tells of McCabe
"Third Degree" Methods.
LOCKED HER IN A ROOM
Secret Service Man Present as She
Was Questioned.
HAD PROMISE OF IMMUNITY
Taken Before Secretary Wilson,
Who Assured Her She Could Safe
ly Tell Chiefs Secrets.

iy Tell Cn1eI secrets.
The House committee investigating the
charges of illegal procedure by DR.. Wiley
IN the Department OF Agriculture had
three important witnesses today. Carrie
NJ. Davis, stenographer to DR.. kebleT,
chief OF the drug division, told of the
attempt made by Solicitor McCabe 10
hnd out through her whether DR.. kebier
was connected with drug companies.
DR.. W. D. Bigelow. assistant chief of
the bureau OF chemistry, associated with
DR.. Wiley. testified that the personnel
committee. in charging that an arrange
ment had been entered into with DIR. II.
II. Rusby whereby the latter was to
work part OF the time, but draw an an
nual salary. suppressed the correspond
ence showing that DR.. Bigelow was pro-
ceeding upon the precedent set by Secre-
tary Wilson in appointing members OF the
referee board DIR. Bigelow characterized
as unjust criticism made by Solicitor Nc
Cabe of the department.
Food Attorney Protests.
Willis Baldwin OF Monroe Mich. at
torney for the food-manufacturing firms
that tried to enjoin the operation of the
Indiana state law. appeared to protest
against what he termed was misreprer
sentation of the facts in the the Indiana
case. He was grilled by Chairman Moss
OF the committee. who vas In the leglsia-
ture when the Indiana law was passed
Mr.. Baldwin admitted that 1t was
through the influence of the Agricultural
Department that members of the Rem
sen referee board testified in favor OF
benzoate of soda in the Indiana suit
The committee adjourned until tomor-
row morning when DR.. Wiley, who had
been expected to testify today. probably
will be star witness.
There was a big crowd on hand when
the committee resumed its hearing at 10
o'clock this morning, as II was reported
that DR.. Wiley himself would be placed
on the stand. But the continued exami-
nation of DIR. Bigelow and of Miss Davis.
stenographer TO DIR. kebler. occupied
practically all of the committees time up
TO noon.
Suppression Of Correspondence.
Members OF the committee regard as
+ ghly important the fact brought cut by
Henry f. DAVIS. attorney for Er. Wiley,
thar the personnel boards. which. with the
Rusby appointment as a basis. recon-
mended that Drs. Wiley and Bigelow be
permitted to resign and that DIR. kebler
he reduced, suppressed in its report to the
Secretary of Agriculture and the Presi-
dent an important portion of letter
written by DR.. Bigelow to DR.. Rusby,
bearing on the nature of the appointment
the latter was to receive.
This suppressed portion of the Bige-
low letter suggested that the appoint
ments Of the members of the referee
or Remsen board afforded a precedent
for an identical appointment for DR..
Rusby.
In communicating with DR.. Rusby
about his employment. Dr. Bigelou',
January 81. 1911. wrote as follows:
Bigelow's Letter to Rusby.
Considering all of the kinds of work
YOU do. an appointment to cover them
with remuneration on different basis for
each kind of work appears to be so COM
pi!cated that I fear we would have DIM
Guilty in getting IL through. The referee
board is now appointed at an annual sal
airy Of 5000. and IL the Secretary will
do II, / do not see why your appointment
could not lie put in the same terms.
Kebler and I took the matter up with
Dr Wiley to-day. and he said he would
IL we had on record understanding
with YOU so that we could be held respon-
sible for your receiving an annual salary
and not devoting your whole time TO the
bureau"
In transmitting its report TO the Sec
retary of Agriculture and to the Presi-
dent the personnel committee omitted DIR.
BireIow's reference TO the referee board
appointments as being precedent but
quoted the remainder of the letter in its
apparent effort to show wrongdoing on
of H1to lie nf he htf-
reau OF chemistry.
I'm the report OF the personnel board
sent to the Secretary and the Presi-
dent" suggested --ttorney Davis, only a
part Of your letter liz quoted
That seemsro be correct" DR. Biselow
returned.
The part omitted" continued the at
torney was that which referred TO the
10 the proposed Rusby contract"
Yes" said DR.. Bigelow.
McCabe's Orders Reviewed.
The committee inquired again today into
the order issued by Solicitor McCabe for
bidding any one in the bureau of chemis-
try from discussing any Of the affairs of
the bureau with United States attorneys
without McCabe's express permission.
Were any express orders given to that
efYect?' Representative Floyd of Arkan-
sas inquired
II asked Mr.. McCabe," replied DR.. Bige-
low. what offlcer of the bureau OF
chemistry TO do when a United
States attorney asked specific questions.
He replied that he had no objection TO
our answering express questions. But his
criticisms have been so severe and so un-
just when he thought we had been giving
Information that no one In the bureau OF
chemistry is willing now 20 say ANYTHING
TO United States attorneys who are pros
ecuting pure food cases. The restriction
greatly hampers work at the district Ia b.
oratories where United States ATTORNEYS
often want TO talk over a case with the
chief OF the local laboratory"
Does this restriction apply to members
OF Congress-? Mr.. Floyd asked
II do not so understand it, DR. Bire-
low replied.
Miss Carrie Davis interested the COM
rnittee to a degree when she told of how
Solicitor Mccabe had locked her In a
room with a secret service man. a
stenographer and himself. and had put
her through regular third degree"
Process I'm an effort to make her reveal
any connection her chief. DR. Kebler.
might have had with any drug-manu-
featuring concern
Promises Of Immunity.
Miss Davis told today how the secret