The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-08-04
'SEC'Y WILSON MUST EXPLAIN
HOUSE COMMITTEE DECIDES
TO can MN TO THE STAND.
II wants 10 Know why He Declared That
the Rcmsen Board Was Organized to
Conserve lntercsts Of the Manufac.
turcrs Dr. Rcmscn Defends hoard.

| Vurcrs Dr. VcmScn ueIc"s pV"'"'
| WASHINGTON. Aug secretary OF
| Agriculture Wilson will be called before
the House Committee on Expenditures IN
the Agricultural Department in the near
future to explain why he declared last
May that tho Remscn or referee board
had been organized to conserve 9Th" in
terests Of the manufacturers Several
days ago H. Parker Willis. Washington
correspondent of the New York Jo"rn7'
OF Commerce. told the committee that
while attending a hearing at the Depart
ment, at which group of saccharin manu-
/ facturers appeared he had heard the
| Secretary make this statement. The He
publican members of the committee made
strenuous but unsuccessful objections
to the testimony of Mr.. Willis. insisting
| that the stenographic report OF the hear
ings be sent for and that the committee
| sho I'D not accept the testimony oil news
paper man on this important particular
To-day the committee received the
stenographic report OF the hearing. and
| it bears out the testimony OF Mr.. Willis
in every particular Here ia what the
Secretary said. according to the steno-
graphic notes before they we're revised:
Il want to say frankly to you. gentle
men. that the referee board was or
ganized and put into action for the very
purpose of conserving the interests OF
! the manufacturers so you would have a
safe hearing"
In the revised stenographic notes safe
hearing has been changed to sane hear
ing" Mr.. Wilson will be asked when
he appears before the committee. which
will be probably on Saturday Of this week.
lust what construction should he placed
on his statement that the Remsen board
| was created in the interests of the manu-
facturars.
The committee was also considerably
| interested in the testimony OF DIR. Ira
Remsen chairman of the referee board
and president of Johns Hopkins Univer-
| sity, that three members of the board
| were summoned to Indianapolis to testify
| in a lega, controversy between the State
Of Indiana and one or more big food con-
Germs arising out of the use by those con-
Germs of benzoate of soda as a preserva-
tive.
Or. Remsen testified by AFFIDAVIT. but
two members of the referee board went
| 10 ITOldudHoUS III HtiFoh nii' espi'VoiSN
The Government paid their expenses.
All three opposed the fight which the
State WAS making against the use OF ben
zoate of soda. DR.. Wiley, who believes
that the use of benzoste of soda. even in
small amounts. is harmful. was not per-
mitted hy his superiors to testify in this
case DR.. Robinson. his assistant. who
did testify in favor of the States conten-
ton. was later removed for the good of
| the service.
| Representative Moss of Indiana. the
committee chairman. suggested that he
did not see why members Of the board
had taken part in this state fight. DR.
Rcmsen said he personally ma de his
deposition only after he had been re-
ouested to testify by representative OF
| Cnrtlce bros and Secretary Wilson had
advis ed HIM TO do so.
Did YOU reg ard yourself as a witness
for the State OF Indiana or for the ben
7oate Of soda people?" Chairman Moss
| incurred
"Neither.- Dr Remsen replied. Il
merely stated the facts "a TO our findings
concerning benzoa;e of soda
| INCIDENTALLY this ben2oate OF soda fight
| in Indiana is still pending in the courts
Chairman Moss asked pr' Remsen II he
testified in that Indiana case as chemist
or president Of the retere" board. i'r
Ren,sen replied that he appeared as chair
man of the board.
You knew your testimony would he
unfavorable TO Indiana?" Mr.. Moss asked
THAT might have entered my mind,
DR. Rems. n answered, but had no feel
ing in the matter, either for Indiana or
Curticc Bros"
You saw no impropriety. Mr.. Moss
continued, "as an employee Of tho Federal
Government. in taking part in this Indiana
fight where the health officers OF a State
were irving to prevent the use of benZoate
of soda?"
No" said DR. Rcmsen Il regarded
| il ps somewha. a. a duty, inasmuch as
the report Of the board was questioned, "
DIR. Remsen commented upon the fact
that evidently some sinister influence was
a, work to discrcdit the referee board
We have approached every question
with iudi cial minds" he said, "and We
have found the facts as we saw them
The mombers of the referee board ac-
cen,ed their responslbilites with some
reluctance. We were all connected with
large universities and had not attempted