Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1911-09-15
TAFT PRAISES
DOCTOR WILEY
In His Opinion Made Public
Today He Has No Word
of Criticism
TROUBLE FOR Department
Intimation That Radical Action
A. D. T-I- - M l.
Intimation That Radical Action
May Be Taken to Make
Cleanup.

by Special Leased WIRE 20 New MexlcanJ
Beverly, Mass, Sept. 15.-The resig-
nation of Dr.. Harvey W. Wiley, chief
of the Bureau of Chemistry in the
of Agriculture and prob
ably the best known food expert in
the government service, will not be
asked for by President Taft, despite
that it be requested
made by the personnel board of the
and indorsed by Attorney
General Wickersham. The 'condign
for DR.. Wiley, which Mr..
held to be necessary, will
rot be meted out by the chief execu-
tive.
No Criticism.
The presidents opinion carrying no
word of criticism for DR.. Wiley but
many word of praise, was made pub
lie here today. There Is no indication
ir. it that the president feels that he
turned down" Mr.. Wickersham By
not accepting his recommendations.
He explains that the attorney gener-
aIs findings were made with less COM
p!ete data than was before him when
he took it up.
Trouble for Department.
In the opinion, the president ad-
mits what has been well known to
many persons close to the administra-
tion-that there is trouble in the de-
partment of agriculture. Speaking OF
the Congressional inquiry into that
department, unfinished at the last
session. but to be taken up again
next winter, Mr.. Taft says: "The
broader issues raised by the investi-
CATION, which have much weighter
relation than this one to the general
efficiency of the department, may re-
ouire much more radical action than
the question I have considered and
decided"
Sympathizes With Wiley.
The government he says, "ought not
to be at a disadvantage in this re-
gard, and one cannot withhold ones
sympathy with an earnest effort by
DIR. Wiley to pay proper compensa-
ton and secure expert assistance in
the enforcement in SO important
matter as the pure food law. Especi-
ally so in the beginning. when the
questions arising under it are of capi-
tai Importance to the public"
The presidents conclusions, ne
says, were ready weeks ago, but he
did not put them on paper because
he hoped for time for the report OF
the committee of the House of Repre-
sentatives that was Investigating the
department of agriculture.
Shake Up Indicted.
That this statement indicates a
serious shake-Ip in the department
next winter was freely predicted here
today. There have never been any in
timations that Secretary Wilson was
disposed to retire and it is not be-
lieved here that the president would
require him to do so. A general clean
up of affairs in the department, how
ever, could easily be required by the
president and carried through when he
returns to Washington in November.
Rusby Upheld.
The wiley case" arose over the
employment by the bureau of chemis-
try of DR.. H. H. Rusby OF New York,
pharmacognosist of the bureau. In
effect, DIR. Wiley, DR.. L. F. Kebler,
chief of the drug laboratory. and DR..
w. D. Bigelow, assistant chief of the
bureau, were charged with having con-
spired to pay DR.. Rlsby a salary of
$1,000 with the understanding that he
was to do only enough work to secure
this amount at the. rate of $40 day.
This was held to violate the acts of
Congress approved March Is, 1898,
which declared that no classified sci
entific Investigator should receive
more than 50 day. In addition to the
recommendation that Wiley be al
lowed to resign, the personnel board
held that DR.. Rusby should be dismis.
sed that DR.. Kebler be reduced and
that DR.. Bigelow be allowed to quit
the service. None of these recommen-
dations Is upheld into the presidents s
opinion.
Dr.. KebIer Reproved.
DR.. Kebler is reprimanded for "dis.
ingenious conduct" in his letter writ.
ing to DR.. Rusby, and the president
says that the letters suggest q "wil-
lingness TO resort to, evasion" that
calls for official reproof. DR.. Bigelow
is held to have been "overzealous'
and reprimand by Secretary Of Agri.
culture Wilson. to whom the opinion,
which is in letter form, is directed, is
ordered by the president.
Experts Should Not Be Limited.
DR.. Rusby Is held TO be as guiltless
as DR.. Wiley in this particular. A
charge against him, however, Of se
curing the appointment on the "com.
mon laborers roll, Of physician and
expert whom he could use to do his
work at a very small stipend when he
himself was called away" the presi
dent holds to be mot especially cred
table" The case, the president says
has made apparent the doubtful leg
islative policy OF placing limitations
upon bureau chiefs to exact per diem
cOmpensatiOn for experts"