The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-03
COMMITTED SEES
HIDDEN REPORT
DOCUMENT ASSERTING REMsES
BOARDS 1LLEGAIITN Ap-
PEARS AT LAST,
DEFlES CONGRESS- WILL
SECRETARY OF AGnICuITJRE NOT
AUTHORIZED 10 CREATE; uoARp
UNDER THE
LAW.

suppressed report. prepared at the
department of justice, but never made
pubic. which declared that the Rom
sen board had been created without
authority OF law. Was brought into
the light to-day by the house com
m1ttee investigating the Dr. Wiley
charges tand work OF the referee
board
The Acknowledgement sent a brief
note to the committee saving ,hst
copy OF the report, which had
fallen into the hands of the commit
tee. seemed TO agree with the orig
maj on hle at the department This
original has been buried In the de
partments archives, for the depart
ment promulgated n different report,
prepared at the department OF agrt-
culture. which characterized the
Remson board as legal"
Had No Authority,
Assistant Attorney General J. A.
Fowler. March 81. 1909. prepared the
report that tho department saw fit
to suppress. Mr.. Fowler was en-
phatic in his opinion that Secretary
Wilson had no authority To create the
Remsen board that there was no
appropriation applicable for It's
salaries and expenses. and that mot
only Is II not working in concert with
the bureau of chemistry, but rathe or
in antagonism thereto
This report. which never became
public. WAS later superseded by one
understood to have been prepared
by Solicitor McCaba, OF the depart
ment Of agriculture. The McCabe
report was given ont RS the opinion
Of the attorney general, and the pub
lie WAS never advised that Assistant
q }
that the creation OF the Remsen board
was illegal.
DR. Ira w Re4nsen. president Of
the board, began. his testimony be-
fore the committee o-day. He was
asked what instructions had ever
been given the board by the secretary
Of agriculture concerning the hiring
OF assistants and it's expenses.
II don't recall that we were ever
instructed" said Or Remsen. I
think the only thing we we're told
was this: We want the work done in
the best possible way and in your
own way" You will not be interteis d
with"
Dr. Remsen testified that none of
the chemical work in the benzoate
of soda and saccharine cases had been
done under his own personal super
vision. Each member OF the board
testified Remsen named his own as
sistaut without Interference.
The Identification of the Fowler re
port and the positive disclosure that
the Remsen board had been at first
declared Illegal by an, attorney of the
Department of Justice, was the sensa-
ton of the hearing
The suppressed report Of Assistant
Attorney General Fowler SAYS, IN
part.
Il do not think that the Secretary OF
Agriculture was authorized by law TO
employ these scientific experts 70 be
paid out OF the fund named, | do not
think that the appropriation out OF
which these gentlemen are being paid
for their services is available for that
purpose
Quotes Law on the Subject,
The Assistant Attorney General then
quoted the contention of the Depart
meut Of Agriculture that the lump sum
was appropriated for the bureau Of
Chemistry, and the law gave the Sec
Rotary general authority TO employ
such assistants clerks, and other per
! sons ae4A-4ss1fss
The appropriation for the Bureau
Of Chemistry" continues the dis
carded Fowler report was divided
into two subhcads. one covering the
salaries for the Bureau of Chemistry
and laboratory departments for the
Department Of Agriculture. The total
apuronrtatiop for rhat wear was S697. :
ea0 which lis the total amount 1,pder
both subhcads. and which conclusively
shows thai the entire nppropristIon
yeas nYiIti,g rs ~ nsed Yrt connection
with the Bureau Of Chemistry
Careful reading Of the Secretary 8
letter fails to disclose that any part OF
The work Y9pyfOEfrPr hN this Hoard Of
Referees was done i'm connection with
The Rureau of Chemistry. I'm fact il IS
apparent from his letter that they were
not acting nuder IN. supervision or
even In concert with. the Bureau of
Cheulistrv hnt raJher ~ entagouistn