Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-17
Government Chemist Says
He Was Constantly Over
ruled by Solicitor McCabe
Backed up by Wilson.
KNEW NOTHING OF
RUSBY CONTRACT
Chemist Testifies He Never
Received Letter Explain
ing Arrangement for Pay
Made With Expert.

Harvey w. Wiley, head of the govern
ment chemistry bureau and central
figure in the agriculture department
pure food controversy, before the
house investigating committee today
branded as false the statement of the
personnel board, which recommended
him for dismissal.
He told how DR.. F. L. Dunlap, asso-
ciate chief Of his bureau, and Solici-
tor McCabe Of the department repeat
edly voted him down in the food and
drug inspection board. where Wiley
was a member.
DR.. Wiley. told Of his educational
training for the pure food life and de-
clared his activity in advocating pure
food legislation and of opposition to
food manufacturers. On, April 8, 1883,
he was appointed chief of the chem
istry bureau of the department Of agri-
culture and was active in having the
pure food laws passed.
He explained that the pure food law
authorized his bureau to investigate
all foods, to determine whether they
were misbranded or adulterated.
do you then certify your findings
to the secretary Of agriculture?" asked
Representative Floyd OF Arkansas.
1--WE used to-
what was the next change in ad-
ministration of the law?",
",The appointm ent of the food and
drug inspection board. At first the
hearings were held before the bureau
of chemistry, then they were trans
ferred to this board"
DR.. F. r. Dunlap, chemist, is
member of this board with DR.. Wiley
and so Is Solicitor McCabe, who DIR.
Wiley said is not chemist Accord
ing to DR.. Wiley in the event of him
self and Dunlap failing to agree on
a point McCabe's vote decided the
question. Wiley said that the view OF
the chemistry bureau as to what was
adulterated or misbranded were over
ruled in about two-thirds of the cases.
usually against his vote, though, he
said sometimes he voted to overrule
the bureau. The witness said about the
only time McCabe voted to sustain him
was on the decision that rye whiskey
should be made from rye.
DR.. Wiley declared that the result of
these over-rulings was to "squander
and waste" all the money spent in
of cases by the chemistry
bureau. He said that so far as he
knew all appeals to Secretary Wilson
had resulted in decision sustaining
the boards ruling.
DR.. WILEY told Of a meeting OF the
board of which he was not notified,
but at which McCabe and Dunlap took
important action. He said he found
1t useless to appeal to the secretary
of agriculture and under the ciFcum-
stances considered DR.. Dunlap his
superior officer.
He declared the charges regarding
the Rusby contract were based on
letter from Rusby never actually sent
to him, and said the important part
has never been made public by the
personnel board. He said he did not
know what charges had been made
against him when he was called be-
fore the department personnel OF
whose report his first intimation was
the invitation to resign"
"Did you enter into any contract
with DR.. Rusby whereby he was to
work a certain number of days?" asked
Floyd.
II did not"
Knew Nothing Of Rusby Contract.
The Rusty letter that never reached
him he said explained the arrange
ment Rusby made with DR.. Bigelow to
work, for $1,000 year under an ir-
regular time arrangement DR..
Rusby wrote the letter, but learned
that DR.. Wiley was out OF Washing
ton and did not send 1t.
A copy OF it got into the batch of
correspondence which went before the
personnel board and it was cited by
the board to show that DIR. Wiley had
been informed Of the facts.
DR.. Wiley declared he knew nothing
Of the details Of the arrangements
with DR.. Rusby and denied specifically
that he had made any contract with
Rusby. When summoned before the
personnel board he said, he did not
know what they were asking abont
because they did not show nim tie
letter and he himself had never re-
ceived it, seen it or heard OF It.
did you ever receive any COM
from the personnel board
giving their fndings?"
"Oh, yes, l got their final report
CONTINUED on Page 81