The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-07-20
Flow v. ROBINSON
LOSES OFFICE
Dismissed From Position for
"Good of the Service"
WAS FRIEND OF DR.. WILEY
Advocates of Rigid enforcement OF
Pure Food Law Assert Action 10
Intended to Retard Pure
Food Legislation.

Washington, July 1S.-Flow w. Rob-
inson, former state analyst Of the
Michigan dairy food department. who
testified in the benZoate of soda case
in the federal court at Indianapolis
that benzoate of soda is a harmful
preservative and that its use should
be prohibited by law, has been dis
missed as an employe of the United
States bureau of chemistry for the
good of the service" Supporters Of
DR.. II. w. Wiley, chief of the bureau
OF chemistry. and advocates of rigid
enforcement of the pure food law. as
sert that the dismissal of Robinson
is part Of a conspiracy in the depart
ment of agriculture to break down
the pure food legislation by discredit-
ing the men responsible for its en-
forcement
At the time the food and drugs law
became effective Mr.. Robinson was
state analyst of the Michigan dairy
and food department. He passed a
federal civil service examination for
the position of chief food and drug in
spectiOn chemist in the department OF
agriculture. Mr. Robinson was
appointed on a per diem basis. with
pay for days actually employed,
Goes Back to Michigan.
February l of this year he termi-
mated his connection with the Michi-
gan department and was directed by
DR. Wiley to report for duty at the
laboratory of the bureau in New York
city under the terms OF the appoint
ment he held. June 20 he ended his
connection with the bureau of chem
istry, with the knowledge of the chief
of that bureau, and went back to
Michigan to engage in private bust
ness.
Four days after this voluntary ter
mination of his connection with the
bureau of chemistry Robinson receiv-
ed through the civil service commits
sion a letter dismissing him for the
good of the service" The letter of
dismissal stated that 1t was sent on
the recommendation of the secretary
of agriculture. 1t seems that the Sec
rotary acted on the recommendation
of Messrs. McCabe and Dun lp. the
members of the food and drug board
who. it is alleged, are responsible for
the recommendation that DR.. Wiley
be permitted to resign as chief Of the
bureau of chemistry.
Says No Charges Were Made.
1t is an interesting coincidence that
the letter dismissing Mr.. Robinson
was sent out about the day the mem
bers of the food and drug board de-
cided that the doctor must be per
mitted to resign. Mr.. Robinson as
serts that no charges were presented
to him and he has made a demand
through William Alden Smith one of
the Michigan senators, for justice at
the hands OF tie department of agri-
culture. Inquiry develops that no
charges were preferred against him
through the bureau of chemistry, OF
which he was an emp;oye.
Mr.. Robinson protests against being
dismissed from the service without
having an opportunity to know what
charges are on file against him, to
know who made the charges or an op-
portunity to defend himself against
all possible charges. In his letter to
Senator Smith he says that lit is not
only an atrocious injustice to me.
tending by inference to disgrace me
in the eyes of the public but also an
unwarranted violation of the spirit
and letter of the civil service act"