Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-14
DIR. H. W. WILEY UNDER FIRE
Committee Recommends Pure Food
Expert Be Permitted to Resign.
CHARGE OF PADDING PAY ROLL
Removal of DR.. Rnsby and DR.. w. ID.
BiEcIow ana Reduction of DIR. L.
r. Kebler of Division of
Drugs Also Suggested.

bureau OF chemistry OF the Department OF
Agriculture and one of the most widely
known officials in the government service,
has been condemned by the committee on
personnel OF the Department Of Agriculture
with recommendation to President Taft
that he be permitted to resign"
Attorney General Wlckersham, In an
opinion on the case submitted to the presi-
dent. recommends approval OF the commit
tees action.
1t is charged against Or Wiley that he
permitted an arrangement to be made with
Or. H. H. Rusby. a recognized phar-
macologist OF Columbia university, New
York, for compensation in excess of that
allowed by law. 1t is certain that the ar
rangement was to put DR.. Rusby on the
pay roll Of the department at 1890 a year
as an employee OF the bureau Of chemistry
an agreement being made with him that
he should be called upon to perform only
such service as this salary would compen-
safe for at the rate of $40 per day for
laboratory Investigations and $50 per day
for attendance in court
Attorney General Wickersham held that
the law permitted the payment of only 50
day, this sum later being increased to
81 day.
other Officials Involved.
Along with the suggestion that DR.. Wiley,
because Of these alleged irregularities in the
employment Of Dr. Rusby be permitted an
opportunity to resign. the committee on
personnel and the attorney general have
recommended the dismissal OF DR.. Rusby
and the reduction of DR.. L. F. Kebler, chief
Of the division Of drugs in the Department
of Agriculture.
The committee further recommends that
DIR. w. d. Blgelow, assistant chief of the
bureau of chemistry. also be given an OPP
portunity to resign
President Taft has not indicated what
action he will take. The matter has Just
become public, although the investigation
began last March.
MIR. WickerHham's Statement.
Attorney General Wickersham's summary
OF the situation follows:
THE evidence submitted by the COM
mittee on personnel clearly demonstrates
the fact that DR.. Kebler and DIR. Blgelow
entered into a scheme to which DR.. Wiley
lent his countenance and assistance to
procure the appointment of DR.. Rusby at
the rate Of $1,000 per year under an ex.
press agreement with him that he was to
do no more work under this appointment
than would be paid for at the rate Of $50
per day of seven and one-half hours when
engaged in laboratory work. and $50 per
day when engaged in court. The evidence
clearly shows that these gentle
men resorted TO a scheme to create
an appearance Of compliance with the law
while at the same time distinctly agreeing
not to comply with It.
"Such an agreement certainly merits
punishment and because of the facts SET
forth, 1 recommend the approval by you
Of the recommendations of the committed
| on personnel"
Awaits Reply of Dr. wiley.
President Taft, 1t was learned later to-
day. has forwarded all of the papers In
the cast to DR.. Wiley and win take nc
action until he receives a personal state
ment from him, It is known the president
has the highest regard for the pure food
expert and for his administration of the
bureau of chemistry. DR.. Wiley has beer
attacked almost constantly since the pure
food law went into effect. 1t has beer
claimed by the interests affected that DR.
wiley's rulings have been unduly harsh
and unjust. Dr. Wiley has regarded DR.
Rusby as one Of his most valuable assist
ants in the difficult task of enforcing tn,
pure food and drug act
DR.. Rusby received all the papers In tn,
case several days ago and his reply, mad,
public in New York last night had no
reached washington early today. In hi
reply. however. he is quoted as saying tina
he did not seek nor desire the work II
the Department Of Agriculture Dr. Rush!
says there has been no hearing on tn
charges, but justice demands that Their
- IL H..
a sided presentation OF the case to tn
attorney general, to constitute the basil
OF opinion.
DIR. Rusby IL Indignant.
DR.. Rusby said that he had no means o
knowing that the arrangement made witt
him was irregular in any way. He said h
seemed to be regarded by the department
as a conscript and resented the idea tina
he could be dismissed in disgrace for re
luctantly doing work which interfered witt
his regular employment
Department officials were reluctant Il
discuss the case in any form today. The.
declared that the matter had been sub
mitted to the president for his considera
ton and final determine ton. DIR. Vile!
has not resigned and so far there has beei
no request for his resignation. 1t IL en-
pected with the publication Of the technica
charges against him that there will be
great wave OF protest against his propose,
dismissal And while the Washington
friends Of DR.. Wiley disclaim any part Il
making public the executive documents Fl
the case. they appear to be glad that som
one outside Washington took steps to se
cure publication OF the matter at this time
President Taft before acting on the case
it is said, will grant q hearing to an in
volved and will be guided only by his 0wl
judgment
DE-. Wiley IL N "a Scared.
II wouldn't advise anyone to wal
around my office to see me put out; Their
is no telling how long that win be-" sal
DR., Wiley today, when asked for q STATE
ment.
do l look frightened about this mat
ter? All / know Is that a copy OF tn
charges was served on me about a wee
ago and will make reply to them throug
Secretary Wilson TO the president Unit
the latter sees fit to make that statemer
public. I will have nothing further to sA
IN the matter"
nAIl EN tIlnnIf AkIEnnAnEnT