The Washington times., 1911-08-08
INDIANA THNARTED
BY GOVERNMENT
IN BENZOATE WAR
Former Attorney General of
State Tells Remsen
Board So.
OBSTACLES PLACED
IN WAY, HE SAYS
Wiley's Decision on Drug Denied
Unless Soda People
AgreSd."
By THEODORE TILLER.


force its pure food laws and prevent
the use of b"nzoate Of soda in thst
State, WIS the subject upon which the
House committee investigating the DIR.
Wiley controversy and the Department
cf Agriculture obtained much positive
information today.
Former Attorney General James Ping-
ham. or Indiana, told Of the obstacles
thrown in his way by The Department
of hgric' lture when he sought to have
lis officials ard employees testify for
the State and against the benzoate Of
soda users. Mr.. Bingham was equally
interesting when he recalled that the
departmt mt had gone out of its way TO
permit its officials, Including members
OF the Remsen board, to testify against
the State IND fo- ocnzoate of soda.
Did you at any time receive any
announcement from the Department
OF Agriculture in the fight the State
OF Indiana was making for pure food?"
asked Chairman Moss, of the House
Committee on Expenditures in the
Agriculture Department
NO, answered the foremr Attorney
General OF Indiana.
Did You. receive any cordial CO.
operation from any Of the higher Of
fcals Of the Federal department?
mo. DR.. Wiley is the only man who
gave us any encouragement" said Mr..
You were trying at the time to en-
force the pure food law of Indiana,
which was satisfactory to its people,
That Is correct" said Mr.. Bingham.
Corroborated By Chemist.
DR.. H. E. Barnard. State chemist and
pure food and drug commissioner Of
Indiana, was a corroborative witness
He had played a part in the maneuvers
the State had to arrange in order to get
the testimony of DR.. Wiley and his as
sistants. who held views contrary to
those Of the Remsen board, which re-
versed Wiley. 1t was finally necessary
to get a court order for the DR.. Wiley
testimony, since Solicitor McCabe and
Secretary Wilson were opposed to Wiley
testifying.
Floyd Robson, dismissed from the de-
partment because he testified against
benzoate of soda at the indianapolis
trial, was heard by the committee to-
day, and, as discharged employe, took
his place among the living exhibits of
those who felt the mighty hand of the
department in its determination to al
low no one to oppose its benzoate OF
soda ruling.
Secretary Wilson's letter Of dismissal
to Robson goes into the record
Former Attorney General Bingham
said he had taken up with President
tart in Cincinnati the matter of hav-
ing DR.. Wiley testify for the State in
Its henzoate OF soda fight which is still
pending in the courts
Sought the President
L expected opposition from the de-
partment," said Mr.. Bingham, but l
thought if l spoke to the President first
he might suggest that it was all right
10 Secretary Wilson. The President
said it was a department matter, but
that he didn't see how it made much
difference one way or another"
And did DR.. Wiley obtain permis-
sion to testify"
My reuest on the department was
not grqanted, said Mr.. Bingham. Il
ed great deal of time trying to come
10 some amicable understanding with
the department and the solicitor. Final
~ after they had considered the thing
about eighteen hours, they told me to
go ahead and get court process, which
i did.
Il had previously received a copy of
Mr.. McCabe's opinion saying that DR..
Wiley need not testify and l knew his
views"
DIR. Wiley did not want to appear
voluntarily without permission. II
judge, said Mr.. Moss.
We'll. he was willing to testify He
lock put over his mouth as l recall it
now"
Did you in your talk with the Presi-
dent get the idea that the national Ad-
Wiley teStifying?"
Not at all. said Mr.. Bingham. He
seemed to think it a department mat
ter"
Chairman Moss then read Secretary
Wilson's letter to Robson in which the
Secretary referred to the policy of the !
administration" as being in sympathy |
with the referee board decision on ben
Eoate of soda.
Assistance Is Denied.
The former ATTORNEY General made
the startling statement that the De-
partment of Agriculture would not even
furnish Indiana with a copy of DR.
Wiley's decision on benzoate of soda,
"unlcss the compliments, the ben
Eoate Of soda people, are willing"
Finally through the courtesy of at
raid Mr.. Bingham. II obtained from the
department an uncertifed' copy of the
Dr. Wiley opinion, which the depart
ment did not want 10 give up
As the Indiana laws REQUIRED the At
tOrnev General TO be present when all
depositions were taken, Mr.. Bingham
explained that he had to travel from
Seal llarhor, Me. to San Francisco,
nearing Witnesses put UP Nv Ine DeT-
Zoate of soda users. Among these wit
nesses were the widely sCattared MEM
'bsrs nf the Remsen board and the vari-
Gus eUrployeS. subjects and attaches Of
that board, Some geventy-five of whom
testified against the State Of Indiana
federal employees who went to Indian
aDolis did SO NJ Government expense.
Letter Is Identified.
Floyd w. Robson. a per diem civil
service employe of the Bureau Of
Chemistry, recently dismissed because
he testified in contravention to the Agri-
cultural Departments ideas that ben
zoate of soda was harmless. identified
the letter of dismissal sent him by
Secretary Wilson.
The Secretarys letter to Mr.. Robi-
son. former State chemist Of Michigan.
was in answer to Robison's demand for
an explanation of a formal order of dis
missal sent him during the latter part
OF June. The reasons given by the Sec
retary we're clearly indicative of tnS
fact that the department will brook
no opposition to the Remsen boards
opinion upholding benzoate OF soda,
even though such opposition come from
an expert who is connected with the
depaktment anl2i ina PEE diem ea2seitE
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