Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-15

strued by the Attorney General accom-
panied by a scheme to conceal the eva
sion and violation, l should think the
punishment recommended by the person
mel board. and concurred in by the At
torney General. was none too great, but
an examination of the whole case salts
f1es me that a different construction ought
to be put upon what was done; that the
evidence does not show that DIR. Wiley
was a party to the correspondence or the
letters upon which the chief charge is
founded. and that his action in the mat
ter was only in accord with previous prec-
edents in the department which justified
him in doing what he did.
With respect to other persons charged,
find an OverZeal in DR.. kebler and DR..
Bigefow. which prompted a disingenuous
method of squaring DIR. Rusbys desire
for what he thought was adequate com
pensation with the contract which you
and DIR. Wiley were willing to make with
him, and that for this DR.. kebler and DIR.
BigelOw should be reprimanded by you.
So far as DR.. Rusby is concerned with
respect to this particular contract. l do
not find him at fault For purposes of
punishment dismissal, l cannot charge
him with knowledge of the legal difficult
ties involved in his employment.
Awaiting Congressional Inquiry.
j examined the record in this case a
number of weeks ago, and reached the
conclusion which / have stated here, but,
meantime, a committee OF the House Of
Representa- tives deemed it proper to in
stitute an investigation into the Depart
ment of Agriculture, and especially into
the bureau of chemistry and its relation
to the department generally.
1t seemed to me under these conditions
that perhaps, it was wiser for me to de-
lay until the investigation was completed
and the report of the committee made.
The committee has not made report. al
though / believe the evidence has been
substantially closed, and will not do so
Their consideration satisfies ME that there
are very much broader questions involved
in the investigation. and the evidence
there brought out. than in the present
charge, which is narrow and definite and
can he properly disposed of
Radical Action Intimated.
The broader issues raised by the in
vestigation which have much weightier
relation than this one to the general
efficiency of the department may require
much more radical action than the cues
ton / have here considered and decided.
There is another charge against DIR.
Rusby for securing the appointments on
the common laborers' rolls, of a physi-
clan and expert whom he could use to do
his work at very small stipend when he
himself was called away in other en-
ployment. ] regret to say that the ar
rangement which Dr. Rusby thus made
Is not especially creditable to him and
shakes in some degree ones confidence in
his avOwed wish to make personal pecu-
MARY sacrifice in the public interest for
the enforcement of the pure food law
But DR.. Rusby's position as an expert of
high standing is such that do not think
that any more than this expression of
opinion should be imposed as penalty
My information is that the government
needs his services and that he has already
rendered valuable aid. The error referred
to committed by him does not call for
further action or remark.
You will communicate the result to the
personnel board and also to the persons
charged.
Sincerely yours.
tSgned9 WILLIAM H. TAFT