Evening star., 1911-08-15
ORDER ISSUED BY WILSON
Forbids Them to Communicate With
Members Of Congress.
DR.. RUSBY ON THE STAND
Offered to Work for Nothing, He
Says, and Even to Furnish Money
to Prosecute Work.

or the chemistry bureau, central figure
in the Wiley controversy, and DIR. Henry
H. Rusby. a New York scientist, whose
employment caused the hearing, were
today's witnesses before the House in
vestigating committee. McCabe passed
the lie to DR.. kebler of the chemistry
bureau. denying he had forbidden bureau
employees to give information to men,
bers of Congress. DR.. Wiley had barely
stated his official service when the COM
mittee adjourned until tomorrow.
Mr.. McCabe's vigorous testimony was
sandwiched between that of DIR. Rusby
and DR.. Wiley. Mr.. McCabe denied that
he had ever refused DR.. kebler an in
spection of certain letters.
Sees No Impropriety.
He explained the inquiry made of the
latter's stenographer. and of DR.. Keb-
Ter himself, as to the stock the latter
held in drug companies.
Il can see no impropriety in the gov
ernment's Investigating charges that its
chiefs of divisions which pass upon i'm
portant cases are stockholders in COM
panies often involved in such cases, "
said the solicitor.
DIR. Rusby insisted he knew OF nothing
illegal in his employment.
Dr. Rusby stated that since the one
thousand -six-hundred-dollar salary con-
tract. made February IS. 1911. he has
drawn only 500 in salary, while he has
paid out more than 500, which has not
been repaid by the government Although
his salary and exponses are held up. he
said, he has continued to do the drug ex-
amining work and court work required by
the government
No Secret Agreement.
DIR. Rusby denied there had been any
secret agreement to pay him S25 a day.
He denied that he had ever thought Of
keeping his contract from the knowledge
of Secretary Wilson.
DIR. Rusby said he was first asked to
work for the government at so day,
but refused.
Il offered to work for nothing he said,
but i could not afford to have IL known
that i was working as an expert at $40
day."
Il ordered also to contribute of my pri-
vate means to'help the government work,
but the offer gswa0,-1aS11Hed because the
COVE ,nment cannot receive free service.
Z Rusby said he had received no pay
FOR u ert court, services in November and
Dec~ GER; that he had been authorized
to attend the Coca Cola trial at Chat
in March, but neither his ex-
penses nor salary for that trip had been
paid.
Uncertain as to Job.
Are you connected with the govern
ment service?' asked Representative
Floyd. in a formal way, when DIR. Rusby
took the stand this morning.
II have been,' said DR.. Rusby, but
don't know whether 1 am now or not"
Have you had any notice Of dismissal
given you?''
NO but / haven't received any salary
lately and my expenditure accounts are
all held up said DR.. Rusbv.
II have been recommended for dis
missal by the Attorney General of the
United States. and IL I am subject to
dismissal it must be that l am still con-
nected with the government.
DR.. Rusby told Of lifetime of worn
for the Smithsonian Institution, private
during which he had received medals.
travelled throughout North and South
America and collected drug specimens
for many museums of the world.
DR.. Rusby said he first received $50 a
day from the government for the time
he worked. In 1909 this was changed to
50 a day, because the government could
not pay more. Later he demanded $50
a day for appearance as an expert in
court, but this was refused The S1,6O
was then made with him. DIR. Rusby said
as a matter of fact he worked more than
eighty days
"What did you understand you were
to do under that contract"
II was TO do the work the department
wanted DONE said DR.. Rusby. LAS a
matter of fact, the estimate was much too
low to cover the work l am actually
doing
Thought Contract All Right.
Ibid you have anything to do with
making this contract?'
NO sir said DR. Rusby. 'I never
proposed a contract. nor asked for a
twenty -dollar-a-day fee. / simply told
the department that l would be compelled
to resign If l had to testify in court at
the nine-dollar-a-day fee which / re-
ceived for my other government work.
The contract was then made. and l had
every reason to believe 1t was entirely
proper
.'if DR. Kebler testified that officials of
the bureau of chemistry are prohibited
from giving information to members OF
Congress, he lied" declared Solicitor Nc
Cabe. when called to the stand
Members of the committee objected to
this language.
Mr. McCabe modified it to "falsehood, =
ana the C0mfnltIee HildilN 1HQuCe1 nun TO
withdraw il altogether. The withdrawal
however was not until after reprimand
had been administered to former Repre-
sentative Hepburn of Iowa, attorney for
Dr. Wiley. for declaring that the remark
was illustrative Of the character Of the
witness.
Order Came From Wilson,
Mr.. McCahe appeared on his own re-
quest While he denied that employees OF
the chemistry bureau were prohibited by
him from talking with members OF Con.
gress he offered an order by Secretar,
Wilson prohibiting employees of the de.
partment from communicating direct with
members of Congress.
At Mr. McCabes request, Charles G.
Clark, chief clerk of the department and
secretary of the personnel board an6
] l.. Monarch. stenoSrapher to tina,
board, testified in reply to DIR. Kebler's
charge that the personnel board had re.
fused to show him certain letters, or
which charges against him were based
Both stated that they remembered nc
such demand from DIR. Kebler Nv
clark said he had shown DR.. Bigelow anf
Dr. Kebler all the personnel boards pa.
pers now before the committee.
Mr.. McCabe testified along this line
REPRESENTATIVE Higgins asked Mr. Nc
Cabe If there is regulation against EN-.
ployes of the Agricultural Department,
holding stock. Mr.. McCabe produced ar
order of Secretary Wilson. issued in 1898
prohibiting employees from holding STOCK