Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-18
PURE FOOD WILEY TELLS
ABOUT HIS ACTIVITIES
Government Expert Takes the
Stand Before Probe Commit
fee at Wednesday Session
tBy Associated Press.)

(By Associated EresG.l
WASHINGTON, Aug. ,s.-Accused of
having made an illegal contract for the
expert services of Or. H. H. Rusby, of
New York, DR.. Harvey w Wiley. chief
of the government chemistry bureau. tes-
titled before the house investigation
committee today.
Dr. Wiley told of his educational train
ing for the pure food life. He described
his activity in advocating pure food leg
islation and of opposition to some food
manufacturers.
II took very active part in all steps
leading up to the pure food law" DIT.
Wiley said, replying to Chairman Moss.
II began in 1883 an attempt at a sclen.
tific investigation of the adulteration of
foods"
He explained that the pure food law
authorized his bureau to investigate all
foods, to determine whether they were
misbranded or adulterated.
do you then certify your findings to
the secretary of agricultural" asked
Representative Floyd. of Arkansas,
1--WE used to-"
What was the next cnange in the
administration of the law"
1.-THE appointment of the food and drug
inspection board. At first the hearings
were held by the bureau of chemistry;
t4en they were transferred TO mis-
board"
us DR.. Dunlap chemist?"
YES"
us Solicitor Mccabe chemist?
mot that I know Of"
Suppose you took one position as a
chemist and DR.. Dunlap another, did Mr..
McCabe decide the question"
II did,
When you and DR.. Dunlap disagreed
how many times were you sustained by
Mr.. McCabe. the third member of the
boardg'
Never as I remember; except on my
decision that rye whisky must be made
from rye. On that matter Mr.. McCabe
sided with me-"
How many of the cases have been
passed on by the board?"
From 1900 to 1900. On about 100
cases where DR.. Dunlap agreed with me
on the first vote and the solicitor dis
agreed with both of us, DR.. Dunlap
changed his vote in every instance to
agree with the solicitor"
DR.. Wiley declared that the result of
these overrulings was to "squander ana
waste" all the money spent in prepare
ton of the cases by the chemistry bu-
reau. He said that so far as he knew
all appeals to Secretary Wilson had re-
suited in a decision sustaining the
boards ruling.
Dr. Wiley branded as false a state
ment of the personnel board, which
recommended him for dismissal.
He declared the charges regarding the
Rusby contract were based on a letter
from Rusby never actually sent to him
and an important part OF which has
never been made public by the personnel
board. He said he did not know what
charges had been made against him
when he was called before the depart
ment's personnel board, of whose re-
port his first intimation was the invita-
ton to resign.
did you enter into any contract with
DR.. Rusby whereby he was to work a
certain number Of days?' asked Repre-
sentative Floyd.
Il did not"
GOT FINAL REPORT.
did you ever receive any commune
cation from the personnel board. giving
their findings?"
los. yes, got their final report grant
ing me the privilege of resigning," said
Dr. Wiley, with asperity. II was great
ly obliged to them for that little eour-
tesy."
"Did you get the report after it had
been sent to the president?'
Yes after it had gone to the at
torney general. I won't express any opin-
ion as to the attorney general
You had nothing to do with making
the agreement with DR.. Rusby?" asked
Mr.. Floyd.
mo, sir, never received correspond
ence or took part in the arrangement;
asked DR.. Bigelow to find out the
smallest salary for which Dr. Rusby
would work.
The Rusby letter that never reached
him. DR.. Wiley said, explained the ar
rangement DIR. Rusby had made with DR..
Bigelow to work for $1,000 a year under
an irregular time arrangement. DIR. Rus
by wrote the letter. but learned that
DR.. Wiley was out Of Washington and
did not send it. A copy of it got into
the batch of correspondence which went
before the personnel board and was cited
by the board to show that DIR. Wiley
had been informed in this respect. Conse-
quently when DR.. Wiley was summoned
by the personnel board, he did not know
what they were asking about, because
they did not show him the letter, and he
himself had never received 1t, seen it, or
heard about it.