The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-04
First Move in Reorgan-
izatlon of Department
Of Agriculture.
McCABE LEAVES
PURE FOOD BOARD
Dunlap Is Allowed Leave of Alb
sence Until President Taft Re-
turns to Washington, and
DR.. Doolittle Is Tempo
rarily Appointed Solicitor.
Changes Inevitable.

Washington, d. c.. October 3.-In
sudden succession OF orders, an initial
move in the expected reorganization OF
the Department Of Agriculture. Solic-
itor George P. McCabe to-day was re-
tired from the Pure Food and Drug
Board; Associate Chemist F. L. Dunlap.
closely identified with McCabe, was al
lowed leave of absence until the Pres
ident's return. and Chemist Harvey w.
Wiley left apparently in supreme COM
mand Of the board. DIR. r. E. Dooittle.
of New York, was temporarily appoint
ed to the board TO succeed Mr.. McCabe.
These changes were announced by
Secretary Wilson to-day. following a
conference with DR.. Wiley. who has
been on a long vacation. They were
deemed inevitable. in view of the 9th
cial and personal entagonism aired be-
fore a congressional committee the past
summer and DIR. Wiley's eXonerat'cn by
President Taft, after Attorney General
Wickersham, with Views aligned with
those of Secretary Wilson and Solicitor
McCabe, had recommended DR.. Wiley's
removal from office as head OF the
Chemistry Bureau because of techni-
cal irresularity in appointing methods.
the responsibility for which he denied.
Passes on Important Cases.
The Pure Food and Drug Board is the
agency which passes upon many impor-
tant cases arising under the enforce
ment of the pure food laws. DR.. Wiley,
on the one hand. and Solicitor McCabe
and DR.. Dunlap. on the other, were the
members of the board DR.. Wiley de-
clared that he was usually outvoted,
and made a number of sensational
statements in the investigation OF the
controversy. Smarting under the fire.
quent everything OF his views, wherein
he held food products deleterious to
health, he told congressional COM
mittee that he regarded his associate.
DIR. Dunlap, as mis- superior officer.
Secretary Wilson'S brief announce
ment of the change stated that Solicitor
AfcCabe voluntarily resigned and that
his resignation had sbasn accepted. DR..
Dunlap was acting chairman OF tho
board when Or. Wiley was absent from
Washington. Whether DR.. Dunlap will
feturn TO his duties on the hoard was
not stated. His tempors ~ withdrawal
was attributed officially to the fact
that he is to take the customary four
weeks vacation. but Secretary Wilson
stated that DR.. Dunlap would not re-
turn until after President Taft had re-
turned to Washington
In place of Solicitor McCabe. 10 serve
with DR.. Wiley on the board, Secretary
wilson appointed Dr. Doolittle, long a
member of the Bureau of Chemistry
force, and now head of that bureaus
sub ton in New York. Dr. Wiley
and DIR. Doolittle will constitute the
majority of the board for the imme-
date future, the latter's appointment
being necessary to give the boards
action legal effect.
Reasons Not Announced.
The reasons for Solicitor McCabe's
resignation were not announced. Sec
rotary Wilson stated that Mr.. McCabe's
duties as associate director remain un-
changed, and under the general provis-
Ions of the law. he will continue to
exercise an important control over the
enforcement of the pure food law
There will be no permanent changes
In the departments methods of enforc-
ing the pure food law until President
Taft has had an opportunity to take
the matter up in Washing .on" said
Secretary Wilson. The appointment
OF DR.. Doolittle Will simply continue the
boards operations as at present up to
the time when President Taft returns"
All officials of the Agricultural De-
partment charged with the enforce
ment of the pure food law were ex-
tremely reticent to-day to discuss the
changes or what permanent changes
In the department may be foreshadowed
by il. DR.. Wiley would only say that
the work of the board would continue
as at present DIR. Doolittle was an
pointed to the board, Secretary Wilson
said. because he is one of the leading
eNpertS in tho Rireau ~