New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-17
DR.. WILEY DESCRIBES
HAND|CAPS IN WORK
Chief Chemist, 0utvoted in Food
Inspection Board, Found
Appeals Useless.
REFUTES DR.. RUSBy CHARGE
Never Saw Letter, Partly Sup
pressed, on Which Personnel
Board Asked for
Resignation.
rr,om The Tribune Bureau. !

Washington Aug 16-Facing the largest
Guidance which has vet attended any House
investigation, DR.. Harvey w. Wiley, cniet
chemist and central figure in the coh'ro
yersy In the Department or agriculture
snent two hours on the witness stand TO-
day. DR.. Wiley was not the breezy witness
that he generally is and he dealt In cola
facts rather than epigrams. Inc chiei
chemist was earnest and painstakinG III
his answers. and he left no DOUBT IN inc
minds of the committee that he believed ne
mad been uniustly accused In connecuoh
with Dr. Rusbys employment.
DR.. Wiley said that the charges OF the
personnel board had been based manly on
a letter which he had never received ne
personnel board, according to the testimony
to-day appears to have taken letter
written. but never mailed, by DR.. Ruspy
| TO DR.. Wiley. in which the writer explained
| the ARRANGEMENT made with Dr. Bigelow, Oh
the Bureau of Chemistry. DR.. Rusby stated
| that the arrangement was satisfactory
Subject to the approval Of the department
! Although IL was never mailed, the letter
came into the possession OF the Boaro OF
Personnel, and Dr. Wiley says he was
questioned about 1t without an opportunity
of seeing it, The words, subject 10 the
approval OF the department. we're omitted
when the personnel board made It's report
TO the Secretary of Agriculture. and Dr.
! Wiley was charged with making an illegal
agreement 10 pay DR.. Rusby excess COM
pensation.
Did YOU ever receive any communication
from the personnel board. giving their
dndipgs?" Dr. Wiley was asked.
"Oh, yes; | got their final report. giving
me the privilege Of resignins.' said DR.
WILEY with asperity. IT was greatly
Obliged to them for that little courtesy.
The chief chemist narrated events In
dicating friction of long standing between
himself and Solicitor McCabe and DR.. Dun
Ian the two other members of the Board
of Food and Drug Inspection. Dr. whey
| said that only about one-third OF his opin-
| ions as to pure food matters were upheld
nv the other two members OF the board
In perhaps a hundred cases, he said. Dr
Dunlap had switched and voted with Soho
litor McCabe after DR.. Wiley and Solicitor
McC'abe had disagreed. In many cases,
said DR.. Wiley, Solicitor McCabe cast the
deciding vote. The solicitor was not
chemist.
DIR. Wiley said the result Of these over
rulings was to "squander and waste all
the money spent In preparation OF the
cases by the chemistry bureau. He said
that so far as he knew all appeals to Sec
rotary Wilson had resulted IN uecision
sustaining the boards ruling
DR. Wiley said he had appealed to Sec
rotary Wilson twice where he thought puo-
lie health was seriously endangered
zone case he said was the question:
Of the branding of gluten -four, where
thought the health OF diabetes patients
was directly threatened. The other was
the use of sulphur fumes in food. Inc
board composed of the Secretaries OF inc
Treasury. Agriculture and Commerce and
Labor had made a ruling permitting the
use Of sulphur dioxlde il It was stated on
the label. until the Rersen board could
report"
Dr WILEY said that I'm a meeting Of which
he had no notice. though he was a mem
her. Dr. Dunlap and Solicitor McCabe. act
ing as the Food and Drug Inspection
BOARD. reversed this decision and author
lied the use of sulphur dioxide without
notice Of its presence being given on the
label He said as soon as he discovered
tho order he wrote TO Secretary WILSON
that in his belief the lives of invalids
who might unsuspectingly use fruit juices
without knowledge Of the sulphur dioxide
they contained were endangered. He said
he received no answer from the Secretary
Were YOU sustained in either OF these
cases."
mo. the hoard was sustained In both
cases"
Were those the only two cases you ap'
pesled?"
yes. 7 knew It was useless tn take ap'
meals from the boards decisions
The committee adjourned with DR.. Wiley
still on ,le stand. The Wiley case was
discussed In an informal meeting OF the
Cabinet to-day. 1t Is understood that the
entire situation In the Department OF Ayri-
culture was gone over thoroughly. Presi'
dent Taft is not yet ready to announce MS
decision In the case.