The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-19
HE KNOWS WAY
10 END SQUABBLE
Chief Chemist Says He Can
Handle Legal Business if Given
Law Clerk and Stenogra-
pher--Appointrnent of Rus
by Had 20. K" of Secre-
tary Wilson.

Harvey W. Wiley, chief of the Bureau
OF Chemistry of the Agricultural De-
partment, who told such a sensational
story yesterday of the bitter opposi-
tion to his efforts to enforce the pure
food law. and of the manner in which
powerful interests. by the exertion of
influence, were enabled to secure re-
versals OF his decisions in the interest
OF the public health. wound up mis- tes-
timony to-day with further frank
statements concerning departmental
conditions.
He offered. before the hearing was
over, to correct the evil conditions
the prosecution of violators of the
food and drug act. II he were given
''one law clerk and a stenographer."
IF you Will give ME those two en-
ployes.' he said. II will do all the
work in connection with the food and
drug act now done in the office of the
solicitor. at one-hftieth the cost" The
committee will give serious consider
alton to the proposition.
PRUSSIA Adopts Wiley View.
DR.. Wiley excited the interest OF
committee and spectators when ne
declared that a referee board OF dis
tingu!shed scientists appointed by the
Prussian government 10 consider the
question of the use OF benzoate of soda
in foods had studied the report of the
Wiley experiments and of the Remsen
board experiments. and had recently
reported against the Eemsen hoarl,
declaring the use OF osnzoate Of soda
as d preservative to ne dclsie.ious 10
health.
Another evidence o, the anita gon!sm
TO DR.. Wiley in the department was
brought to light when the chief chem
.st told how his bureau had been pro-
1T,
compilations OF the pure food laws OF
the various States-a document for
which there was a general and con-
tinuous demand-aEGS haw, only few
days ago, DR.. Dunlap. associate chem
list OF the bureau. and a McCabe par
tisan, had been authorized to publish
compilation OF the pure food laws
OF Great Britain.
Attorney Davis. for DR.. Wiley. also
developed the fact that Secretary CT
Agriculture Wilson had originally up-
proved the appointment OF D-. Henry
IL Rusby. the New York pharnacogno-
cist. a $4,000 year. but that on the
suggestion of DR.. Wiley this figure was
reduced 10 $500 before the appoint
Tert was made.
PnraIyzed by Referees.
In answer TO another question, DR..
Wiley emphatically declared that the
activities of the Bureau of Chemistry.
so far as the rigid enforcement of the
food and drug act was concerned, We're
"paralyzed" by the reference OF i'm
portant questions to the Remsen or
referee board
One of the most Interesting features
of to-day's testimony. although it had
only an indirect bearing on the main
point at issue, was a detailed nara
ton by DIR. Wiley OF his poison
squad" experiments. by means of
which he determined the harmfulness
of benzoate of soda, benzoic acid and
other preservatives used in foods.
Soon after the committee met this
morning Attorney Davis asked DR..
Wiley concerning the case OF what
held that rye whiskey must be made
of rye. and was supported by Solicitor
McCabe, although Dr. Dunlap disa-
greed This. incidentally. is the only
case OF record where the opinions of
McCabe and Dunlap did not coincide.
Els that case" Mr.. Davis asked, the
same as shat is whiskey?"
No" DR.. Wiley replied, with smile.
Did Mr.. McCabe have anything to
do with the what is whiskey' deci-
sion?''
81 think So" the chief chemist re-
piled.
Tell the committee about it," Mr..
Davis suggested.
Il don't want to do that" said DR..
Wiley, shaking his head. II would
rather let Mr.. McCabe do that"
Mir. Davis Their asked DR.. Wiley what
the solicitor had to do with publica
tions issued by the Bureau OF Chem
istry.
Well" said DIR. Wiley. slowly. he
gets most of my publications in his
possession before they are issued" lie
added that two OF the bulletins of his
poison squad experiments had been
held up.
Held Illegal by Mr.. McCnbe.
Then Mr.. Davis inquired about the
compilation of pure food laws referred
1T was held illegal by the solicitor"
said DR. Wiley. for our bureau to
make such compilations"
Are you familiar with DR.. Dunlaps
bulletin on the food laws of Great
Britain?" Mr.. Davis inquired.
Yes" responded the doctor: "he is-
sued one recently. 1t was similar to
ours. except that it was about Great
Britain"
Then" suggested Mr.. Davis your
bulletin relating to the United States
was not published, and DR.. Dunlaps.
relating to Great Britain, was?"
Yes" said the witness. briefly.
And was there much demand for
the bulletin OF the United States food
laws?"
"a very great demand" DR.. Wiley
replied
Then the witness described In great
detail the manner in which he had as.
sembled his poison squad for the borax,
benzoate of soda and other expert.
ments. :
I'm 1902" he said, Il realized that.
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