The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-07-15
CHEMIST WILEY
ON THE CARPET

A press dispatch from Washington
says that DR.. Harvey w. Wiley, pure
food expert and chief Of bureau Of
chemistry of the department Of agri-
culture, and one of the m,st widely
known officials in the government SER
vice, has been condemned by the CON-
mittee on personnel of the department
Of agriculture with a recommendation
to President Taft that che be permit
ted to resign
Attorney General Wickersham. in an
opinion on the case submitted to the
president, recommends approval Of the
committees action.
1t is charged against DR.. Wiley that
he permitted an arrangement to be
made with DIR. H. H. Rusby, a recog-
nized pharmacognosist of Columbia
university, New York, for compensa-
tion in excess Of that allowed by law.
1t is claimed that the arrangement was
to put DIR. Rusby on the payroll Of the
department at 81 600 a year as an en-
ploye of the bureau of chemistry, an
agreemnt being made with him that
he should be called upon to perform
only such service as this salary would
compensate for at the rate of $50 per
day for laboratory investigation and
$50 per day for attendance in court.
Attorney General Wickersham held
that the law permitted the payment
of only SO day, this sum later being
increased to $11 day.
Along with the suggestion that DR..
Wiley, because Of the alleged irregu-
larities in the employment Of DR..
Rusby, be permitted an opportunity to
resign, the committee on personnel and
the attorney general have recon-
mended the dismissal Of DR.. Rusby and
the reduction of DR.. L. F. Kebler, chief
of the division of drugs in the depart
ment of agriculture. The committee
further recommends that DR.. w. B.
Wigelow, assistant chief Of the bureau
of chemistry, be given an opportunity
to resign.
President Taft, it was learned later
today, has forwarded all of the papers
in the case to DR.. Wiley, and win take
no action until he receives a personal
statement from him.
1t is known that the president has
the highest regard for the pure food
expert and for his administration Of
the bureau of chemistry. DIR. Wiley
has been attacked almost constantly
since the pure food law went into ef-
feet 1t has been claimd by the in
terests affected that DIR. Wiley's rul-
ings have been unduly harsh and un-
just. Dr. Wiley has regarded DR.. Rus
by as one of his most valuable assist
ants in the difficult task Of enforcing
the pure food and drug act.
DIR. Rusby received all the papers in
the case several days ago and his re-
ply, made public in New York last
night, had not reached Washington
early today In this reply, he is quot
ed as saying he did not seek nor desire
the work in the department of agricu1-
ture. DR.. Rusby says there has been
no hearing on the charges but justice
charges that there was a one-sided pc
tition of the case presented to the at
torney general which constitutes tho
basis Of his opinion.
DR.. Rusby said that he had no means
of knowing that the arrangement made
with him was irregular in any way. He
said he seemed to be regarded by the
department as a conscript and resented
the idea that he could be dismissed in
disgrace for reluctantly doing work
which interfered with his regular en-
ployment.
Department officials were reluctant
to discuss the case in any form or in
any way. They declare the matter had
been submitted to the president for
his consideration and final determine
tion.
DR.. Wiley has not resigned and so
far there has been no request for his
resignation. While the Washington
friends of DIR. Wiley disclaim any part
in making public the documents in tho
case, they appear to be glad that some
one outside Washington took steps to
secure publication of the matter at this
time.
President, Taft before acting on the
case, is is said, will grant hearing to
all involved and will be guided only
by his own Judgment.