The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-15
OR. WILEY IS
 ExONERATED
Continued from Page L,

And Dr. w. D. Bigelow, assistant chief, be denoted or allowed to resign on account of alleged irregularities in tho appointment of Dr. Rusby. The President recommends, however, that Dr. Kebler and Dr. Bigelow be repri- manded for what he declares was dis ingenoue conduct as shown by letters written in connection with the em- ployment of pr. Rusby. The lan- guage of the letters does not have a commendable tone," says the Presi- dent, ''and for just a. willingness to reeort to evasion that calas for offi- cial reproof."
 President Taft intimates plainly that much more radical action may be expected when he takes up the very much broader question inyolv- ed in the Investigation of the Bureau Of Chemistry by Congressional com- mitfee He asserts that he made up h4s mind in the case of Dr. Wiley weeks ego but withheld the announce Inent of his decision pending the re- suit of the investigation in Congress-
 President Taft explains the action of Attorney General Wic1xersham, who when asked for a legal opinion on the recommendation of the personnel board. joined with them in> advising that "condign punishment" be meted out Ito Dr. Wiley, by declaring that
 
 part of the actual evidence on which to- form his opinion and hence his judgment was different, doubtless. from what it would have been If he had. had the whole record before him as have now"
 since the publication of the charges, President Taft has been we'll aware of the popular demand that he not only decide the case but that he re- tain Dr. Wiley in the government ser vice The controversy has been unique
 The President began the actual work of writing his opinion early yesterday morning. but it was not whipped into satisfactory shape, ready for publica- tion. until early today.
 President Taft recites the charges against Dr. Wiley and his associate, Dr. Rusby, that is. conspiracy to en- ploy at an illegal rate of compensation pr. Rusby. who is an expert, chemist. The President declares that pr. Rusby was first employed at the rate of $20 a day For laboratory work, and. $50 a day for attendance at court Fol 1owingsa ruling of the attorney gen. eral Dr. Rusby was enrolled at s9 a day when actually employed. Dr. Rusby agreed, said the. President, and as he was not accustomed to devot- ing all his time to the government work, an attempt was made to give him an annual salary which would bring him as much for the year as he had formerly received. The Presi- dent then cites from the complicated correspondence between ,Dr. Rusby and Dr. Bigelow and Dr. Kebler which followed. out of which. charged the personnel board. grew 8 secret con- tract with Dr. Rusby to employ him at 1,60o year, in deliberate and de- liant violation of the law as interpret ed by the. attorney general The Pres ident then says:
 Examination of the records satis- fled me that the questions had not been presented to the persons involv- ed in such way as to enable: them to make full defense. Accordingly, directed you to submit the whole rec ord to each of the persons charged. and invite from him an answer. The answer of Dr. Wiley specifically de- nies that he ever saw the correspon- dence between DT. Kebler and Dr. Rusby or that he ever consciously entered into any arrangement where by Dr. Rusby was to receive compen- sat1on In excess of that prescribed by the statute The truth is, 1t appears. that there had been a good many precedents in the department which seemed to justify the employment of pr. Rusby at an annual salary when it was not expected that his entire time would be taken up. This was the case with the employment of what was known as the Remsen Board"
 After explaining the method of pay n1ent of members of the Remsen Board in Justification of Dr. Wiley, the President says: