Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-21

Az VASOAy, ouu OLdL LID uCClSlOu
will give general satisfaction
throughout the country" -
Wickersham.
ITS a complete vindication
for me. I know nothing about
it officially. have nothing to
say in view Of the fact that I
have received no word official
ly regarding the matter. -
DR.. Wiley.
beverly. Mass. Sept. 15.-The resigna-
ton Of Or, Harvey w. Wiley, chief OF the
bureau of chemistry In the department of
agriculture and probably the best known
pure food expert in the government serv-
ice will not be asked for by President
Taft despite recommendations that 1t be
requested, made by the personnel board
Of the department and endorsed by At
tcrney-General Wickersham. The Con
dian punishment for DR.. Wiley, which
Mr.. Wickersham held to be necessary
tive The Presidents opinion carrying
no word of criticism of Dr. Wiley but
many a word of praise, was made public
here to-day. There is no indication in It
= that the President feels that he turned
down" Mr.. Wickersham by not accepting
his recommendations. He explains that
the attorney general's findings In the case
were made with less complete data than
was before him when ne took it up. In
the opinion the President admits what
has been we'll known to many persons
close to tho administration. that there Is
trouble in the department of agriculture.
Speaking of the congressional inquiry
into that department unfinished at the
! last session, but to be taken UP again
next winter. Mr.. Taft says: The broad
or issues raised by the investigation which
| have a much weighter relation than this
one to the general efficiency of the depart
mcnt may require much more radical ac-
| ton than the question | have considered
| and decided" That this statement indi-
! Gates serious shake-up in the depart
ment next winter, was freely predicted
! here to-day. There have never been any
| intmation that Secretary Wilson was dis
/ posed to retire and it is not believed here
| that the President would request him to
do 50. a general clean up of affairs in
| the department. however. could easily be
required by the President and carried
through when he returns TO Washington
in November. The Wiley case arose
over the employment by the bureau Of
chemistry of DR. H. II Rusty NJ New
York. pharmacognosist Of the bureau.
oI.1 ,l,I 80
of tho drug laboratory. and DR. w. d.
Bigelow. assistant chief Of the bureau,
were charged with having conspired to
! pay nr Rusty a salary of $3.50 a year
with the tacit understanding that he was
to do only enough work to secure this
amount at the rate of $50 n day.
This was held to violate the act of Con-
rrcss Of March 4. 1907. which declared that
no classified scientific Investigator should
! receive more than 81 a day. In addition
to the recommendation that Or. Wiley
he allowed to resign the personnel board
hold that Or. Ruby should he dismissed
| that DIR. Kebler he reduced and that DIR,
| Pgelow be allowed to Quit the service.
| None of these recommendations are up
! holds that DIR. Rusty should be dismissed
DIR. Keher is reprimanded for "disn-
gcnuous conduct" in his letter writing
to DR. Rusby. The President says that
| the letters suggest n 'willingness To re-
sort to evasion that call for official
! reproof. Dr. Bigeow is held 10 have Uoon
"overzealous. and a reprmand by Sec
rotary Of Agriculture Wilson to whom the
| opinion, which Is in letter form, is dl-
rected. Is ordered by the President. l)r
Rushy is held to he as suiltless as I'r
Wiley in this particular matter. The
charge against him, however. ~ obtain
Ing the appointment on the common Ia
borors" role Of n physician and expert
whom he could use TO do his work AT q
very small stipend when he himself was
called away" the President holds was
mot especially crcditable,"
The case, the President says, had made
apparent tho doubtful legislative policy
Of placing the limitations upon bureau
chiefs to exact their per diem CompenSa
ton for experts"
The government" he says, fought no
To be at a disadvantage In this regard
and one cannot withhold ones sympathy
with an earnest effort by DR.. Wiley to pay
proper compensation and expert assist
ants In the enforcement OF so importan
a statute as the pure food law" certainly
in the beginning when the questions arts
ing under it are Of capital Importance Il
the public The Presidents conclusions
lie says, were ready weeks ago but he dt,
not put them on paper because he hope
for a time for the report OF the commit
tee of the House Of Representatives tina
was investigating the department of agrl
culture.
The Presidents letter begins with
brief resume of the case and quoted let
tiers which passed between DR. BigeloN
and DIR. Rusby and DR.. Kebler and Dr
Rusby.
The President then says: The nub q
the charge by the personnel board was tina
DR. Wiley, DR. Keber, DR.. Bigelow an
Or Rusty in effect conspired to pu
on the records n contract for the genera
employment of DIR. Rusby's services 10
$3.50 year, but actually and secretl
made a contract with him by which n
was only to do enough work during tn
; year for the $1,000 to secure him a CON
ponsation of 500 Il day. and that this wa
done in deliberate and defiant violatio
Of law as interpreted by the attorney ger
eral in the opinion In which he held tina