Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-15
House Members Will Seek
"Nigger in the Woodpi|e."
ASK AS TO SCALP-LIFTING
All Complaints Against Chemist
May Be Made Public.
RIVALRY AMONG CHAMPIONS
Members Display Eagerness in De-
sire to Show UP Enemies of
Pure Food Expert.

| In order to demonstrate that the in
| terests' are behind the fight on Dr.
Harvey W. Wiley, chief of the bureau
OF chemistry and the governments
pure food expert, and have been try
ing to get his scalp for years. Repre-
sentative Cox Of Indiana has prepared
a resolution directing the Department
of Agriculture and the Department of
Justice to send to the House all the
complaints against DR.. Wiley that have
| been received since he was appointed
to his present position.
Mr. Cox believes that the response to
| this resolution will show just what inter
ests are lined up against DR.. Wiley, and
| why. He Is convinced that the expert s
pure food activities have resulted in the
accumulation of considerable CORES
pondence Of protest both at the Depart
| ment Of Agriculture and the Department
Of Justice and he thinks that it would
make interesting reading for the public.
Feeling Over Matter.
| resolution by Mr.. Cox has stirred up
! resentative Moss of Indiana. Mr.. Cox is
chairman of the committee on expendi-
| lures in the Treasury Department. Mr..
Moss is chairman of the committee on ex-
penditures in the Department Of Agri-
culture, which yesterday voted to make a
sweeping investigation of the Wiley case.
Nv ndo hot
Mr.. Cox intended to butt into" the
Wiley investigation he sought his col
league and they talked things over for
said he had agreed to withhold his reso-
luton temporarily, but that this did not
mean he would not introduce it.
Chairman Moss of the committee on
expenditures in the Agricultural Depart
ment points out that by the general
resolution passed early in the special
session this committee has power to OBJ
tain all the information called for by
the Cox resolution without the necessity
of further action by the House.
Friendly to DR.. Wiley.
1t Is apparent that the Moss commit
tee is extremely friendly to DR.. Wiley.
and that every effort will be made to as
certain If 1t is true as charged that he
of the interests inimical to pure food leg
islation, and which have been fighting
the government chemist and his activities
for a good many years.
The inquiry into the Wiley case will be
begun by the committee early next week.
Although no announcement has been
| made it is understood DR.. Wiley will be
the first witness called and that he will
be followed by Secretary of Agriculture
Wilson WckprS A m
and the three members of the committee
on personnel of the Agricultural Depart
ment, who recommended. as a result OF
their inquiry into an alleged technical
violation of the law by Dr. Wiley, that he
be separated from the public service.
Wiley Has Not Answered.
According to an official statement at
the Department of Agriculture today, the
letters of defense from Drs. Wiley, Bige-
low and Krebler, who are involved with
DR.. II. III. Rusby in the Wiley case"
have not been received by Secretary OF
Agriculture Wilson. 1t was stated that
there was no time limit for the submits
sion of these letters and that when they
are received by the Secretary they will
be Endorsed with his recommendation
and forwarded to the President.
The lid is still on tight at the depart
ment. Several of the officials will talk,
but none will consent to be quoted.
Circumvention of Law.
The point made at the department to-
| day is that the law limiting the payment
| of fees and salaries to experts and other
| employees can be circumvented, but that
DIR. Wiley. in employing DIR. Rusby, cir
cumvented the law illegally, whereas he
might have done SO legally.
| This. it is pointed out, constitutes a
| technical error. 1t was officially stated
| that If DIR. Wiley had taken pepper ad-
vice, he could have employed DIR. Rusby
regularly as per diem employee, and then
could have made a separate bargain with
him for appearance as an expert when
| ever his services were required.
| The payment to an expert witness is a
| matter of bargain between the witness
| and the department. If DIR. Wiley had
| taken this method there could have been
| no criticism. and the result would have
| been the same. 1t was added that the
| ofrense. if any, of DIR. Wiley cannot be
! condoned merely on the ground that he
| was dong something he thought neceS-
| sary tor the pubic service.
Case of Coffee Expert.
| Regarding the complaint of the coffee
expert. Harris. that he was not properly
| compensated for his services as a witness
in one of the government coffee cases. it
| was said that this was trifling matter,
| and one for adjustment between Mr.. Har-
| ris and the solicitor of the department.
If there was any complaint on the part
| of Mr.. Harris, 1t was due to his msun-
Outstanding of his bargain with the So
licitor when he was engaged as an ex-
pert witness.
! 1t was also stated at the department
| that no call had been received from the
committee on expenditures in the Agri-
| cultural Department for any papers and
Information in the Wiley case. 1t was
| said that If Congress wanted such facts
they would be promptly supplied. but
that no intimation had yet been received
that they were wanted.
Making Trouble for Experts
Declared to Be the Policy
| NEW YORK. July 15.-For years DE-