Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-08-17
wILEv's HANDS TIED.
Pure Food Expert Constantly Over
ruled on I'm portant Cases,

WILEYs HANDS TIED.
Pure Food Expert Constantly Over.
ruled on Important Cases.
Washington, Aug. 17.-Dr Harvey w
Wiley. chief of the bureau of chemistry
of the agricultural department, testified
before the house Investigating commit
tee that he has surrendered practically
all of his authority for enforcing the
pure food law to DR. F. l.. Dunlap. as
sociate chemist. and George p. McCabe
solicitor Of the agricultural depart
ment
Overruled in two-thirds OF the cases
he has brought before the food and
drugs inspection b, ard. composed OF
these two men and himself. he declared
he had found 1t useless to appeal to
Secretary Wilson. and had not even re-
ceived an answer to one of the most
important appeals he had made to the
secretary.
DR.. Wiley. summoned before the
committees to tell of his connection
with the employment OF DR. II. III
Rusby on an alleged Illegal contract
gave to the committee the most illumf-
mating information that has been de-
veloped m the investigation now III pro-
gress Of the agricultural department.
Part Omitted From Letter.
The witness testified he never had re
ceiyed the letter from Dir. Rusby whicf
was used BY the personnel board t
prove that he knew about the Rusbl
contract. He said that In using thE
| letter the personnel board had omitted
the most essential part-the statement
Of DIR. Rusby that we have agreed up
on the following arrangements as fail
and satisfactory, II approved by the de.
partment."
DR.. Wiley stated that Solicitor Nc
Cabe held the decisive vote on the
board of food and drug inspection
When DR.. Wiley and DR.. Dunlap dis
agreed on questions OF chemistry 1t was
Mr.. McCabe who decided whether &
prosecution should be made.
In fully 100 cases. said DR.. Wiley
where he and DR.. Dunlap had voted to.
gether and Solicitor McCabe had dis
agreed with them. DIR. Dunlap changed
his vote to agree with Mr.. McCabe.
Did you never appeal from thess
decisions?" he was asked.
II found it was useless to appeal.
said DIR. Wiley. FOR the secretary in
variably upheld the decision of the
board"
Tell. Of Two Appeals Taken.
In two cases he did appeal. he add
ed, where he thought public health was
seriously menaced." One OF these in.
volved the labelling Of gluten flour. the
fodo of diabetes patients. The boards
decision. he believed. left physicians
TT t,,f> =.
the exact contents and strength of the
flour. In this case the secretary uphe.t
the board
The other case involved the labelling
of fruits and fruit products which con-
tained sulphur dioxide. This subject !:
now before the Remsen pure food ref
cree board. The board, composed o
three cabinet members. Secretaries
MacVeagh. Wilson and Nagel. decided
manufacturers could continue to use
the sulphuring process. II the fact wa:
made clear on the label.
DR.. Wiley left the agricultural de.
partment one day at o'clock to gt
| to Boston. Between that time and 4: 80
when the department closed, he said. s
special meeting of the board OF foot
and rug inspection was called. Dr
Dunlap acting as chairman. and a de-
cision was made overruling the "thre,
secretaries" board and permitting man.
ufacturers to use the sulphurinE pro-
cess without publishing the fact oil
their labels.
Protest Ignored by Wilson.
| AS soon as he returned to Washing
| ton and learned Of the action. said DIR
Wiley. no wrote to Secretary Wilson
| appealing to him from the decision
and declaring the health Of thu pub
lie, particularly Of invaids to whom
fruit juices are often prescribed. wa,
| seriously threatened by the decision
! and that the board OF food and drus
inspection had no right TO overruii
the three secretaries.
What was Secretary Wilson'S ar
| swer?" asked Representative Floyd o
Arkansas, who has conducted tn.
Questioning for the Moss committee.
81 never received an answer" sait
DR.. Wiley.
The witness declared that the re-
| suit OF the overrulingS was to "squan
der and waste all the money spent IL
preparation Of cases by the chemistr,
bureau.
"About 5000 cases." he said. "hav
been prepared by the bureau at n sun
averaging about 5000 each, including
: the gathering Of samples. Many o
thees cases, are properly dropped"