The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-09-16
WHOLE SITUATION Is
CAREFULLY REVIEWED
Shakeup in the Department
of Agriculture Freely Pre-
dicted at the Ma
tional Capital.

IN EN ERLl. Mass. Sept, lo.-lhe
* resignation of Dr. Harvey W.
Wiley, chief of the bureau Of
chemistry III the department of
agriculture and probably the best
known pure food expert in the govern
mcnt service, Will not be asked for by
President Taft, despite recommends
tons that il be requested. made by the
personnel board of the department and
indorsed by Attorney General Wicker
sham,
The "condign punishment" for DR..
Wiley which Mr. Wickersham held to be
necessary, will not be meted out by
the chief executive. The president s
opinion, carrying no word of criticism
for DR.. Wiley, but many word of
praise, was made public here today.
There is no indication in 1T that the
president feels that he 'fturned down
Mr.. Wickersham by not accepting his
recommendation He explains that the
attorney generate s findings in the case
were made with less complete data than
was before him when he took it up.
In the opinion the president admits
what has been we'll known to many per-
sons close TO the Enthusiastically
there Is trouble in the department. Of
agriculture Speaking OF the congress
sional inquiry into that department. un-
finished at the last session. but to be
taken up again next winter. Mr.. Taft
says;
Shakeup Probable.
"The broader issues raised by the in
vestigation which have a much weghtier
relation than this ono TO the general eff
cheney of the department, may require
much moro radical action than the ques-
tion have considered and decided
That this statement indicates a serious
shaseup in the department next winter
was freely predicted here today There
Secretary Wilson was disposed TO retire
and II is not believed here that the presi
dent would request Eini to do so
ment, however. could easily be required
by the president and carried through
when he returns TO Washington in No
vember,
"The Wiley case" arose over the en-
nloyment by the bureau of chemistry OF
DR.. "A. II. Rusby Of New York, phar
macognosist OF the bureau. In effect. pr
Wiley. DR. l.. f, Kobler, chief OF the
drug laboratory. and Dr. w. d Biglow.
assistant chief OF the bureau. were
Rusby salary OF $1,000 year with the
tacit understanding that he was TO do
only enough work to secure this amount
ut the rate of $50 day, This was held
TO violate the acts OF congress approved
March 15. 1895. which declared that no
classified scientific Investigator should
to the recommended that Wiley be al
lowed to resign. the personnel board held
that DR.. RusbS should be dismissed that
Or. Kebler he reduced and that Or. Bige~
11yr hs all n no
Board Turned Down.
None OF these recommendations Is up
held In the presidents opinion. Dr. keb
Ter Is reprimanded for "disIngenuous con-
duct In his letter writing to DR.. Rusby
and the president says that the letters
suggest Willingness to resort to eva.-
sion" that calls for official reproof DR..
ous" and reprinand by Secretary. OF
Agriculture Wilson, TO whom the opinion,
which is In letter form, is directed. is
'a. Dr. ! Rusby Isl i" is held to be as gutltless as
DIR. Wiley in this particular matter. A
charge against him, however, of secur-
aborers'' roll OF a physician and expert
whom he could use TO do his work at a
small stipend when he himself was called
away the president holds to be mot
especially crcdtablc." The case, the
president says has made apparent tho
doubtful Legislative policy of placing
per diem compensation for experts"
THE government he says, "ought not
10 be at 4 disadvantage In this regard
and one cannot withhold ones sympathy
with earnest EFFORT by DR.. Wiley 10
pay proper compensation and secure ex-
pert assistance In the enforcement OF so
important statute the pure food law
certainly In the beginning when the ques-
tons arising under It are of capital I'M
portance 10 the public
The presidents conclusions, he says,
were ready weeks ago, but he did not put
them on paper because he hoped for n
time for the report OF the committee OF
the house of representatives that was in
| yestigatng the department OF agricuI
ture.
Letter to Secretary.
The presidents letter TO Secretary Will
son is as follows:
II return herewith the papers which
you have submitted TO me IN the matter
Of the report Of committees on personnel
| OF the department. Of agriculture, In
| which. after summarizing the evidence
| adduced before them they recommended
that Or. II. n. Rusby. pharma cognosst
| In the bureau OF chemistry, bo dismissed
| from the service: that DR. F. Keblcr.
chief Of the drug laboratory I'm tho bureau
OF chemistry. be reduced from his present
position and Or. H. w. Wiley, chief OF
| the bureau of chemistry. and Dr. ". u.
| Bigclow. assistant chief OF the bureau
\