The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-15
Will HAVE
STRONG BACKING
House Committee to Make
Thorough Probe of
Expenditures
PRESIDENT WILL WAIT
BEFORE TAKING ACTION
Chairman Beale Says Food
Experts Offense is Tri-
vial Compared to
Understands

WASHINGTON, July 14.-with
President Taft holding up the recon
mendations OF Attorney. General Wick
ershaIn, that DIR. Harvey w. Wiley.
pure food expert, be removed from
Office because OF technical violation OF
law In reference TO employment of ex-
perts, the House committee on expen-
ditures in the department of agricul-
ture to-day took active steps look
ing to a thorough probe of the entire
matter.
Secretary OF Agriculture Wilson, as
sistant Secretary Hays, Solicitor Geo.
III. McCabe. Assistant Chemist F. l..
Dunap, and other officials of the de-
partment are TO be put on the grill
and be forced to all they know con
corning DIR. Wiley and his work, and
b Assistance of opposition he has
encountered.
Rep. Moss Is chairman of the COM
mittee, which is composed OF Floyd.
Ark, Mays. Fla: Doughton. N. {,
~(Democratsl; Higgins. Conn; French,
laho; and Sloan. Neb. tsepuplicans).
The committee met this afternoon
and had a short interview with DIR.
Wiley. kilograms were sent to Hig-
gins and Sloan to return next week,
when the committee Will enter ae-
lively on Its work. Chairman Moss
was given authority to subpoena wit
nesses at once, a resolution was adopt
ed calling upon Secretary Wilson to
send to the committee certified copies
Of the charges against Or. Wiley and
the findings OF the board OF personnel
adverse to DIR. Wiley.
Wiley offenss Trivial.
The Wiley Wickersham incident mas
caused q great stir in Congress and
expressions of confidence and regard
for DIR. Wiley with condemnation of
Attorney General Wickersham are
heard everywhere. Chairman Beale, of
the House committee investigating the
department Of Justice, declared to-day
that DIR. Wiley's offense Is insignificant
compared to the liberties taken by the
attorney general himself in employing
expert help for his department.
Our committee discovered yester-
day." said he. when the charges
against DR.. Wiley became public, that
the attorney general has by no means
restricted himself in hiring expert
assistants.
The committee has In its posses
sic vouchers showing that Mr.. KEEL
logg was paid lump sums for 'addi-
tional compensation We also md
that Special Assistant M~cTeynolds
was allowed $40 per diem for ex-
penses-not to be accounted for-and
over and above his railroad fare. tele-
grams and sleeper expenses.
Many Protests Come In.
II am unable to see any compari-
son whatever between the technical
breacarsyaid to have been committed
by Or. Wiley and the wholesale
breach INDUCED In by the attorney
general. In one case the amount
involved is not more than $500. in
the other it runs into the hundred
thousands"
The White House was flooded to-
day with protests against the re-
moval OF DIR. Wiley. The kilograms
came from organizations and indi-
viduals. The Ease has aroused more
interest than the famous Ballinger-
Pinchot controversy.
President Taft will move slowly In
the matter. He a asked DIR. Wiley
for an answer to the charges and
an explanation of the matter. This
will be sent the President by DIR.
Wiley through Secretary Wilson. 1t
Is not believed the President will act
on the case before he has this re-
ply. Even then. he may conclude
to wait for the report OF the House
committee. which will make an ex-
haustive investigation. In the mean
time no comments on the matter Can
be obtained from DR.. Wiley or Sec
rotary Wilson.