The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-09-17
SUNDAY. sEpTEMBER II. 1911.
DIR. Wiley
Is Retained.

Is Retained.
DIR. WHEY has been exonerated by
President Taft and the country re5oiees
that the scheme to GUST this honest OF
ncaaI who Il 'devoting his life to the
work OF giving the people Of this coun-
try pure food stuffs. has failed
Unlike Secretary Ballinger and some
other persons well known TO the public
DR.. wiley was not "whitewashed"
There Is nothing in the presidents let
ter to indicate this, while, on the other
hand, in spite Of All the president can
do to hide II, he attempts to exonerate
Attorney General Wickersham from
any scheme whatever, although he does
say that he is satisfied that there are
very much broader questions involved
in the investigation and the evidence
there brought out than IN the present
charge, which is narrow and definite
and can now be properly disposed OF.
The broader issues raised by the inves-
figation, which have a much weightier
relation than this one to the general ef-
ficiency OF the department, may re-
uuire much more radical action than
the question I have here considered
and decided"
II VIII be remembered that DR.. Wiley
was accused OF q technical wrong by
paying the head chemist more per day
than was allowed by law. and this Is
what the trouble was about No kick
was coming from any quarter for this
department was doing the public good
service and was causing certain trusts
considerable trouble for Dr. Wiley was
making them comply with the law.
The question arose when the trouble
began who wants DIR. Wiley fired?" Il
has proved to be a fact that the only
ones who desired It were the ones h
was making comply with the law and
these people schemed with the attor-
ney general to do the W. k.
The president says that 1T seems
fairly clear that DIR. Wiley. after ar
examination Of the records. concluded
that employment of DR.. Rusty at 50 Q
day for laboratory work and $50 day
for court work. would amount to $1,6oC
a year II the department called upor
him whenever they needed him, and
that It was this arrangement to which
he consented" which amount per veal
is allowed, although the price per day
was too much.
This is how guilty DIR. Wiley really
was. This is how much he violated thu
law and anyone can reason It out tina
those who objected had something be-
yond the good OF the service in making
the kick.
Then President Taft strikes a popu
lar chord when he says IL there ever Il
room for latitude that DR.. Wiley shoult
have it. He says:
Here Is the pure food act which 1t !
of the highest Importance to enforc
and in respect to which the interest
opposed to it's enforcement are likel,
to have all the money at their com
mand needed to secure the most effec
tive expert evidence. The gcvernmen
ought not to be at disadvantage i
this regard, and one cannot withhold
ones sympathy with an earnest effor
by DR.. Wiley to pay proper compensa
ton and secure expert assistance !
the enforcement OF such an importan
when the questions arising under 1t ar
OF capital importance to the public.
To clear Attorney General Wicker
sham from any blame in recommend
ing that DIR. Wiley and his assistant
be discharged President Taft com
ments thusly:
II this were a knowing, willful, de
liberate effort to evade the statute 8
construed by the attorney general, &C
companied by a scheme to conceal tn
evasion and violation, should thin
the punishment recommended by tn
personnel board and concurred In b
the attorney general was none to
great; but an examination of the whol
case satisfies me that a different cor
struction ought to be put upon whs
was done; that the evidence does M
show that DR.. Wiley was a party to tn
correspondence or the letters upo
which the chief charge IL founded. an
that his action in the matter was onl
in accord with previous presidents
the department which justified him
doing what he did. The recommends
ton OF the attorney general given
me was upon only part of the evidenc
and hence his judgment was differer
doubtless from what 1t would hav
been II he had had the whole record be
fore him as ] have now.
We want to congratulate the presi
dent for doing the right thing in TIL
instance. for unouestionably DR.. Vile
is a faithful and conscientious ofici'
AMI has been conspired ~~ainst be
cause he Is doing good work for hu
manity. II the president will g
father into the matter. as he intimate
that he viii do. the people who woul
rather give the public impure food tina
pure food may be dealt with. In SPIT
Of all the president can say for the al
torney general IT shows up bad for M
wielxersham. He has overlooked t6
many Irregularities in other places
ind fault with DIR. Wiley for a lit
unintentional and technical wrong.