Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1911-09-15
TROUBLE in The DEPARTMENT
NOVEMBER MAY WITNESS THE
RESIGNATION OR DISMISSAL
OF SEVERAL OFFICERS.
THERE MAY Be A CLEANUP
PESIDENT TAFT ISSUES A STATE
MENT TO THAT EFFECT BE.
FORE STARTING ON TRIP.

Beverly, Mass, Sept. 15-The resig-
nation of DR.. Harvey w. Wiley, chief
of the bureau of chemistry in the de.
partment of agriculture, probably the
best known pure food expert in the
government service, will not be
asked for by President Taft, despite
recommendations that it lie requested
which were made by the personal
board of the department and indorsed
by Attorney General Wickersham
The "condign punishment" for DR..
Wiley which Mr.. Wickersham held
to be necessary, will not be meted
out by the chief executive. The
presidents opinion, carrying no word
OF criticism for DR.. Wiley, but many
a word of praise, was made public
here today. There is no indication
il, it that the president feels that
he turned down" Mr. Wickersham |
by not accepting his recommends
tions. He explains that the attorney
generals findings were made with
less complete data than was before
him when he took it up.
In the opinion, the presidents admits
what has been well known to many
persons close to the administration
that there is trouble in the depart
ment of agriculture. Speaking of the
congressional inquiry into that de-
partment, unfinished at the last ses-
sion but to be taken up again next |
winter, Mr.. Taft said:
1.-THE broader issues raised by the
investigation, which have a much
weightier relation than this one to
the general efficiency of the depart
ment, may require much more radi-
cal action than the question l have
considered and decided"
That the statement indicates a SER
ious shake up in the department next
winter was freely predicted here to-
day. There have never been any in
timations that Secretary Wilson was
disposed to retire and it is not be-
ieved here that the president would
require him to do so. A general
cleanup of affairs In the department,
however. could easily be required by
the president and carried through
when he returns to Washington in
November.
u,I,o yUiIov oaca arose ever the en-
ployment by the bureau of chemistry
of DR.. H. H. Rusby of New York,
pharmacognosist of the bureau. In
effect, DR.. Wiley, DR.. ~. F. Kebler.
chief of the drug laboratory; and
DR.. w. Bigelow, assistant chief of the
bureau, were charged with having
conspired to pay DR.. Rusby a salary
of $1,000 a year with the tacit un-
derstanding that he was to do only
enough work to insure rnis amount
at the rate of $40 a day. This was
held to violate the acts of congress
approved March 15, 1898, which de-
clared that no classified scientific in
vestigator should receive more than
50 day. In addition to the recon-
mendation that DR.. Wiley be allowed
to resign, the personal board held
that DR.. Rusby should be dismissed,
that DR.. Kebler be reduced and that
DR.. Bigelow be allowed to quit the
service None of these recommen-
dations is upheld in the presidents
opinion.
DR.. Kebler is reprimanted for dis
ingenious conduct" in his letter
writing to Dr. Rusby and the presi
dent says that the letters suggest d
Willingness to resort to evasion"
that calls for official reproof. Dr..
Bigelow is held to have been "over-
Jealous" and a reprimand by Secre-
tary of Agriculture Wilson to whom
the opinion which is in letter form,
is directed, is ordered by the presi-
dent. Dr. Rusby is held to be as