Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-14

aPOh AAC S0o0 VI LII. w iCys oilhSuoh eo9~
gestions are made that the President may
await the outcome Of the House investi-
cations before he does anything.
The President will not ask from Mr..
Wickersham statement OF these ex-
penditures. but 1t Is presumed that the
Attorney General will talk to the Presi-
dent about them and explain some Of
them before he is called upon to talk
freely to the House. The delicacy of the
Presidents position in interrogating his
Attorney General Is conceded. but he will
naturally want to know about things that
are to be brought into question. He has
allowed Mr.. Wickersham free hand in
his conduct of the department. He has
not forced political appointments in the
department. and Mr.. Wickersham's selec-
tons Of special attorneys and others have
been uninfluenced from the White House
Presidents Position Delicate.
In the Pinchot case the President stood
by Secretary Ballinger. but that was not
until Pinchot had written q letter that
reflected upon the President and required
prompt action. In the Wiley case any
action by the President that means the
continuance in Office Of DR.. Wiley would
be regarded as reflection upon the At
torney General, unless DR.. Wiley can
make a showing that would be accepted
with satisfaction by Mr.. Wickersham 1t
is pointed out that MI Wickershams
condemnation of DR.. Wiley was made
without giving DR.. Wiley a hearing or
asking an explanation from him. the rec
ommendation being based merely upon
papers submitted from the department.
In the Department Of Agriculture there
are two factions. with business at al
most a standstill while the Wiley case
is under investigation. The Wiley people
claim that clique inimical to DR.. Wiley
is headed by Assistant Secretary Hays
and Solicitor McCabe, the latter being
credited with hostility to DR.. Wiley for a
long time, while the anti-W1ley people
claim that the personnel board OF the
department could not have acted other
wise than 1t did act.
Department Is Muzzled.
At the Department Of Agriculture today
suppressed excitepent over the Wiley
case was manifest, but all officials had
been carefully supplied with earmuffs and
binders. and few could be found who
would even admit they had heard of or
even read anything regarding the bureau
Of chemistry. The only statement made
was an official announcement that All
Papers in the Wiley case are now in the
hands Of the President, awaiting eXecu-
tive action"
This means, II 1t throws any additional
light on the subject, that replies have
been received by the department from DR.:
the bureau OF chemistry. and DR.. l.. F.
Kebler. chief of the drug laboratory, who
was involved with DR.. H. H. Rusby In the
charges.
mittee on personnel, on which the opinion
OF the Attorney General was based, was
not personally signed by Secretary WILL
son or by any one else In the depart
ment, but that it. together with the other
papers In the case. was turned over to
the President personally by the Secretary
Of Agriculture.
Discussing Weather Only.
DR.. Wiley is not saying anything. He
appeared at his Office this morning as
uusal. When asked whether he would
resign II given the opportunity. he cast
a weatherwise look toward the Virginia
hills and said:
''Unquestionably. the rain we have just
had will be of great value to the maize
crop"
He was equally communicative on ell
other points in connection with the
charges.
Dr. F. I. Dunlap of the bureau of
chemistry, who was the acting chief at
the time the Rusby correspondence was
produced. was not in Washington today.
1t was said at his Office that he was in
st. Louis. Chicago, Toledo or some other
place, and the date of his return to
Washington was uncertain.
Program for Inquiry.
The House committee an expenditures
In the Agricultural Department, of
which Representative Moss Of Indiana is
chairman. met in executive session at
1870 o'clock this afternoon and decided
upon an inquiry. This morning Chair
man Moss had a long conference with
DR.. Wiley. and for an hour before the
bers Of that body talked things over
informally The committee will decide
before 1t adjournes today just how ex-
tensive the probe will be, what witnesses
will be called and when the hearings will
begin.
The members Of the committee are Rep
resentatives Moss Of Indiana, chairman;
Floyd OF Arkansas. Mays Of Florida,
Doughton Of North Carolina, democrats.
and Higgins Of Connecticut, French Of
Idaho and Sloan of Nebraska. republicans
1t Is anticipated that the hearings will
be begun Immediately. Secretary OF Ag-
riculture Wilson will be one Of the wit
nesses. The members Of the committee
on personnel, which recommended. after
investigating the charges against DR.:
Wiley, that he be permitted to resign"
will also be called.
Stands Well In Capitol.
There seems to be no question but
that Dr. Wiley has the sympathy OF
members Of the House Of Representa-
lives without regard to party anil
atoms, in his present difficulty. DR..
Wiley is considered at the Capitol to
be an honest and fearless public servant,
and practically every member interviewed
today on the subject expressed the opin-
ion that whatever the noted food expert
may have done in technical violation of
the law was done. as matter Of fact.
In the interest of the public.
as to say that In view OF the alleged ir-
In connection with the expense account Of
special attorneys. matter that is now
being investigated by the committee on
expenditures in the Department of JUS
tice. the Attorney Generals concur
renee in the recommendation that DR..
Wiley be relieved from duty is con-
sidered by them in the nature Of an in
dorsement Of the expert.
Representative Richardson Of Alabama,
who is known as the leading pure food
expert on the democratic side Of tho
House, was emphatic today In his COM
ment on the Wiley case. Mr.. Richardson
has been an important factor in the prep
aration of all pure food legislation en-
acted up to date and knows DR.. Wiley
personally very we'll.
Hostile Toward Chemist.
II am we'll acquainted with the recent
charges made against DR.. Wiley" he
said today, land am not surprised, be-
cause. associated as have been with
DR.. Wiley in the performance Of my
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