Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-18
TIRE OF LOSING CASH WILEY CASE HALTS
Reason for Ending the War President Taft Not Yet Ready
Between Sugar Rivals. to Make Decision
Statement BY WITNESSES CHEMISTS ANSWER READY
Spreck tire Abuckes and Ame Taken Toay Cabinet Meeting
can Refining Company. by Secretary Wilson.
PROBE BY HOUSE COMMITTEE FORCED TO TAKE A STAND
Inquiry Fol- Reonr.d
lowing Adjournment OF Proceed From
ines IN washington His Colleagues Complain.
President Taft Not Yet Ready
to Make a Decision.
CHEMISTS ANSWER READY
Taken to Today's Cabinet Meeting
by Secretary Wilson.
FORCED TO TAKE A STAND
Recommendation VIII Be Required
From Head Of the Department.
His Colleagues Complain.

Decision In the Wiley case went over
today. and 1t will be at least another
twenty-four hours, as the situation
looked this afternoon. possibly ponger,
oe1ore the President has given the
case sufdolent consideration to settle It
secretary Wilson went to the cabi-
net meeting at II o'clock with the
answer OF DR.. Wiley in a large snve-
lope. He said that the answer OF the
mead chemist had been handed him
just before he left the Department of
Agriculture, and that he had not had
opportunity to read and analyze It He
did not know whether the President
would have time at the cabinat ses-
sion, with SO much other cabinet busi-
ness to consider. to take the Wiley
case up for prompt settlement Mr..
Wilson did not think he would be
able to make a recomme ndation to the
president until he found time to read
the Wiley answer. which would great
ly influence him in his Endorsement
The President. he presumed, would
wish recommendation rom him be-
fore deciding the case. and. OF course.
he must have time 20 prsp rS his
recommendation. This would carry the
case over.
Ignorant of Contents.
Secretary Wilson was asked II he knew
the contents of DR.. Wiley's defense and
he said he did not, as he had not even
looked at the first page of the paper and
had not been told by DIR. Wiley as to the
nf he
Mr.. Wilson showed no indication Of uu-
Willingness to put himself on reco ] In
his Endorsements or to avoid sharing the
responsibility of the action that Is finally
taken.
The absence Of Attorney Genera. Wick
ersham from today's cabinet meeting was
another reason for delaying the settle
| ment OF the case. Mr.. Wickersham Is to
speak at Duluth. Mimi, tonight and win
| not be back in Washington for tvo or
| three days. That the President mav wish
| to confer with him before announcing set
tlement was considered probable today.
Cabinet officers generally seemed al1-
ious today to avoid being brought into
the case, and hoped that 1t would not
| be put up to them in any way. They
| said their own hands were FULL And
showed tendency to sharply cri.icise
Secretary Wilson for not having settled
the whole thing without letting IT get
| outside his own department.
Ls
The view Of one cabinet officer was
that the duty Of cabinet official Ii to
shield the President from as much work
as possible. To do this, he said. a cabi-
net officer should give the President credit
for everything that was satisfactorily
settled and assume the responsibility for
things that promised trouble. He could
not See why this whole thing had not
been disposed of without being sent to
| the President or to Attorney General
Wickersham
II Secretary Wilson had refused to
| agree to the employment OF Dr. Lusby
upon the terms that were made that
would have settled the whole case and
prevented 1t becoming an embarrassment
to the President. 1t was pointed out
At the conclusion Of the cabinet meet
ing. which was not a long one Secretary
were busy on other matters and I did
not get chance to read the answer Of
DIR. Wiley. I will go over it at the
earliest opportunity and when have
Secretary Wilson did not know when
he would begin perusal Of the Wiley
answer, which he took away from the
White House with him. The President
The resolutions adopted last night by
the Central Labor Union Of Washington
indorsing DIR. Wiley were received at the
White House this morning and will be
laid before the President along with many
letters and kilograms that are being re-
ceived daily, practically all Of them sym-
pathizing with DIR. Wiley.
Wiley Supporter Is Out.
An interesting angle Is noted In the
announcement of the dismissal Of Floyd
W. Robson, one of the most important
members OF the staff Of DR.. Wiley. Rob
ison was a member of DR.. Wiley's star
of experts In New York city, and came
originally from Michigan. It develops
he was dismissed from the bureau June
30. on charges Of insubordination. DR..
Wiley said yesterday Robson had been
dismissed from the department but that
he did not know officially why or when he
had been discharged, and DR.. r. l. Dun
lap, assistant chemist OF the department
declined to discuss the matter
According to Secretary Wilson. Robson
had been relieved Of service because OF
INSTRUMENTATION, but he declared II bad
nothing to do with the recommendation
by the departmental board for the dis
missal of DIR. Wiley. DR.. Wiley said he
was not consulted regarding Robison's
dismissal.
Benzoate Of Soda Case.
That the fight in the Wiley case Is q
result OF the benzoate OF soda conteo-
versy is the opinion of those who have
been following the case. The insubordi-
nation OF Robson. leading to his dis
missal for the good Of the SERVICE" con-
sisted, in effect, of his refusal to carry
out an order to prohibit the use OF ben
zoate OF soda mixed with food. which 1t
had been determined was deleterious to
health, and which. 1t was stipulated. was
not to be rendered effective. provided
that each container or package OF such
food is plainly labeled to show the pres
ence and amount of benzoate OF soda
That Robson held the same view Of
the deleterious effects of benzoate Of
soda as DR.. Wiley is well known, but
these views were turned down by the
referee board of consulting scientific ex-
perts. appointed by President Roosevelt.
Dr. Wiley's views were recorded by his
testimony in the Indiana pure food case
when he was called to the stand in this
city about a year ago.
Inquiry to Be Made.
Whatver action President Taft decides
upon In the case OF DR.. Wiley, the House
committee on expenditures in the De-
partment of Agriculture doubtless will
conduct its investigation into the charges