The Washington herald., 1911-08-04

Secretary of Agriculture Wilson will
be called before the House Committee
on Expenditures in the Agricultural De-
partment in the near future to explain
why he declared last May that the Rem
Sen or referee board had been organized
to conserve THE interests of the manu-
facturers.'
Some days ago H. Parker Willis, Wash
ington correspondent Of the New York
Journal of Commerce, told the commit
tee that while attending a hearing al
the department, at which a group of
saccharin manufacturers appeared, he
had hear the Secretary make this state
ment.
The Republican members of the COM
mittee made streDuous but unsuccessful
objections to the testimony of Mr.. Will
lis insisting that the stenographic re-
port OF the hearings be sent for, and
that the committee should not accept
the testimony of a newspaper man on
this important particular.
Yesterday the committee received the
stenographic report os that hearing, and
1t bears out the testimony of Mr. Willis
in every particular. Here is what the
Secretary said, according TO the steno-
graphic notes before they were re-
vised:
Il want TO say frankly to you gentle
men that the referee board was organ
ized and put into action for the very
purpose of conserving the interests of
the manufacturers so you would have
safe hearing
Wilson to Interpret Words.
In the revised stenographic notes safe
hearing has been changed to sane
hearing" NJ. Wilson will be asked
which will probSbly be on Saturday of
this week, just what construction should
be placed on his statement that the
Remsen board was created in the in
terests of the manufacturers
The committee was also considerably
interested in the testimony of DR.. Ira
Remsen, chairman Of the referee board,
that three members of the board We're
summoned 20 Indianapolis to testify in a
legal controversy between the State of
Indiana and one or more big food con-
Germs. arising out of the use by these
concerns of benzoate of soda as a pre-
seryative.
Or. Remscn testified by affidavit, but
two members of the referee board went
TO Indianapolis in person and appeared.
The government paid their expenses All
three opposed the contention Of the State
against the use Of benzoate of soda. DR..
Wiley, who believes that the use of
benzoate of soda even in small amounts
Is harmful. was not permitted by his
superiOrs TO testify in this case. Dr.
Robinson. his assistant, who did testify,
and in favor of the States contention,
was later removed for the good of the
Service"
Secretary Ordered Testimony.
Representative Moss. of Indiana, the
committee chairman. suggested that he
didn't see why members of the board
had taken part in this State fight DR..
Remsen said he personally made his
deposition only after he had been re-
quested to testify by a representative of
Curtis Bros and Secretary Wilson had
advised him 10 do SO.
Did you regard yourself as a witness
for the State of Indiana or for the ben
zoate of soda people?" Chairman Moss
inquired.
Neither" DR.. Remsen replied. 'I
merely stated the facts as to our findings
concerning benzoate of soda
You knew your testimony would be
unfavorable TO Indiana?" Mr.. Moss
asked.
That might have entered my mind"
DR.. Remsen answered, but I had no
feeling in the matter, either for Indiana
or Curtis Bros"
DR.. Remsen commented upon the fact
that evidently some sinister influence
was at work to discredit the referee
board.
From the beginning We have been
subjected to criticism he said. There
has been some influence at work. don't
know what it is-to undermine and dis
credit the referee board. This constant
criticism was new to us. We We're not
used to it. The members of the board
had held sympathy meetings. but they
did not comfort US much We talked of
quitting. But there is a little of the
bulldog in every man, and 1t came to
the front in us. We shut our jaws
tightly and said we would stick II the
Secretary of Agriculture wanted us to
continue our work.
Welcome Boards Dissolution.
Every member of the board would
be glad TO he relieved of the work, Per-
sonally, I would feel rather relieved II
the board should be declared illegal |
You might think from all the unkind |
things said about US that we We're head |
ing straight for the penitentiary: that /
we Were criminals Our friends look at |
us with long faces. My skin is a little |
thicker now. I have learned to bear |
criticism WELL but It came hard"
Or. Remsen concluded his testimony |
yesterday. Solicitor McCabe. Of the De- |
partment OF Agriculture one of the |
members of the committee on person. |
mel Of the department. who recommend
ed that Dr. Wiley "be permitted to re-
sign" will be on the stand to-day The |
committee hopes to learn a good deal |
of interest from him.