The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-19
Opinion of Visitors WHO
Talk With Presi-
dent.
NOT YET hEADY TO
MAKE A DECISION
limitations That Attorney-Gen
eral Exceeded His Authority
in Making Recommendation
Set at Rest by Taft-Papers
in Case Not Meant
for Public.

Washington, D. c.. July 1s.-Dr.
Harvey w. Wiley. chief of the Bureau
of Chemistry, probably will not be re-
quested by President Taft to resign.
but will be reprimandei. according to
the consensus OF opinion of visitors
who talked with Mr.. Taft to-day. The
recommendation of Attorney General
Wickersham that DR.. Wiley be per-
mitted to resign was barely touched
above impression was strengthened in
the minds of callers at the White
House during the day.
The President thus far has not read
the record in the case. nor has he
before him the recommended ton of Sec
rotary of Agriculture Wilson. in whose
department the trouble arose. and who
has been directed to pass upon 1t.
limitations that Attorney General
Wickersham. in his recommendation.
exceeded his authority were set at
rest by the President to-day In con-
versation with callers, the President
explained that he had requested the
Attorney General to pass upon the
legal question involved in the Wiley
case. and that the Attorney General.
proceeding on this theory. answered
him in strictly legal fashion.
Mr.. Wickersham, the President told
some of his visitors, did not expect
his opinion TO be given to the parties
concerned. and wrote it largely for
the Presidents guidance alone At
recent Cabinet meeting, at which Mr.
Wickersham was not present. 1t was
agreed that the papers in the case
should be sent to all parties inter-
ested, and this was done by the Presi-
dent, who did not expect them to be
made public.
No henson to Feel Injured.
The Presidents explanation OF how
Mr.. Wickersham became involved in
the case led his hearers to the con-
cTusion that the Attorney General Will
have no reason to feel injured IL his
recommendation is not followed by
Mr.. Taft when he reviews the case.
IT became apparent after the Cabi-
net meeting to-day that the President
will be unable TO reach decision for
several days. and probably not before
next week. There was opportunity to
refer TO DIR. Wiley only for an instant
at the session to-day. and Mr.. Wilson
Immediately thereafter took DR. Wi
ley's answer back to his department
with him. promising to look II over,
and make recommendation as soon as
possible. Before he reaches a decision,
the President expects to read the evil
dence in the affair. DR.. Wiley's answer
and all the other papers that have
been written bearing upon it.
Cabinet officers generally seemed
anxious to-day 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 a tendency to sharply
criticize Secretary Wilson for not hav-
ing settled the whole thing withou:
letting II get outside his own depart
ment
should Shield Department.
The view of one Cabinet oficer was
that the duty of a Cabinet official is to
shield the President from as much
work as possible. To do this. he said
a Cabinet officer should give the Presi-
dent credit for everything that was
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-Genera Wickersham.
II Secretary Wilson had refused to
agree to the employment OF DIR. Lusby
upon the terms that were made that
would have settled the whole case
and prevented 1t becoming an embar-
rassment to The President. 1t was point
cd out
At the conclusion OF the Cabinet
meeting. which was not a long one.
Secretary Wilson said The President
and Cabinet were busy on other mat
tiers, and did NOT get chance to read
The answer of DIR. Wiley ! will go
over il at the earliest opportunity. and
when / have done so 1 will see the
President again