The Washington times., 1912-12-16
AtSBERG IS NhMED
CHEMISTRY CHIEF,
SUCCEEDS WILEY
President Directs Secretary
Wilson to Fill Vacancy
As Head Of Bureau.

President Taft today directed Sec.
retary Of Agriculture Wilson to ap.
point Dr. Charles Aisberg. chief
the Bureau Of Chemistry TO succee
DR.. Harvey W. Wiley. DR.. Alsber6 II
chemical biologist in the experiment d.
vision In charge Of plants. poisonous
drugs and plant fermentation.
Since Dr. Wiley resigned last sprins.
DR.. II. Il. Doolittle. formerly In charge
Of tho laboratory at New York. has
been actinE chief Of the bureau. b
has been seriously considered a. tho
'ISS.'iHs Df. XisbsGs l. a native Of German,
and lived for SEVERAL years In New
aork but 10 now resident OF Aassa'
The appointment Of the chief Of this
bureau is within the province Of the
secretary Of AGriculture, but Presiden'
Ts too. shs.se e. nns, ss natter n%
great political consequence as a result
OF the pure food fights during the last
three years. Probably no one scandal
In Taft 3 administration brought upon
Mickersnsm. be, pyniap rah.i a.
had itS been IN sS.t % t1cverrmsnt service Tor
nearly thirty years. and 4, wts only .!
political consequence.
In Flour Controversy.
DR.. Alsberg has come into national
prominence only In connection with the
bleached our controversy His opinion
Of the injurious property Of blesched
Hour diered from that Of DR.. Wiley.
Dr. Alsbers's opinion received the sup.
port Of the department On minor mat.
ters the new chief generally agreed
with Or. wiley.
During the time DR.. Doolittle has been
in charge OF the bureau considerable
progress has been made In the oon-
structive work Of the scientic corps
and It II expected that the plans MADE
by Or. poolittle will be carried for
strongly opposed By New York inter.
csts with which he came In contact
while In charge Of the laboratory there.
DR.. Alsberg had strong support amons
Congressman and was supported by
patr Of the milling interests Of the
country.
The appointment does not require q
confirmation Of the Senate and DR.. Ais.
berg II assured Of holding the position
until March I at least.
No Definite Plans.
DIR. Oisbers says he has formulated
no definite policy for the bureau. hut
he plans to make strict, constructive
Investigations Of the food products and
to enforce the pure food laws In 80 far
as he can. He has had wide acquaint-
ance with foods. but he IL not familiar
with the inside workings Of the bu-
reau. 80 until he knows how much
Congress appropriates for his branch
he will be unable to formulate his
policy.
Il shall. however. follow out the laws
as a good public servant should" de-
clared the doctor. land shall have the
, work Of the department constructive.
You may say ! plan to have the pur"
: food laws enforced and I shall do all In
my power to carry out the work started
BY DR.. Wiley. ! certainly want the pub
, lie to get pure food. and II will be my
! aim as head Of the chemistry bureau to
| see that It results In so far as ] am
able to bring this condition about"
Or. Alsberg has bene connected with
the Bureau Of Plant Industry for the
! past four years. Previous to that time
he was head OF the Harvard medical
| schools chemistry department. He In
thirty-hve years old.