Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-28
moss RAPS WILSON
Wiley Controversy Reviewed
in House Speech.
REmsEN BOARD CRITICISED
Protest Against Appropriation for
It's Maintenance.
DEFENSE OF CHEMISTRY CHIEF
Chairman Of Committee Of Inquiry
Discusses Agricultural Department
Appropriation Bill.
REMsEN BOARD CRITICISED
DEFENSE OF CHEMISTRY CHIEF

Appropriation Bill.
The big feature Of the debate on the
agricultural appropriation bill, which
was taken up in the House yesterday
afternoon, was a speech by Representa-
tive Moss Of Indiana. Mr. Moss is
chairman of the committee on expendi-
lures in the Agricultural Department,
which investigated the Wiley contro-
versy and is now probing the Ever
elades scandal.
In his speech yesterday. which had
evidently been carefully prepared, Mr..
Moss scored Secretary of Agriculture
Wilson and Solicitor McCabe and
eulogized DR.. Wiley, the chief of the
bureau of chemistry of the department.
He also protested against the item IN
the bill carrying $4,000 for the Remsen
board, which the Moss committee recon-
mended he not maintained in its present
status. This item. he thought was of
tremendous importance. inasmuch as the
Remsen board operated, he believed, 10
prevent the strict enforcement OF the
pure food law by the bureau of chemistry.
OF Consuming Interest.
NO single question growing out of this
,egislation.,' Mr.. Moss said. will ex-
coed this one in consuming interest to
the whole American people or which will
more vitality affect the political fortunes
of the individual members who are called
upon 20 decide this issue by their votes.
We need not seek to disguise the point
in debate or to pretend that we are de-
Gliding one question when, in fact We are
determining another. The real question
which we will decide-the record which
we will establish for ourselves and for
this House-is whether we demand
vigorous enforcement of the pure food
law In the interests Of the consumers
or whether We will longer submit to
'.toning down. of its provisions in the
interest Of the producer and the purveyor
of our food supplies. 1t is making .
choice between the application of the law
as Congress enacted 1t and between the
law as 1t has been modified and emascu-
lated by the order of the executive
''This question should not have been
raised In this appropriation bin. 1t has
been before the American people and
has been decided by the overwhelming
cisien should stand unchallenged by any
Official or any political party, but
more especially is this true as re-
CARDS the democratic party. We nope
to march to success at the polls TINS ran
and I shall regret the hour in which we
forget the verdict so recently. given by
the press Of the country and committee
Of this House without regard to lines OF
political afiiliation
Regarded as Absurd Plea.
The power given to the bureau of
chemistry can destroy no legitimate bust
MIA inrn ir.
jeopardy. The plea Of big business for
protection against the activities Of the
bureau of chemistry as guided by the
Law. is ridiculous and absurd. The. blu
reau has no power to acquit or
convict, and the extreme limit Of the
power delegated to them is to present IN
formation to the district attorney on
which he can predicate an indictment and
thus bring the cause to trial before
court of Justice.
What the food doper is afraid of is the
technical equipment of the bureau OF
the experts to detect authorizations and
frauds. and not its rower to punish and
TO destroy.
THE honorable Secretary was not con-
tent to take this simple and evident con-
struction of the law. He preferred rather
to elevate the dignity of his high Office
and to increase his Official power. He
created offices and boards. to whom he
delegated powers higher than those which
the Law gave to the bureau of chemistry.
This fatal course led him to assign to
the solicitor. an officer educated in the
Law. greater power over the technical de-
cisiOns Of the bureau of chemistry on
scientific subjects than he would permit
DIR. Wiley to exercise under the direction
of law. IL Is possible that the Secretary
was honestly mist taken: it is much more
probable that he was the victim of bad
legal advice.
Alleged Combination Against Wiley
ton board and the McCabe- Dunlap COM
binaton against Wiley. Mr.. Moss said:
Wiley voted to recommend prosecu-
tions in two-thirds Of all cases but was
overruled by McCabe and Dunlap If
DR. Dunlap cast his vote with DIR. Wiley
TO favor prosecution, and Solicitor Nc
Cabe afterxard voted to pardon. then in
every such instance. as soon as McCabe's
adverse vote became known. DIR. Dun
lap oblig1nsly changed his vote to aeree
with Mccabc. As this was calculated to
invite criticism. the order of voting was
changed so that Solicitor McCabe should
cast his vote before Dr. Dunlap, and
thus al, necessity for such changes in
votes was avoided. II will require
return to The DAYS of David and Jonathan
TO find parallel to this striking ex-
amp e of mutual respect and friendship.
The ana tenent of more than 6tsO
cases OF : lesed frauds and authorizations
At an expense OF more than a million dol
lars MAS a slight otfense against the pub
lie welfare compared vim the attempt
cd ass ass nation of DR. Wiley through
tie Gts sJicaDie asse ults on his personal in
ie r!iy and official probity.
Saving of Lives.
II = not possible To compute the Waite
N nio!ev Of ;he services OF DR.. Wiley to
re AH.crie an IeO lie. II is not possible TO
nov the total number OF lives he has
aVed by his wal fare against the sale of
'i.ipsre cru ; q" To estimate the value OF
honesty. III a.. of ih.se directions he has
been the acknoW edged leader of the ma
ton. and has fought the good fight by
.;eep.ns the faith. IL II rot surprising
that such service should earn the rancof.
OF those whom he has exposed. whose
damnable methods he has discovered and
whose iilegitima,e rrofts he has destroy
ed. That is part of the price which
honesty must spay for the privilege of
warfare against dishonesty.
1T is badge Of honor which an honest
man and an upright official Is proud to
wear in the presence of his enemy, but
the thing unspeakable. the situation in
tolerable, is that this spirit of raneorOus
hostility could invade the sanctuary
which is supposed to be guarded by the
dag of freedom and of justice. maiev
identity presenting false indictment
against an official who offended by his
his on1ce Thus II came TO pass that
here. within sight of the dome Of this
Capitol. the enemies of DIR. Wiley among
the food and drug sharks of the nation