Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 July 1911 — DR. WILEY IN A HORNETS' NEST [ARTICLE]

DR. WILEY IN A HORNETS' NEST

Verdict of Committee Hits the Chief Chemist HAS EXCEEDED HIS AUTHORIU Arrangements to Pay a Columbia University Expert, More Than the Government Allows Is the Charge Against Him. Washington, July 14.—A committee ou personnel of the department of agrlcultuie has condemned Dr. Harvey W Wiley, pure food expert and chief chemist of the bureau of chemistry of the department of agriculture. The committee made a recommendation to President Taft that Dr. Wiley “be permitted to resign." Attorney General Wickersham, in an opinion submitted to the president, recommends approval of the committee’s action. It is charged that Dr. Wiley permitted an arrangement to be made with Dr. H. H. Rusby, a recognized pharmacognocist of Columbia university. New York, for compensation in excess of that allowed by the government. It is claimed that the arrangement was to put Dr. Rusby on the payroll of the department at $1,609 a year as an em-. ploye of the bureau of chemistry, an i agreement being made with him that I he should be called upon to perform ! only such service as this salary w-ould , compensate for at the rate of S2O perj day for laboratory investigations and' SSO per day for attendance in court. | Attorney General Wickersham held

that the law permitted the payment of only $9 a day, this sum being increased to sll a day. Along with the suggestion that Dr. Wiley be permitted an opportunity to resign, the committee on personnel and the attorney general have recommended the dismissal of Dr. Busby and the reduction of Dr. L. F. Kebler, chief of the divisio nos drugs of the department of agriculture. The committee further recommends that Dr. W. D. Bigelcw, assistant chief of the bureau of chemistry, also be given an opportunity to resign. President Taft has not indicated as yet what action he will take. The matter has become public only now, although the investigation was begun in March last. Attorney General Wickersham’s recommendations in the case bear date of May 11.