Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-02-11
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

steamer service and the Postmaster General to
reet the same In accordance with usages and regulations
pertaining TO the inland mail service and the bill to
modify the 18th section of of the Sd March, 1915,
concerning the compensation to railroad companies yes
terday reported from the Committee on the Post Office
and Post Roads.
The motion entered on the Journal to be consider
ed ut some future time.
DEFICIENCY BILL
On motion of Mr.. HOUSTON the House then went into
Committee OF the Whole the state Of the Union Mr
SEYMOUR OF Connecticut in the chair and resumed the
consideration Of the deficiency bill
Mr. CLARK moved to insert in the bill the following
"For the collection of agricultural statistics and the pur-
chase of seeds to be paid the patent fund
Mr. c. said that foreign Governments had sent seeds
to the Patent Office, and this appropriation was asked
to enable that office to complete the arrangements
heretofore adopted by it. The FIVE thousand dollars
appropriated last year wholly inadequate this
purpose. He thought that this great interest, which,
without protection had protected all other interests and
which furnished employment to four-ffhs of our popu
laton might with great propriey ask this small amount
The Of Patents furnished seeds for distr
button in this country, well collected agricultural
statistics worthy Of the nation No better use could be
made of portion of the public funds and none more
acceptable to the great body of citizens than inn
prove and increase the products Of the SOIL He had in
tended to ask larger appropriation but the chairman Of
the Committee Of Ways and Means, whom he had con-
suited thought that ten thousand dollars would meet the
present wants of this Department
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee said that ii seemed to him
who had had any experience in obtaining seeds
from the Patent Office that of all the humbugs
practiced upon the people of the country this
Of the badest 1t of the most perfect humbugs
that had been gotten by Congress and the Patent
Office combined OF all the seeds that had been dstri-
buted perhaps package Of ten would up
a and than tenth of those which did pro-
duce would prove beneficial to the region which they
sent He agreed with the gentleman entirely that it was
audabe and praiseworthy that the agricultural interests
tho choud he innroyed and promotpd hut
how could this be done BY leaving individuals to select
their seeds and pay for them 1t was at best but
eectioneerng fund to members Of Congress They sent
the seeds to their ayortes and the great body of the peo
pie got Of them 1t system Of favoritism and
paraty which in his opinion should not be practced
recognised by this Government.
Mr.. TAYLOR, of Ohio, disagreed with the gentleman
from Tennessee in of his remarks Within the five
six years during which he had had the honor to occupy
seat in this House, he had received seed from the Patent
Office which had been of very great value to the country
Wheat from the Mediterranean, from various parts of
Europe from California, and from South America had
been received and distributed which by being cultivated in
this country had produced better product than had
heretofore been able to obtain At any rate this dstbu
ton had produced experiments among farmers which
had resulted in good That great body Of the Anne
ricaa people which constituted the principal part of
population whose prosperity made the prosperity Of this
nation who paid taxes uphold civil list, army
aud navy, who provided to great extent the
millions which the Secretary of the Treasury asked to
carry the Government, got but very little from
the hands of the Government He had the honor Of
presenting an agricultural district one deeply nte-
rested in this appropriation any other in the United
States and one he willing to withhold this small
sum for their benefit. He thought there should be m
agricultural bureau, which had been recommended by
every President from the days Of Washington down to
the present time.
Mr.. HOUSTON thought it was too late to send
seeds to the Southern anu Southwestern parts of the
country to be successfully cultivated this year. He
gesed that it would be better frame the amendment
authorize the collection of seed at period early
enough to make the distribution next autumn.
Mr.. SAGE hoped the gentleman who introduced the
amendment would not acquesce in the suggestion of the
gentleman from Alabama 1t not too late to distr
butte these seeds very generally throughout the country
There might be very small part OF the country that
would be benefited by them, but their distribution
would certainly accomplish good to large portion
OF the Union He not surprised OF seeing this oppo
sition come from the quarter from which it did; ht
more surprised to learn from the gentleman from
Michigan that the chairman of the Committee of Way
and Means had consented to the appropriation If there
any class of people entitled to the protection of thu
Government the agrculturist and the farmer
the amendment of the most worthy that had yet
been presented to the committee.
Mr.. HOUSTON repeated that he thought it now too
late make this appropriation Many Of these seeds,
even if they were the hands of the cuvaor could
not be put in the ground.
Mr. HUNT said that if it was now too late to serve
of the country with Seeds it was no reason why
for time of portion prevent them from doing what
was right to the other portion Of the country? Was
there patriotism or good in this position When
he heard of the genemans friendship to this amend
ment he disrusted it, They were here to promote the
interests of agriculture and this the proper way of
ing it. 1t was be expected that the gentleman from
Tennessee NIr JosEs) who proposed nothing and op-
posed every thing, should oppose this measure.
Mr.. HOUSTON replied that the gentleman might en-
teetan what opinion he pleased to his friendship He
presumed that other gentlemen understood that he did
not oppose the amendment He merely suggested that
was too late in the to procure seeds for disr
button.
Mr.. CLARK explained that the Patent Office had re-
ceved from several European Governments, Mt various
times seeds of different kinds, which had imposed upon
that bureau the obligation to recprocate these presents
In order to meet this obligation, the Patent Office had
purchased seed to considerable amount, for which they
were in need of an appropriation.
I Mr. JONES' Of Tennessee, said that the gentleman
who had Just addressed the committee had given Of
the best reasons and which was entirely conclusive to
his mind against the amendment, and that was that the
Commissioner Patents had agreed to interchange seeds
with various foreign Governments and had thereby in
Cured responsibility not authorized by law For one,
he did not intend vote to comply with obligation Of
an Executive officer from the President down, contract
ed without authority Of law.
Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN replied to the remarks of Mr..
HousroS If they should delay this appropriation until
period when these seeds could be planted in all parts
of the country that time would never arrive for in
some portions Of the country they could be put in the
ground now while in other sections the spring the
proper time Had it come to this that while Congress
was expanding millions of the peoples money for
conceivable purpose under Heaven, they should delay
this pttance Of ten thousand dollars for the great ag
cultural interests of this nation
Mr.. SMITH, of New York, opposed the amendment
In his opinion Government violated its Office and trans
cended its province in concerning itself with such things
Its only office hold its shield over the heads of
its subjects and shelter them from foreign aggressions
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