Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-05-30


PUBLIC-No. 60.
An Acr TO establish department of agri-
culture.
Be it enacted by the senate and house of
representatives of the United States of Amer
lea in congress assembled, That there is here
by established at the seat of government of
the United States department of agriculture,
the general designs and duties OF which shall
be TO acquire and and to ditfuse among the
people Of the United States useful informa-
ton on subjects connected with agriculture in
the most general and comprehensive sense of
that word, and to procure, propagate, and dis
tribute among the people new and valuable
seeds and plants.
Sec. 2 And be it further enacted, That
there shall he appointed by the president by
and with the advice and consent OF the senate.
commissioner of agriculture, who shall
be the chief executive officer of the depart
ment Of agriculture who shall hold his office
by tenure similar to that of other civil of
tlcers appointed by the president, and who
shall receive tor his compensation salary of
three thousand dollars per annum.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted that it
shall be the duty Of the commissioner of agri-
culture to acquire and preserve in his depart
ment all information concerning agriculture
which he can obtain by means of books and
correspondence and by practical and scienti-
tic experiments, accurate records of which
experiments shall be kept in his office) by
the collection of statistics, and by any other
appropriate means within his power; to col
lcct, as he may be able, new and valuable
seeds and plants; to test by cultivation, the
value OF such of them as may require such
tests; to propagate such as may be worthy of
propagation, and to distribute them among
agriculturists. He shall annually make
general report in writing of his acts to the
president and to congress, in which he NAV
recommend the publication of papers forming
parts OF or accompanying his report, which
report shall also contain an account of all
moneys received and expended by him. He
shall also make special reports on particular
subjects whenever required to do so by the
preSidentor either house of congress, or when
he shall think the subject in his charge re-
quires 1t. He shall receive and have charge
OF all the property Of the agricultural division
OF the patent office in the department of the
interior, including the fixtures and property
OF the propagating garden. He shall direct
and superintend the expenditure of all money
appropriated by congress to the department,
and render accounts thereof. and also of all
money heretofore appropriated for agriculture
and remaining unexpended. And said COM
missioner may send and receive through the
other matter pertaining to the business of his
department, not exceeding in weight thirty
two ounces.
Sec. &. And be it further enacted, that the
commissioner of agriculture shall appoint a
chief clerk, with salary Of two thousand dol
lars, who in all cases during the necessary alb
Sence OF the commissioner, or when the said
principal office shall become vacant, shall per-
form the duties of commissioner. and he shall
appoint such other employees as congress
may from time to time provide, with salaries
corresponding to the salaries of similar officers
IN other departments Of the government: and
he shall, as congress may from time to time
provide, employ other persons, for such time
as Their services may be needed, including
chemists, b2tanlstS, entomologists. and other
persons skilled in the natural sciencies per-
tanning to agriculture. And the said commits
Sloner, and every other person to be appoint
ed IN the said department. shall, before he en-
tiers upon the duties of his office or appoint
ment, make oath or affirmation truly and
faithfully 10 execute the trust committed to
him. And the said commissioner and the
chief clerk shall also, before entering upon
their duties, severally give bonds to the treas
urey OF the United States, the former in the
sum of ten thousand dollars, and the latter
the sum OF five thousand dollars, conditional
to render true and faithful account to him or
ms successor in office, quarter-yearly accounts
OF all moneys which shall be by them recciv-
ed by virtue of said office, with sureties to lie
approved as sufficient by the solicitor Of the
first comptroller of the treasury, TO be by him
put in suit upon any breach of the conditions
thereof. Approved May 10, 1862.