The Evansville journal., 1866-12-28
l...1AeRlcuiTURAL.


The Department of Agriculture.
b uMr.oaDonnelly, of Mihnesota.s has
introduced in 1.-The House def Repre-
csentatives bill ''t0 recognize the De-
I partment of Agricultdre,,n ,,niwhicho was
read twice, referred to the Committee
on Agriculture, and ordered to be
printed This bill provides that,
within twenty days after it's passage,
this Department shall be recognized
by the appointment by the President,
by and, with the advice and consent
of the Senate of a. Commissioner Of
Agriculture, who shall, hold his office
four years, unless sooner removed by
the President, by and with the advice
and consent Of the Senate. His sala-
ry is to be $4,000 per year, The bill
further provides for the appointment
Of an Assistant Commissioner, with a
salary of $1,000 year, who shall
also hold his Office four years, unless
removed as above. He is to have
especial charge of the purchase and
distribution of the seeds, cuttings,
and roots purchased or raised by the
Department. 9
1t further provides for the appoint
ment Of a chemist by the Commission
er at salary of 81, 900, who may APP
point an assistant with salary of
81 900 per year. ,.,a.... .,bo8 ..IV
1t is a provision Of this bill that the
Commissioner shall, in his annual re-
port, inform Congress of the entire
amount of seeds. cuttings, and roots
purchased for the use of the Depart
ment, together with the price paid for
the same, and the places where, pur-
chased; and that In procuring seeds,
cuttings, and roots from foreign coun-
tries, the same shall be purchased in
those countries, and not from import.
ers in the United States. One third
of the whole amount of seeds, cut
tings, and roots purchased or raised
by the Department is to be sent by the
Assistant Commissioner, under his
own frank, to the leading agricultural
and pomological societies of the
United States; the remainder is to be
divided equally among. the members
of the House and Senate; and the
Commissioner, In his, annual report
is to furnish :" full and accurate.
statement of the quantity so delivered
to each Member and Senator, and the
cost of the same"
If this bill is designed to secure
the removal of the Incompetent ig-
noramus who now holds the position
of Commissioner of Agriculture, the
people will pray for its speedy passage.
IF this is the only practicable way for
taking off the official head of Mr..
Isaac Newton, Commissioner, let
Congress use this axe and strike swift
ly and surely.
IF this bill is designed to secure
the official demise, after a period of
four years, of any Commissioner no.
toriously incompetent, who retains his
place despite the expressed wishes of
the agriculturists of the country, let
Congress hasten to make it law.
IF it is designed to compel the Com
missioner to reveal to the people, who
provide the money, the manner in
which it is expended, and aoho gets II,
it will do much to stop a great leak
which Congress ought to stop at once.
IF it is designed to check the
flooding of this country with old and
common seeds, full of noxious insects,
purchased by and put up by seedsmen
in this country, and distributed by
the Department, . for trial, as rare
and valuable, it will stop an outrage
upon agriculturists, which has here
tofore been practiced, and which
ought to cease. If any law can be
devised and passed, stronger in its
provisions to check these abuses, it
should be done.