The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1878-02-23
yIr. w nldrOw's EsiII-'Ehe Proposed
Agricultural Department.

the Second Congressional District of our
State, made wise movement in offering
bill to establish an Agricultural De
partment of the Federal Government.
1t has taken the country by storm. The
State Agricultural Societies of Kansas,
Illinois and Iowa have recently passed
resolutions approving the bill, and as an
evidence of its popularity among the
great agricultural class of the country,
it is said he has received numerous let
ters from all parts of the country en-
couraging him to urge its passage. The
Agricultural Associations of Illinois,
Iowa and Kansas, have not on ~ APP
proved the measure, but asked their Sen
ators and Representatives to vote for it.
1t would be graceful and proper thing
for the Legislature of Mr.. Muldrow's
own State, which is so largely represented
by those who are identified with the
great agricultural interests of the coun-
| try-the fountain source of all 9TH
er industries and of all the ma
terial prosperity which it is possible
for a country to enjoy-to pass similar
resolutions approving the measure, and
commenting it to the support of the
other Representatives and the Senators
from the State The bill proposes to
make the head of the Department a
member of the Cabinet. There is already
Bureau of Agriculture in the Interior
Department.. but as suggested by the St.
Louis Republican, which warmly sup
ports Mr. Muldrow's bill, it possesses no
authority and little Importance, being
limited to such trivial work as collecting
and publishing monthly reports of the
condition of the crops, the distribution Of
seeds and some other minor details. This
is very insufficient recognition of the
great interest in this country on which
all other interests depend, and which
must be the foundation of all true pros
perity. This interest employs 1922, 451
persons, being nearly one-seventh the
whole population of the country. The
total value of farms in the United States
in 1870 was SO, 1852, 100000, equal to
more than three fifths the whole assessed
value Of the Nations wealth. Its annual
product is S3,O00,00O, 900, and the
amount of wages it pays annually is
$50, 386,0O0. Surely, an interest whose
vastness is exhibited in these figures may
claim the dignity of full recognition at
the hands of the Government, particu-
larly when it is added that we are an
agricultural country-nine- tenths Of our
exports being products of the field and
the dairy.
The following is a copy of Mr.. Null
drow's bill.
A BILL to make he Department of Agricul-
ture an executive department of the United
i States Government.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States OF
America in Congress assembled, That here
after the Department of Agriculture, al
ready established at the SCAT of government,
shall be an exective department. The Com
missioner of Agriculture shall be the head
| thereof; and he shall receive the same com
pensatOn and in like manner as the other
executive officers composing the Cabinet oil
the President.
SEC. 2. That there shall be in the Depar
ment of Agriculture an Assistant Comm is
sioner of Agriculture who shall be appoint
ed. by and with the consent Of the Senate
lie shall perform such duties in said Depart
ment as shall be prescribed by the CommiS-
sioner, or may be required by law, and shall
be entitled to salary Of four thousand dol
lars year.
SEC. 3. That all laws and parts of laws in
relation 10 the Com missioner of Agriculture
now in existence, so far as the same are ap-
plicable and not in conflict with this Act
are confined in full force and effect.
To the Editors Of the Clarion:
nnIn ;oln i,,r ord tct lo,rr "a,