West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-03-10


For dozen years past, some
scheme to exagerate the Com missioner
OF Agriculture iu;o the proportions
OF Cabinet officer Of the fret mag
nitude has been brought before Con-
gress at evsry session. The bill in
troduce in the House recently only
d. .hers from it's predecessors IN pro-
viding for mors elaborate iuh ton
OF our National Farmer. surrounding
him with a sglltterIug staff Of chemists,
botsnists, ertomologists, veterinary
surgeons. toresters, geolOgists, and
siatisticians Of high degree The
project contemplates beautiful
though somewhat expensive Depart
msnr but who wants it2 and what
Will it De good for2 Surely the Pres.
ident can worry along without any
more constitutional advisers, for he
already gets more advice constitu-
tional, unconstitutional and extra
constitutional, than be can we'll fol-
ioN. Tue farmers cI the country
have not been bRi,,uu2 tho doors o!
Congress with petitions t,r any more
CABINET II eny sensl5le farmer
were asked whe, her the Agri,ultura
Bureau had ever he-n .rth 70 BIN
the price Of a piut 81 Oesls, AZ .s ,el
to one that he WoU i answer With
prompt aud decided 81; aud he
would be hardly able to point TO
spot where D.. Loring, or any o. his
predecessors, bad caused two blades
Of grace 20 grow 10 tbo pace Of one.
lie might bs con'oa' 20 $50 Che con
cerH shuve' AMI v.n's'; ne csrteisly
never won'd pray lor any n,re ofi'
The leading agricultural aewspap
scsif at tLo e,ieme. NJ one ask-
for it except a lev aant.oueL whose
chief occupation is routic', and who
imagine hey might help along their
buiuces in some way by mixing
litt!e agriculture with il.
The Federal Government controls
few soldiers and Aq-oailed fleet,
and it needs, ,hel efore, d partmenti
Of War and the Navy. # has 'eIa-
tone With otbor countries, apd these
call for Secretary o. State. It car
ries the mails. administers law
through Federal Courts. takes the
census, cares for the pubic lands,
grants patents, and pretends 10 look
after Indians not taxel, and there
fore 1t needs Postmaster General,
An Attorney G Gsusrsl and Sscrsta-
~ OF The Interior. J hassrovenue,
and therefore il needs a Treasury
Department. Il it ever sbsorbs the
railroad and telegraph systems Of tho
country it may usel another depart
cnent or two. and surely will reed
more administrative Officers. When
it assumes charge Of the peoples re-
ligion we shall havo Minister oil
Public Worship, and when it follows
the example Of some highly civilized
nations Of Europe and. manages the
theatre aud opera. Department Of
AmGsemeuts will be needed: aud SO
will a Department Of Public Irstruc-
tlon when the National GOverumsnt
sets ilse 10 as an educator Of the
people. Bot a G5jerpuent ueeds
10 executive Off when it has
nothing TO execute. We have no
Secretary o. Commerce because the
merchants aud not the Govern ment
carry on the trade OF the country.
Tue Government dlgs no ore aud
builds no nills or factories, and hence
we have no Minister Of Mining or o.
Manufactures. On the same priu-
ciple there will be no legitimate oc-
cupation for a Boss Farmer in the
Cabinet until The Central Govern
meut goes into business az an active
tller OF the soil.