New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-07-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington. july 18th.

w ashlngton. July 18th, 1885.
This is the season of the year that
Washington is usually to great extent
deserted. Government employees are
off on vacation, and the Departments
are crowded with applications for
leave. But this year there is q re-.
markable dearth of such applications.
For one season at least Washington
seems to be a popular summer resort.
The explanation is that the government
employees, notwithstanding the tropi-
cal heat, feel more comfortable in Wash
lngton just now than they would at the
coolest resort in the country, with the
perpetual fear of receiving word from
Washington that they had been dis
missed
There is a disposition on the part of
some of the Cabinet officers to discon-
tinue the allowance of sick leaves un-
der pay to employees in the depart
ments. An impression prevails that
serious abuses have grown up in con-
nection with the allowance of such
leaves, and it is believed that the sys-
tenn should be re-arranged, so as to en-
able the distribution, among monthly
employees who are working extra hours
in addition to rendering steady service
throughout the year, of the money that
is now paid out during sick leaves to
that class of employees who lose many
days sometimes exceeding 100, in each
year-from alleged disability. 1t is
probable that these views may take
practical shape in general order gov
erning the allowance OF leaves in all
the executive departments.
The Professors of Agriculture who
met here during the week at the re.
quest of Commissioner Colman, were q
fine looking body of men, and they evi
IDENTIFY understand their business. Theil
discussions brought out some very in.
teresting facts, however. One of these
was that out of forty-nine farmers in
the Legislature Of Tennessee only two
could appreciate the value of the re-
ports of the signal service. Forty.sever
voted against them. What was the
reason?
The Professors thought it came from
the fact that the reports are too techni
cal and extended in their nature. The
farmer is not generally speaking /:
reading man. Many farmers can only
find time to read the most simple anc
abbreviated matters. 1t was generally
agreed that the thing necessary to make
such work successful was frequent pub
LEGATION in simple, and practica
form.
One of the most interesting and strik
ing things that was brought out in the
discussion was the opposition that pre-
vailed in regard to the present methoc
Of distributing seeds by Congressman
1t was shown that ignorance that haC
been displayed in this way was seriou.
in its results: Insects and plant dis
eases, very deleterious in their nature
had been distributed far and wide
and in many instances more damage
than good has been done. It was urg
ed that this distribution ought to b.
made by the Commissioner himself whe
is supposed to know much more abou
such matters than the Congressman
can. He has the means of knowing the
various soils, and the kinds of seed;
that will flourish in them. So on the
whole the meeting was a grand success
1t gave an opportunity for the free in,
terchange of opinions and information
and established 4 closer relationship
between the colleges and the Depart.
ment. When the plan for interchange
OF information is fully perfected grea,
additional good will follow.
The President Saturday became the
guest of the Woodmont Rod and Gun
Club. The party consisted of Secretary
Manning, Secretary Lamar, Secretary
Whitney, and Postmaster General vi.
las. They spent Sunday very quietly
at the charming club house in the
mountains, and the President EeDjoyed
his visit very much. Mr.. Arthur was
the first President who was entertained