The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-07-09
How Money Was Wasted.

hOW Aoucy WdS W dSIcO'
Southern Live Stock Journal.
A special dispatch to the Phila-
delphia Times from Washington,
says: The facts of the corruptions
and extravaganza of the sgricultur-
al department under DR.. Loring ex-
coed by far what was pronounced
lies or gross exagerations. The
place is now found to be rOtten
through and through. Col. Colman,
the new commissioner, may have
hoped to find something to hold en-
to, but if he did entertain this idea
he will have to give it up or suffer
in the attempt.
The leading idea of the depart
ment appears to have been to spend
the appropriations, amounting to
nearly three-quarters of a million
annually, as lavishly and for as
great personal benefits as possible.
The facts of the seeds have already
been given. The appropriation has
been criminally perverted. The
sorghum appropriation has been
spent in a manner worse still. 1t
would be merciful to call the way
it was done the manifestation of ig
norance on the part of Loring and
his so-called experts. Thousands
on thousands have been squandered
on criminally ignorant experiment
requiring costly machinery which
not even the head expert knew how
to use.
No beneficial results have been
achieved, unless, while setting ont
intending to disprove Prof. Golfers
results for which Loring drove him
from the department, they subetan
tiated them all in spite of them
selves, may be called beneficial.
What was called science was little
better than the merest charlatanry.
What has cost million is not worth
cent. Ignorance, pretentions, spec
ulatiOn and downright dishonesty
are the best that can be imputed to
the concern.
Not only is the seed fund ex-
hausted through these causes, but
the laboratory fund is also out. If
possible there has been greater ig-
nOrance and extravaganza here than
in the seed branch of the grand
combination.
AS specimen OF comparatively
small expenditures: A barrel of
alleged sugar beets was expressed
from California at cost of about
$25-not worth as many cents for
any needs of the department. A
barrel of sugar at q similar cost
was sent from California, not worth
a tenth part of the expense and
just about as much needed as 8 yell
low dog.
A score Of deadheads have from
time to time been carried on the
payroll, SEINE of them for years
not persons who did not earn all
their money, but who made no pre-
tense of earning any part of it, and
did absolutely nothing but draw
their money.
Since the November election, to
secure influence with the incoming
powers, persons have been put on
the payroll and regularly paid with
out any service being performed.
Since the fact became apparent
that this could not save them, the
officials who played this dishonest
game have been found complaining
that certain senators, congressman
and other public characters whose
friends and favorites were thus al
lowed to get their fingers into the
treasury, have been faIthless to real
or implied promises to exert their
influence to have the Loring officials
retained.
Last congress appropriated $780,
600 for the benefit of the animal in
dustry. Scarcely a cent remains. 1t
was the rule to spend everything.
1t is the belief of persons acquaint
ed with the subject that not even a
quarter of the appropriation was in
diligently and honestly expended.
There is a mystery about the way
this fund has disappeared. 1t is
matter which congress will have to
look into, even if the 9th er branches
of the department are not investi-
gated.