The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1886-04-30
washln Gte,n.
From our regular correspondent,
WASHINGTON, April 9th, 1886.

Congressional seed supply, Ia the
annex OF the Agricultural Depart
ment. As there ero four hundred
and nine Senators and Representa-
tlves, the seed division Of this Insli-
tuition Is a busy place Mt certain sea.
sons Of the year. Each Legislator Is
to have six thousand paper packages
OF vegetable seed, five hundred OF
flower seed, three hundred OF tobacco,
twenty quarts Of sorghum, twenty Of
corn, atty of grass, twenty eight
quarts OF sugar beet and thIriy-two
quarts Of GOTTEN seed. II put up In
one order each mombors allowance
would flll eight large mail sacks.
The seeds distributed through
members Of Congress comprise about
two thirds of the whole amount dis.
posed OF by the Agricultural Depart.
ment. The remaining third goes to
persons In various parts Of the coun.
try who act as agents of tho depart
ment but receive no compensation.
The force Of the sood division Il re-
quired to receive, assert, pack, label
and prepare The packages for the
mall sacks, in which they are hauled
away from tho department.. The lIt-
tic paper bags or pockets aro cut and
made In one end OF the large room
where the seeds nre packed. The
printing upon them is executed In
the printing Office in tho department.
The labor Is divided and subdivided,
80 as to facilitate the work as much
a. possible. Ono lady whohas pm
nf seeds before her and tiny meas
ure, fills the bag or pocket |; her
neighor pastes down Tho flap on the
bsg. AT another table the depart
mens frank Is put on, snd so on until
the package Is finally placed In the
mail sack. Al of this work Is carri.
ed on In most systsmatic manner,
with little noise and no confusion.
The country expects from tho pres.
ent administration not only pure
democracy, but pure aKd COED seed.
Agricultural department seeds have
In the past. been a sort OF by-worI
among Jokers. The complaints re-
ceived at the department TO some
extent, justified these jokers. The
department has always been large
purchaser OF seeds fr distribution,
and II Is believed, has sometimes had
imposed upon 1t, supplies which the
sesdmsD would not sell to a private
customer. Alter the seeds have been
distributed by tho department, the
seed man knows II the seeds prove
worthless II IL not likely ever to be
tracked back 10 his establishment
L seed division now makes 1t
rule TO send out no seed that IL can
not vouch for. When an American
citizen receives seed hereafter il will
come to him guaranteed by the al
ministratiOn 10 germinate under prop
er cunIili0ns. OF course, every sees
Of the millions which zach Congres.
man is entitled To Is not separate,
tested and vouched for, but sample
are taken from every lot OF seed re
ceived, and IL they do not show
good percentage, the lot Is rsjecte.
TIE defeat by tho Senate OF III
Logan scheme 10 increase the Arms
and the passage Of half dozen bill
! by the House, among them one
pension The Mexican veterans, an
another for the erection 0fa Congre
sional library, mark the presel
week In Congress as one Of the mo
industrious Of the session.
: Nor should the Washington mon
Inent sensation be omitttd from Il
weeks record. Astain on the surfa
of the pure white malble was sn
posed 10 be a crack IN the mason
from the settling OF the ground, 81
1t was feared the imposing structu
was going to topple over. People
different parts of the CRY were SCI
linizlng these supposed cracks wi
their opera glasses. They proved
be oniy siraakssof dust washed do
from tine joints by recent rains. 7
joints are somewhat open and d
easily aecumuIa'ca - them.
q The iii for Iepeioning the solGi
q and sailors Of the Mexican war
a sid to be entirely gss tisfaciors to
a survivors Of that conflict, and the
q lection by the Senate Of his plea
n more soldiers was a severe blow
81 Senator Logsn. II was his pet me
n ure, ard he stood up for II aggl
a 4ively as to provoke unpleasant ]
y sonal controversy. Every Democ
e Senator opposed 1t. Senator
Wyek gave II stab by chare
that an Increased Army would
used by Capital against labor.
Senator Congpr took occasion dui
the debate to make q violent and
Ilieinns wave Of the bloody 81