The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-01-05
DEPARTMENT. or AoEIouLTuRE

An impression exists that at the
last session of Congress a bin was
passed establishing a department Of
agriculture A. a matter OF fact, such
a bin was introduced. but the two
houses of Congress could not agree to
its provisions and il was referred to a
conference committee, In the charge Of
which 1t now remains Those watch
ing the bill and somewhat personally
interested in IT have been endeavoring
to ascertain the exact status OF the
measure in order 10 sec II there Is any
probability Of its becoming law be-
fore the present administration goes
out, and tho general opinion OF all of
them seems TO be that the bin viii not
be discussed AT the present session
and that the attempt 10 create the new
department will prove failure.
A former Comm iSsioner OF Agri>
RaI sec
culture expresses the opinion that the
bin was originally introduced by Mr.,
Hatch OF Missouri In great measure
rs campaign document with view
OF convincing the agricultural cle-
ment of the country that their inter
ests were receiving special attention at
the hands OF Congress Since the
election, however, this devotion 10 the
farmers cause by Democrats gener-
ally is less pronounced and their in
terest in the matter has become 50
lukewarm that no effort has been
made 10 arrange for a meeting Of the
conference committee and there S no
likelihood Of there being such Il
meeting.
The Democrats are not now particu-
larly anxious TO create new office 10
be oiled by the administration which
will shortly take up the reins OF pow
or, and many of them, no doubt, be
leve that ii such a thing Is 10 be done
il can easily lie postponed for four
years. when, by resurrccting the bin,
another bid may be made COT the iarm-
ers' vote. There is. moreover. consid-
cradle opposition 60 the bill outside Of
party lines, and some provisions In il
relating % changes OF bureaus have
given rise 10 an expression Of no little
dissatisfaction ON the part q those who
are affected by these changes Ey u
provision OF the bin the signal service
is transferred from the treasury de-
partment TO that Of agriculture. aud
this change win be strongly opposed
not only by those who are employed
In this branch Of the service, but also
by many outside OF L.
The suggestion that a new dcpaft-
ment of some sort should he created
seems 10 Ike generally acquiesced a,
but there is a great diversity az upn-
ion as TO when il should he created
and as to wha; lis character shgull I've.
The treasury and interior departures
are manifestly too large and Unwiclaly
and there are az present so many im-
portant bureaus attached 10 them Thar
il would result Ia the benefit Of tho
public service il new classification
was made and less responsibility
placed on n single member Of tbs o4hi-
net. II has been suggested 60 create
the department Of commerce Witch
should pay general attention 90 oar
shipping interests. aud g. which should
be assigned the signal service life-
saving service. coaSg Surveying and
all matters appeFiainiug 10 railroads.
Another. and perhaps a hotter prapo-
sition made by the Republicans some
years age, and which. IL 10 stated, wa.
favored at the time by Ar Harrison.
was 10 create department Il indus.
tries. IL was proposed "a transfer -
this department the present 2gricul
tursl department. The land oaice s
bureau OF manufacturing, agricultural
and general statistics ard possibly
some OF the bureaus u the treasury
department. Such department.
would probably give more general sat
isiaction than enc devoted especially
TO agriculture. such as is proposed in
the bill now IN conference, and a
movement 70 create il viii undoabt-
eddy be made in the next Congress,