New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-04
TIE NEW DEPARTMENT.

The hill for the provision Of a De-
partment of Agriculture has bean crit-
cised as one which will unnecessarily add to
the expense of the Government. Certainly the
change is not strictly speaking, necessary, for
the Government has been satisfactorily con-
Quoted for the last forty years with tho present
division Of public duties, yet for many
reasons which have been given during
the discussion Of this measure. 1t may
be expedient that new department should
he created. The measure will involve some in
crease in expenditure, and the immediate In
crease resulting from the creation of new offices,
and the adjustment Of higher salaries for some
offices already created, will form but small
part Of the probable enlargement Of expenses.
But IL is not final reason for the rejection
of the measure that it will involve an expense
which could be avoided The advantages which
the friends of this measure believe arc to DO
secured by its passage do not appear to be in
considerable On the other hand the addition
to the public expenditure need not be great, and
the responsibility for any unreasonable increase
will rest with the Congress which may author
lie it. In the belief that the public benefits
to be secured will be worth all that the change
will cost, both houses Of Congress have passed
the bill and il seems probable that the PreSi-
dent will approve it,
This measure can be better justified by con-
sideration Of the possible usefulness Of the dc
partment than by the immediate plans for Its
usefulness which are embodied in the bin as
passed. Indeed the measure might with some
reason be criticised not because certain
L & rt.hfoI una
proposed to place under charge Of the new de-
partment, that Of the Fish Commission, for
example, and that Of the Signal Service have
been omitted from the bill rs passed, but be
cause the measure as passed does not embrace
certain other branches Of the service, which
might with good reason be intrusted TO tho
charge Of persons selected with primary regard
10 agricultural interests.
The whole work Of the Land ONCE might
with great proprety be placed in the charge of
the proposed Agricultural Department. The
early settlers in any new region are, as rule,
nearly all farmers by occupation. Even In the
mining Territories it Is exceedingly important
TO all interested that farming should be en-
couraged to the utmost and as early as pos
ible. In all the new States and Territories II
is Of the highest Importance to have the reg
ulations of the Land Office adjusted with re-
gard to the necessities and the convenience OF
farming settlers. Land titles would not be
hastily and recklessly disturbed, as in many
parts Of the country they have been during the
last four years by officials who were closely
acquainted with the needs and interests Of new
settlers. The whole work Of surveys on the
public lands ought TO be governed by regard for
the farming rather than any other interest. In
like manner the work Of the forestry division
belongs moro properly TO the same department
than to any other, and could be conducted more
efficiently and economically in connection with
the agricultural service
One Of the duties which the proposed de-
partment should be enabled TO perform with
thOroughness and promptly Is that Of securing
full reports Of the wages OF farm labor in differ
ent parts Of the country. 1t would be Of in
estimable benefit to farmers and to farm-worh-
ers if early information could be obtained
through branch of the public service when
ever farm labor Is lacking or in unusual de-
mand in any portion of the country. Nor is it
necessary to add that farmers throughout the
United States would be greatly benefited n
hiOIo IhOTOUBn anu HOlo PiViPV hlAVtmauVh
could be given through official channels as to
the growing crops, the acreage planted or sown.
and the probable yield The benefit to be ut
tanned by such management Of the depart
ment would immeasurably outweigh any rea-
sonable estimate of its cost We are glad that
by the passage Of the present bill step has
been taken in o direction in which, as will be
seen from the above, we believe it viii yet be
found wise TO go farther.