The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-12-13

individuals during tho last fiscal year, ON
bracing about 1000, 900 acres.
The solution OF tho Indian problem do
pends very largely upon good administra.
ton. The personal fitness OF agents and
their adaptability TO tho peculiar duty of car.
ing for their wants, is Of the utmost import.
ance.
The law pr9yidins that, except in especial
dian agents, II is hoped will prove success.
ful experiment.
There is danger OF great abuses creeping
into the prosecution OF claims for Indian de-
precautions, and I recommend that every
possible safeguard be provided against the
enforcement OF unjust and fictitious claims
Of this description.
FORESTRY AND AGRICULTURE.
The report OF the Secretary OF Agriculture
will be found exceedingly interesting, espe-
cially to that large part OF our citizens inti-
mately concerned In agricultural occupa-
tions.
Iespecially commend TO the attention OF
the Congress the statements contained In the
Secretarys report concerning forestry. The
time has come when efficient measures
should be taken for the preservation OF our
forests from indiscriminate and remediless
destruction.
The regulations OF 1892 concerning Texas
fever have been enforced during the last
year, and the large stockyards OF the coun-
casionally local outbreaks have been large
ly such as could have been effectually
guarded against by the owners Of the at-
fected cattle.
While contagious pleuro-pneumonia in
cattle has been eradicated, animal tuber-
culosis, disease widespread and moro dan
gerous to human life than pleuro- pneumonia,
is still prevalent. Investigations have been
made during the past year rs to the means
of its communication and the method OF Its
correct diagnosis. Much progress has been
made In this direction by the studies OF the
division ofanimal pathology, but work ought
TO be extended In corporation with local
authorities until the danger to human life
arising from this cause Is reduced to q mini
mum.
In the year 1880 the Congress appropriated
$1,000, to be taken from the Patent Office
funds, for the purpose OF collecting and dis
tributing rare and improved varieties OF seeds
and for prosecuting agricultural investiga-
tions and procuring agricultural statistics.
From this small beginning the Seed Division
OF the Department OF Agriculture has grown
to its present unwieldy and unjustinably ex-
travagant proportions.
During the last fiscal year the cost OF seeds
purchased was s66, ,54s.61. The remainder
OF an appropriation OF si35, 900 was expend-
ed in putting them up and distributing
them. II surely never could have entered
the minds OF those who first sanctioned
the purchase OF new and improved
varieties OF seeds for gratuitous distribution
that from this would grow large appropria-
tions for the purchase and distribution by
Members OF Congress OF ordinary seeds,
bulbs, and cuttings which are common in all
the States and Territories and everywhere
easily obtninable at low prices.
In each State and Territory an agricultural
experiment station has been established.
These stations, by their very character and
name, arethe proper agencies to experiment
| with and test new varieties OF seeds and yet
this indiscriminate and wasteful distribution
by legislation aud Legislators continues, an
swering no purpose unless II be to remind
constituents that their representatives are
willing to remember them with gratuities at
public cost
Under the sanction OF existing legislation
there was sent out from the Agricultural
Department during the last fiscal year
| enough of cabbage seed to plant $4,000
acres OF land. n sufficient quantity OF beans
to plant 1000 acres. beet seed enough to
plant $500 acres. sweet corn enough to plant
| 1900 acres. sufficient cucumber seed to
cover 2025 acres with vines, and enough
muskmelon and watermelon seeds to plant
| 2675 acres. The total quantity OF flower and
vegetable seeds thus distributed was con-
tanned in more than nine million packages,
and they were sufficient, II planted, to cover
SO, ,596 acres OF land.
In view Of these facts thiJ enormous ex-
penditure without legitimate returns OF bene-
III ought to be abolished. Anticipating a
consummation so manlfestly In the interest
OF good administration, more than 300 900
has been stricken from the estimate made to
cover this object for the year ending June
80, 1895 and the Secretary recommends that
the remaining s35, 900 OF the estimate be con-
fined strictly to the purchase OF new and i'm
proved varieties OF seeds, and that these be
distributed through experiment stations.
H.. l.Ns. a H.
test has been completed by the experiment
station, the propagation OF the useful va
rieties and the rejection OF the valueless NAV
safely be left to the common sense OF the
people.
THE CIVIL SERVICE LAWS.
The continued intelligent execution Of the
Civil Service law and the increasing ap-
proval by the people OF It's operation are
most gratifying. The recent extension OF its
limitations and regulations to the employees
Mt free delivery postoffices, which has been
honestly and promptly accomplished by the
commission, with the hearty cooperation oil
the Postmaster General, Is an immensely Inn
portant advance In the usefulness OF the sys-
tenn.
am, II possible, moro than ever con-
vinced OF the incalculable benefits conferred
by the Civil Service law not only in its effect
upon the public service, but also, what is
even moro important, In It's effect In elevat'
|
NEED OF PUBLIC ECONOMY.
Economy In public expenditure Is a duty
that cannot innocently be neglected by
those intrusted with the control o
money drawn nom the people tor pub
lie uses. II must be confessed that oul
apparently endless resources, the famil
iarity, Of our people with immense sc'
cumulations OF wealth, the growing
sentiment among them that the expendi
ture OF public money should In some manner
be to their Immediate and personal advan-
tage, the indirect and almost steaIthy man
per In which large part Of our taxes are ex
acted, and a degenerated sense OF official ac
countabiity have led to growing extrava
gance in Governmental appropriations.
At this time, when depleted public treas
ury confronts US, when many OF our people
are engaged In hard struggle for the neces
saries OF life, and when enforced economy Il
pressing upon the great mass Of our coun
trymen, desire to urge with all the earnest
ness at my command that congressional
legislation be so limited by strict economy a
! to exhibit an appreciation OF the condition
OF the Treasury and sympathy with tn