The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-14
ECONOMY IN ADMINISTRATOR


/ ECONOMY IN ADMINISTRATORS.
The report Of the Secretary of Agri-
culture will be found exceedingly in
teresting, especially in that large part
Of oar citizens intimately concerned in
agricultural occupations.
On the 9TH Of March, 1898, there
were upon its payrolls 2.43O employees.
! This number has been reduced to $50
persons In view Of a depleted pub
lie Treasury and the imperative de-
mand Of the people for economy in the
administration of their government.
the Secretary has entered upon the
task of nationally reducing eXpendl-
lures by the elimination from the pay
rolls OF persons not needed in an efficient
conduct of the affairs of the depart
ment.
| During the first quarter Of the pres
ent year the expenses of the department
aggregated $345 ,S76,76 as against S402
O12,42 for the corresponding period OF
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1898.
The Secretary makes apparent his in
tentiOn to continue this rate Of reduct-
ion by submitting estimates for the
next fiscal year less by 1891, 2SO than
those for the present year.
In the year 1899 the Congress ap-
propriated 81 GOO, to be taken from the
Patent Office funds, for the purpose Of
collecting and distributing rare and i'm
proved varieties Of seeds, and for pros
ecuting agricultural Investigations and
procuring, agricultural statistics. From
this small beginning the Seed Division
of tire Department of Agriculture has
grown to its present unwieldly and I'M
justitiably e,,travagant proportions.
During the last fiscal year the cost
of seeds purchased was T66, o4o,61.
The remainder of an appropriation
Of $3.50 600 was expended in putting
up and distributing them. 1t surely
never could have entered the minds OF
those who first sanctioned appropria-
tons of public money for the purchase
of new and improved varieties OF seeds,
for cratuitous distribution that from
this would grow large appropriations
for the purchase and distribution by
members of Congress of ordinary seeds
bulbs and cuttings, which are com
mon in all the States and Territories
and everywhere easily obtainabe at
low prices.
In each State or Territory an agricul-
tural experiment station has been es-
tablished. These stations, by their
very character and name, are the prop
er agencies to experiment with and
test new varieties Of seeds; and yet
this indiscriminate and wasteful distri-
button by legislation and legislators
continues, answering no purpose I'M
less it be to remind constituents that
their representatives are willing to re-
member them with gratuities at public
cost.
Under the sanction or existing Iegls-
iatiOn there was sent out from the
Agricultural Department during the
last fiscal year enough of cabbage seed
to plant e. 800 Of land, a sufficient
quantity Of beans to plant 1900 acres,
beet seed enough to plant $500 acres,
sweet corn enough to plant I 800 acres,
sufficient cucumber seed to cover 2,O25
acres with vines, and enough musk
melon and watermelon seeds to plant
800 acres. The total quantity OF
flower and vegetable seeds thus distrib-
uted was contained in more than nine
million packages, and they were suf-
fcient, if planted, TO cover 1886 acres
of land.
In view of these facts this enormous
expenditure without legitimate returns
of benefit ought to be abolished. An
tlc1patlng contamination SO mani
festlv in the interest Of good adrniiIis-
tration, more that 100000 has been
stricken from the estimate made to
cover this object for the year end
ing June 80, 1898. and the Secreta-
~ recommends that the remaining
$50, 600 of the estimate be confined
strictly to the purchase of new and i'm
proved varieties OF seeds, and that
these be distributed through expert
ment stations.
STRICT ECONOMY URGED.
Economy in public expenditure is a
duty that cannot innocently be neglect
ed by those intrusted with the control
of money drawn from the people for
public uses. 1t must be confessed that
O,,, on,ora,,+1,- o,,floce, ,.o-O,,roac 10