The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-05

7 the farmers informed as fully as possible OF
All matters having any influence upon the
worlds markets, in which their products find
. sale Its publications relate especial.
/ ~ 70 the commercial side Of farming
IL Is therefore Of profound importance and
Eltal concern to the farmers OF the United
/ states. who represent nearly one-han OF our
/ population, and also OF direct interest to the
whole country. that the work Of this division
/ De emciently performed and that the intOr-
J nation II has gathered be promptly didused.
/ ~ Is - matter of cOngratulaUon to know that
/ The secretary Will not spare any effort TO
| make this part Of his work thoroughly useful.
! In the wear 1899 the congress appropriated
9l,oOO to be taken from the patent ONCE funds,
/ for, the purpose Of collecting
! and distributing rare and improved
! varieties of seeds and for prosecuting
! agricultural Investigations and procuring
/ agricultural statistics. From this small be-
/ ginning the seed division Of the department
! OF agriculture has grown TO its present un-
yielding ana unluStihably cNtraVagent pro-
portions During the last fiscal year the
/ cost OF seeds purchased was S665iS.6l. The
remainder OF an appropriation of Sl31, 900 was
expended in putting them up and distributing
them. II surely never could have entered
/ the minds OF those who hrSt sanctioned ap-
preparations OF public money for the purchase
OF new and improved varieties of seeds for
Rratuitlous distribution that from this would
grow large appropriate ms for the purchase
and distribution by members OF congress OF
ordinary seeds, bulbs and cuttings which are
common III all the states and territories and
everywhere easily Obtainahle at low prices.
In each state and territory an agricultural
experiment station has been established.
| These stations by their character and name.
are the proper agencies to experiment with
and test new varieties Of seeds, and vet this
tndiscrimiuate ana wastetul distribution by
legislation and legislators continues. answer
ing no purpose, unless IL be to remind con
sUtuents that their representatives
are willing to remember them
with sratuities at the public cost
Under the sanction of existing leRislat ion
there was sent out from the agricultural de
partment during the last fiscal year. enough
OF cabbage seed TO plant 1900 acres of land,
sufficient quantity Of beans to plant 4.OOO
acres; beet seed enough to plant $50 acres;
sweet aOrn enough to plant 500 acres; sum
Gent cucumber seed to cover 2.0-5 acres with
vines, and enough muShmcl0u ana water
melon seed 10 plant 2b75 acres. The total
quantity OF flower ana vegetable seed thus
distributed was contained in more than 9O01-
0O0 packages, ana they wore sufficient
II planted, to cover s9.59t acres OF land.
In view Of these facts that enormous eXpen-
dtture without legitimate returns of benefit
ought to be abolished. Anticipating con
summation so manifestlY 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 30.
1899 and the secretary recommends that the
remaining SS5 go OF the estimate be confirmed
strictly to the purchase OF
seeds, and these he distributed through the
experiment stations. Thus the seed will be
tested, and after the test has been completed
by the experiment station the propagation OF
less may safely be left to the common sense
of the people.
THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW.
The continued intelligent execution OF the
civil service law aud the increasing approval
by the people OF its operation are most graft
flying The recent extension Of its limitations
and regulations to the employees ut free deliv.
cry postOhices which has been honestly ana
promptly accomplished by the commission,
with the hearty cooperation Of the Post
master General. is an immensely important
advance in the usefulness Of the system. 1
am, II possible, more than ever convinced OF
the inculculablc benefits cCu'eUrad by the
civil service law; not only in its effect upon
the public service, but also, what Is even
more important, In its effect In cieyat-
ing the tone Of political life generally.
The course Of civil service reform III this
country lnstructlYely ana Interestingly illus,
trates how strong a hold n movement gains
upon our pc Jplc which has underlying IL Il
sentiment Of justice ana right, ana which az
the same time promises better administrator
Of their government. The law embodyIng
this reform found lis way 10 our statute book
more from fear Of the popular sentiment eE
listing in It's favor than from any love for the
reform tself on the part Of the legislators,
and IL has lived and grown aud hUurlshed IN
spite Of the covert as well as open hostilityO OF
the spokesman, and Notwithstanding the
querelous impracticabllity Of many selfcuu.
Siltuted guardians. Beneath all the NaRartcS
aud Sublimated theories which are attracted
to il there underlies this reform 81 sturdy COM
mon sense principle, not only suited 10 this
people are more and more recognizing to be
absolutely essential 10 the most successful
operation OF their government, II not to It's
perprtulty.
u seems to me to be entirely Inconsistent
with the character OF this reform, as well as
with its pest enforcement, TO oblige
the commission to rely for clerical assistance
| upon clerks detailed from other departments.
! There ought not to be such "a condition in any
department that clerks hired 10 do work there
can not be spared to habtuully work at
another MIA and I does accord n
sensible view Of civil service reform that per
sons should be employed on the theory that
their labor is necessary in one department,
when III point OF tacu their services are de-
voted to entirely different work in another de-
partmept. i earnestly urge that the clerks
necessary TO carry on the work OF the com
mission be regularly put upon it's roster, and
that the system Of obliRiug the commission
ers TO rely upon the services Of clerks be-
longing to otherdepartments be discontinued.
| This ought not to increase the expense to the
government, while II would certainly be more
| consistent and add greatly to the efficiency
OF the commission.
A PLEA FOR ECONOMY
| Economy in public expenditure is 4 duty
| that cannot innocenty be neglected by those
| intrusted with the control Of money drawn
| from the people for public uses. IL must be
| confessed that our apparently endless resour-
| ces the familiarity Of our people with i'm
| mense accumulations OF wealth. the growing
| sentiment among them that the expenditure
! Of pdbllc money should In some manner be
! 10 tneif immaculate ana personal advantage,
| The indirect and almost stCalthy manner IN
! which large part Of our taxes are exacted
and a degenerated sense Of official accounta
| bilitY have led t. growing extravaganza in
| governmental appropria CiOns.
At this time when adcpleted public treasury
! cOntrOnts US, when many OF our people are
engaged IN hard struggle for the neCessaries
! Of life and when enforced economy is press-
| ing on the great mass of our countrymen /
| desire to urge with all the earnestness at my
! command. that congressional legislation be
SO limited by strict economy to exhibit an
appreciation of the condition OF the treasury
and sympathy with the strained circum-
Stances OF our fellow citizens. The duty Of
puulic economy Is also OF immense impor-
lance in its intimate and necessary relation
to the task now IN hand Of providing revenue
TO meet government expenditures ana yet re-
ducing the peoples burden OF taxation.
TARIFF REFORM.
After hard struggle tari1 reform is di-
rcctly before us. Nothing 80 in pOrtant
claims our attention, and nothing so clearly
presents itself as both an opportunity and "A
duty, an opportunity to deserve the gratitude
Of our fellow citizens, and o duty imposed
upon us by our Oft-repeatod professions and
by the emphatic mandate Of the people
After fun discussion our countryInen have
spoken 10 favor OF this reform. and they have
cOnhded the work Of its plshment to
the hands of those who are solemnly pledged
TO il. n there is anything IN the theory Of "a
representation In public places Of the people
and their desires IL public officers are really
the servants OF the people and II political
F H.