Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1893-12-09

crafty have been allotted TO many OF them.
Such allottments have been made to 10. 900
individuals during the last fiscal year, en-
braring about l, 900, 900 acres.
The solution OF the Indian problem de-
pends very largely upon good administra-
tion. The personal fitness OF agents and
their adaptability TO the peculiar duty OF car
ing for their wants, is Of the utmost import
ance.
The law providing that, except in especial
cases, army officers shall be detailed as In
dian agents, il is hoped will prove a success
iul experiment.
There is danger OF great abuses creeping
into the prosecution OF claims for Indian de-
precautions, and | 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 ofAgricu!ture
will be found exceedingly interesting. espe-
cally to that large part OF our oi;!=ons inti-
mately concerned in agricultural occupa-
tons.
l especially commend to the attention OF
the Congress the statements contained in tho
Secretarys report concerning forestry. The
time has come when efficient measures
should be taken for the preservation OF our
forests from indscriminate and remediless
destruction.
The regulations Of 1892 concerning Texas
fever have been enforced during the last
year, and the large stockvaris OF the coun-
try have been kept free from infection. De-
casionally local outbreaks have been large
ly such as could have been efTectullly
guarded against hy the owners of the az
fected cattle.
While contagious pleuro-pneumonia in
cattle has been eradiclted. animal tuher-
III 4. 4 4
gerous to human life than pleuro-pncumonia,
is sti!! prevalent. Investigations have been
made during the past year as 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 tho
division ofanima pathology, but work ought
to be extended in cooperation with local
authorities until the danger to human life
arising from his cause is reduced to a mini
mum.
In the year 1889 tn" Congress Appropriated
$1,000. to be- taken from the Patent Office
funds. for the purpose OF collecting and dis
!rihuting rare anl improved varieties OF seeds
and for prosecuting agricultural investiga-
ions Hnd procuring agricultural statistics.
From this small beginning the Seed Division
of the Department OF Agriculture has grown
to it, present unwieldy and unjustihaby ex-
travagant proportions
During the last is.a year the cost OF seeds
purchased WIS S6G 5AS.6l The remainder
OF an appropriation OF $l95, 900 was expeni-
ID in putting them up aud distributing
them. II surely never could have entered
the minds OF those who first sanctioned
appropriations Of public moneys Tor
the purchase Of new and improved
varieties Of seeds for gratuitOuS distribution
that IRON this would grow large approprn-
ttons for the purchase and distribution by
Members Of Congress OF ordinary seeds.
bulbs, and cuttings which are common in all
the States an Territories AMI everywhere
easily ohtainabe at low prices.
In each State and Territory an agricultural
experiment station has been established.
These stations, by their very character and
name, are the proper agencies to experiment
with and test new varieties of seeds and vet
this indiscriningte and wasteful distribution
ny legislation and Legislators continues. an
sweriug no purpose unless It be to remind
constituents that their representatives arc
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 19.200
acres Of land, a 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
muskmeon and watermelon seeds to plant
2675 acres. The total quantity OF flower and
vegetable seeds thus distributed was con-
:aned in more than nine million packages,
and they were sufficient, II planted, TO cover
50. 500 acres OF land
In view Of these facts this enormous ex-
penditura without legitimate returns OF bcne-
NJ ought to he abolished. Anticipating
ronsummation SO manlf'stly in the interest
Of good administration, more than 100000
has been stricken from the estimate made TO
'over this object for the year ending June
30. 1895 and the Secretary recommends that
the remaining SS5 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 exp riment stations.
Thus the seed will be tested, and after the
Test has been completed by the experiment
station, the propagation of the useful va
rieties and the rejection OF the valueless may
SAFELY be LETT to the common sense OIL inc
people.
THE CIVIL SERVICE Laws.
The continued intelligent execution of tho
Civil Service law and the increasing ap-
proval by the people OF its operation are
most gratifying. The recent extension OF Its
limitations and regulations to the employees
at free delivery postoflces, which has been
honestly and promptly accomplished by the
commission, with the hearty cooperation OF
the Postmaster General, ia an immensely i'm
portant advance in the usefulness OF the sys-
tenn.
am, IL possible, more than ever con-
vinced OF the ncalculable benefits conferred
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 elevat-
ing the tone OF political life generally.
NEED OF PUBLIC ECONOMY.
Economy in public expenditure is a duty
that cannot innocenty be neglected by
those intrusted with the control OF
lie uses 1t must be confessed that our
apparently endless resources. the famil.
iarity OF our people with immense ac-
cumuations OF wealth, the growing
sentiment among thom that the expendi'
. ture OF public money should in some manner
be to their immediate and personal advan-
tage, the indirect and almost stealthy man
ner In which a large part of our taxes are eN
acted, and degenerated sense OF official ac'
countability have led to growing extrava-
gance In Governmental appropriations.
At this time when a depleted public treas
ury confronts us, when many OF our people
are engaged in a hard struggle for the neces
saries OF life, and when enforced economy Is
! 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
, straitened circumstances of our fellow-cit
iZens
!, The duty OF public economy Is also of i'm
mense Importance In its intimate and neces
sary relation to the task now In hand OF pro
. viding revenue to meet Government expend
, lures, and yet reducing the peoples burdel
y Of Federal taxation.
: TARIFF CHANCES.
After hard struggle, tariff reform is di
0 rectly before us. Nothing so important claim
4 our attention, and nothing 80 Gle irly present
. itself as both an opportunity and duty-a
= opportunity to deserve the gratitude of ou
q fellow citizens and duty imposed upon US
our oft-repeated professions and by the on
: phatic mandate Of the people. After full
discussion our countrynen have spoken 4