Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-12-02
SECRETARY MORTON.
He Reviews the Work of the Department
of Agriculture.

He Reviews the Work of the Department
of Agriculture.
WASHINGTON, Nov 2e-The secretary OF
agriculture, in his report just submitted to the
president regrets the vague character of the
department organiz za tion, which, he says "offers
opulent oppor tunities for the exercise OF the
most pronounced paternalsm, but he adds that
there are many proper ways In which the fed
eral government may legitimately serve the
cause OF agriculture He devotes considerable
space to n review of what he regards as the
anomalous partnership between the govern.
ment OF the United States and the governments
of the respective states for the CONDUCT and en-
couragement of state agricultural colleges and
experiment stations. Referring to the sum APP
proprated for the use of state experiment sta
tions he says:
"This appropriation is unlike any other pub
lie moneys legislated out of the treasury OF the
United States because there is no oflicer of the
United States authorized to direct, limit
control or audit its itemized expendi'
lures, Stations should be entirely d.
vorced from the department and the sum
appropriated charged directly TO them or the
secretary should have some power TO direct
and restrain their disbursements so as
to insure legitimate expenditure of the same
In view OF the rumors that have obtained ere
dence in some of the states and territories to
the effect that moneys appropriated to the sta
tons have been diverted from their legitimate
purposes, a thorough investigation should be
made to demonstrate either the truth or falslty
| OF such reports"
In reference to the expenditures the secre,
| tary states that his strenuous endeavor, in
| view of depleted public treasury and of the
| imperative demands of taxpayers for econ
| omy in the administration of the govern
| ment, has been to nationally reduce ex-
| penditures by the elimination from the pay
| rolls of all persons not needed for an
! efficient conduct of the affairs of the
| department. He gives the number of
| employees when he took charge as 2,4W
| and states that there are now on the pay rolls
| 1894, reduction of SOB; and of the 1894 he
| says that eleven are on duty in the office of the
civil service commission, to which they were
/ assigned by request of the commission He
| has during the first quarter OF the fiscal year
| reduced expenditures in comparison with the
| corresponding quarter of last year S5GOOO
| The classified service is pronounced 10 be de-
| fective, largely owing TO the inequalities in
! compensation with reference to the services
! rendered. These inequalities he attributes
| largely to the appropriation acts making statu-
| tory positions for the clerical force He argues
| that appropriations should be made in
| gross for the clerical force and that full dis
| Cretion should be given to the head Of the de-
| partment in the matter of remuneration, af-
! trming that there can be no good reason
| urged against the government OF the United
| States securing efficient services in the same
| manner that they are secured by the successful
business interests of the country"
| The distribution o. seed at the public eX-
| pense is reviewed az length and its growth
| traced from the year 1889. He shows con-
siderable saving TO have been Effected in the
purchase and the distribution Of the seed this
| year.
The work of the bureau OF animal industry Is
reviewed in detail The secretary says:
1.-The result of the Texas fever regulations is
| highly satisfactory but to increase their eff
| cheney penalty should attach for violation OF
| the department regulation by railroad compa-
nies transporting affected cattle. A further re-
| duction has been effected by vessel inspection
in the percentage OF cattle lost NJ sea, the ratio
| being for the last year less than half
| of per cent The law ut present does not pro-
| vide for the inspection Of horses imported into
the country, and there shouldbe anamendment in
this respect. AS regards meat inspection, the
| microsCopical inspection has been greatly re.
duced, the intention being 10 conhne it rigidly
TO products intended for direct export to coun.
tries eXacting the same"
The microscopcal inspection costs the coun.
try 6H per cent of the value of meat sold 10
countries demanding that inspection Careful
comparison OF meat exports for 1893 with 1899
shows that microscopic inspection has not in
creased our foreign sales, and the secretary
thinks it does not pay. Further recommends
tions in the work of the bureau are for legsla-
tion compelling the immediate destruction of
any animal condemned by the
United States inspectors for eNtention OF
the work in regard to tuberculosis in coopera-
tion with local authorities un.il danger TO hu-
man life has beel reduced to minimum and
for a civil-service examination for inspectors
and assistant inspectors, with the require
ment of u diploma from regular veterinary
| college.
The work OF the other divisions are reviewed
in detail but briefly, and without extended
argument The question of forestry comes in
for some special attention. and urgent recon-
| mendations are made for thorough
and extended effort on its behalf The
! completion OF experiments in sorghum
sugar is announced on the ground that stage
has been reached when individual enterprise
can and should take advantage of what the de.
| partment has accomplished"
OF the weather bureau IL is stated that the
work has been carried on with improved eff
cheney and economy, n reduction in cost OF
| maintenance of nearly 10 per cent being effect
ed and estimates for the fiscal year being cor
responingly reduced. reorganization OF the
bureau has been partially Effected designed tC
modify expenses and magnify the value OF the
service TO agriculture, commerce and the peo
pie at large.
Reference TO the immense aggregate of i'm
ports OF agricultural products suggests the in
quiry, ought not large proportion of these tC
be produced upon our own soil, in proximity tC
, our own markets where this immense demand
exists: And the reply is in the affirmative
The secretary says:
Hides, fruits, nuts and wines could all bt
produced in this country" so with considerable
, shares of the fibers, tobacco and sugar Oui
farmers would be benefited by large number
OF subsidiary crops, the overproduction of Ger
tain staples avoided, the variety OF our agri
cultural supplies in foreign markets increased
, and the markets themselves multiplied. Al
persons engaged in the work OF agricultural
educati and experiment are enioined TO holC
steadily In view the ineXorahle economic
, facts affecting the production and disposal o
agricultural products, American farmers
' must produce what the world wants. Tha
the relation of supply and demand is the sol,
: regulator of value, that it applies equally L
: the products OF the farm ana OF the factory
ought TO be engraved upon his memory and re
heCted in the judgment ana the plans of ever!
farmer in the Union"
2 Promises of improved service by the depart
ment in the future and recommendations of thu
useful innovations relating to the work in de