The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1893-05-09

Congress for irrigation purposes. All
of this was spent in looking up loca-
lions for reservoirs. None of it was
saved to build the reservoirs, and none
to get water to fill them.
OCCASIONALLY HE MAKES PUNs.
The new Secretary believes that the
seed business is very much overdone.
The Department OF Agriculture puts
up seed in little packages which are
distributed to Congressman, who scat
ter the seeds among their constituents
Mr.. Morton, who is not above indulg-
ing in the lowest form of wit, declared
he thought the departments seed
business was paternalism gone to seed.
The system, which had originated
with the idea of encouraging the in
PRODUCTION of new varieties of pla nts
on modest scale, had developed into
the buying up of job lots of cabbage
seed and such trash by the United
States Government to the tune of
$4,000 year. Mr.. Morton, the
new national farmer, intends to do
away with the outrage if he can, and
he thinks that the Congressman who
now get the seeds will thank him.
AS it is, these Congressman are abused
not so much by constituents who fail
to get any seeds as by those who plant
and nurse Government seeds that
never sprout.
Mr.. Morton believes that the sup
preston of this distribution of seed
by the Government would be a wise
step in the direction of protection, and
that it would encourage seedsmen and
the the industry of seed raising.
THE DEPARTMENT LIBRARY.
Among other things in the depart
ment which offend the thrifty soul OF
of the new Secretary is the depart
ment library. II is a very little
library which suggests the literary
department of country Sunday
school. The United States of America
spent $4,000 last year for books for
this department, and $5,52O on a
libral ian and assistants to keep the
books in order. Mr.. Morton consid-
cred these figures opposed t> common
sense and sent for man to catalogue
and value the library. He does not
believe that the value will equal twice
the amount of one years appropria-
ton. .......
Mr.. Morton's duties as Secretary of
Agriculture are not simple. In fact,
they can be remarkably complicated
if he chooses to let them be. In a
general way he must manage and SUI
pervises all the business of the Gener-
al Government in its official relations
to agricultural industry. He spends
about million dollars of the public
money each year. The amount APP
last year was $9l3,660,72,
On March of this year $425,42S.82
was unexpended. Much of that UNI
balance, however, may be
owed, as the departments of this great
country have little way of looking
upon cash in hand as assets irrespec-
tive of contracted liabilities.
HIS VAST RESPONSIBILITIES.
The Secretary of Agriculture has
charge, among other things, of the fol-
lowing departments of agricultural
Investigations botanical division a
genealogical division, a microscopical
division, chemical division, an or
division, forestry divis-
ion, an chronological division, and an
office of experiment stations. These
minor divisions are nOminally in the
charge of the assistant Secretary, but
the Secretary Of Agriculture is really
for them, and must APP
prove any proposition before final
action is taken. The Secretary OF
has charge of Bureau
Of Animal Industry" In this depart
ment he must investigate all cOnta-
gious diseases of live stock, inspect
and exported animals, ex-
anime cattle ships, establish cattle