The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-20

Secretary Rusk Explains the Increase In APP
proprintions for His Department.
WASHINGTON, Feb 19.-Replying to the
criticism to the effect that appropriations
for the Department of Agriculture have in
creased three-fold under the present ad-
mInistratioD, Secretary Rusk says:
have already called attention in my
last annual report to the fact that any one
making fair estimate of my expenditures
of this department. will recognize that
nearly 100000 appropriated for the United
States Weather Bureau is not Oh increase
of expense, hav ing simply been a transfer
from one appropriation TO another. what
this has added to the appropriations OF az
rlculture has been so much deducted
from the appropriations of the De-
partment of War. Another point To
be considered IL that, under the Hatch
bill. providing for experiment stations In
every state in which there vas established
an agricultural college, there has been q
steady increase provided by law and az
Rrexsting for the past year more than $780,
boo. over which the head OF this depart
ment exercises no control whatever. the
same being included under the appropria-
tions for the Department OF Agriculture
simply as a matter of convenience TO the
accountants of the Treasury. It should
consequently be omitted entirely In esti-
mating the comparative expenditures for
this department.. one year with another. A
deduction from the total appropriations OF
fhese two items brings the appropriations
for the current year down 20 u reasonable
basis for comparison. OF the s., Coz, 600 thus
arrived at, SS50.UOO are for the Bureau OF
Animal Industry. an increase OF x35OOOO
d. er the sum appropriated for the bureau
In 1888 and 1889, this large increase being
rendered necessary by the inspection laws
Of Aug 90 1890 and March 30, 1891. which,
necessarily. enrailed q vast increase of
labor upon the bureau. involving, as they
do. the inspection during a single year.
both ante and post mortem. OF more than
five million animals, besides the mainte-
nance of an inspection system in Great
Britain, where more than $685. animals
were inspected. Now, as matter OF fact,
when you deduct the increased expendl-
lures for THE expense, you will ind COM
paratively little increase In the appropria-
lions for the current fiscal year and
those for the year 1889. which were esti-
mated Tor by the previous administration.
At the same time / wish to state that.
the administration of every department.
of the government i do not believe IN
carrying 1t to extremes far enough TO i'm
pair efficiency. and further wish to place
myself on record as stating. as time and
opportunity are afforded for doing SO pru-
IDENTITY, it will be desirable to greatly in
crease the appropriations for this depart.
ment. in order TO meet the legitimate de-
msnds which will inevitably be made upon
1t in the agricultural interests OF the coun-
try. The people of the United States must
not forget that the agricultural interests
Bre really very close to al of them. W b atever
their line of business. the entire business
of the country being dependent upon the
well-beine of our farmers. In spite of this
lt IS significant that the entire apprOpria-
tions for the maintenance of this depart
ment. even including those entailed by the
transfer of the Weather Bureau from the
War Department. amount to considerable
less than | per cent. of the total appro-
pristions for the national government"