The herald., 1893-12-05

same DESTINATION are SHOWN.
The work OF the statistical division o.
the department of agriculture deals
with all that relates to economies OF
farming. The main purpose OF its
monthly reports is to keep the farmers
informed as fully as possible of all
matters having any influence upon the
worlds markets in which their products
find sale Its publication relates especial
ly to the commercial side of farming.
1t is therefore of profound importance
and vital concern to the farmers of the
United States, who represent nearly
one-half OF our population, and also of
direct interest to the whole country,
that the work OF this division be eff
GENTLY performed, and that the infor-
nation it has gathered be promptly diff
fused. 1t is matter for congratulation
to know that the secretary will not spare
any effor to make this part OF his work
thoroughly usefu.
In the year 1889 congress apfropristed
$1,000 to be taken from the patent office
iunds, for the purpose OF collecting and
distributing rare and improved varieties
of seeds and for prosecuting agricultural
Investigations and procuring agricut.
ural statistics. From this small begin
UluK SH6 btcu OlNlblOn vi tnc QoDhIbubub
OF agriculture has grown to its present
unwieldy and unjustiably extravagant
proportions. During the last fiscal year
the cost of seeds purchased was $685.
5406I. The remainder of its appTopria-
ton of $l35, 900 was expended in putting
them up end distributing them. 1t
surely never could have entered the
minds of those who first sanctioned APP
- af rnhlin Fo~
the purchase OF Few and i'm
proved varieties OF eeeds for gratu-
itous distribution that from this
purpose and the distribution by men,
bers of congress OF ordinary seeds, bulbs
and cuttings which are common in all
the states and territories and everywhere
easily obtainable at low prices. In each
state and territory an agricultural ex-
pertinent station has been established.
These citations, by their very character
and name, are the proper agencies to
experiment with and test new varieties
of seed, and yet this indiscriminate and
wasteful distribution by legislation and
legislators continues, answering no pur-
pose unless it be to remind constituents
that their representatives are willing to
tACh With az PuDliC
cost.
Under the sanction of existing legis-
lation there were cent out from the ag-
ricultural department. during the last
fiscal year enough of cabbage seed to
plant l9, 200 acres of land, sufficient
quantity of beans to plant 1000 ac.es,
beet seed enough to plant 2500 acres,
sweet corn enough to plant 1900 acres,
orA Afoio har ocaI Ta C0QE
acres with vines, and enough musk
melon and water melon seeds to plant
2675 acres. The total quantity OF flower
and vegetable seeds thus distributed
was contained in more than nine million
packages and thew were sufficient, if
planted, to cover 1896 acres of land.
In view of these facts this formidable
expenditure. without legitimate returns
of benefit, ought to be abolished. An
t:cipating contamination 30 manifestly
in the interest of good administration
more than 100000 has been stricken
from the estimate made to ..cover this
object for the year ending June 20, 1895,
and the secretary recommends that the
remaining $35. 900 of the estimate be
confined strictly to the purchase of new
and improved varieties OF seeds, and
IAdb bhCcO OO QlctIlOAtOQ thlOuSli GA
pertinent stations. Thus the seed will
be tested and after the test has been
completed by the experiment station,
the rejection of the valueless may
safely be- left to the common Hense OF
the people.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The continued intelligent execution OF
the civil service law and the increasing
approval by the people of its operation.
are most gratifying. The extensions OF
its limitations and regulations to the
employees az free-Gellvery postofiices,
has been honestly and promptly accom-
plished By the commission, with the
hearty cooperation OF the postmaster
general, is an immensely important ad-
vance in the usefulness Of the system.
| am, if possible, more than ever con.
vinced OF the incalculable benefits con-
ferred by the civil service law, not only
in it's effect upon the public service but
also what is even more important, in ite
effect in elevating the tone OF political
life generally.
The course of civil service reform in
this country instructively and interest
ingly illustrates how strong hold the
movement gains upon our people which
has underlying it sentiment of justice
and right, and which at the same time
promises better administration of their
government. The law embodying this
reform found its way to our statute book
more from fear of the popular sentiment
existing in its favor than from any love
for the reform itself on the part
of legislators, and has lived and
grown and fourished in spite
of the covert and open hostility
OF spoilsmen, and notwithstanding the
queruious practicability OF many self
constituted guardians.. Beneath all the
vagaries and sublimed theories which
are attached to it, there underlies this
reform a sturdy, common-aense princi-
pie not only suited to this sphere, but
whose application our people have more
and more recognized to be absolutely
essential to the most successful opera
tion of the government, if not to its
peipetuity.
1t seems to me to be entirely incon-
sistent with the character of this re-
form, as we'll as with its enforcement,
to oblige the commission to rely for
clerical assistance upon clerks detailed
from other departments. There ought
not to be such condition in any de-
partment that clerks hired to do the
WORK there can be spared TO habitually
work at another place, and it does
not accord with sensible view
of civil service reform that persons
should be employed on the theory
that their labor is necessary in one