The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-20

TO It's pSc' ens unW;eldy aaa unJustluaDiy eA
travaganf proportions.
During the last fiscal year the cost Of seeds
purchased was $66, ,548.61. The remainder
Of an appropriation OF $135, 900 was expend
ed in putting them up and distributing
them. It surely never could have entered
the minds of those who first sanctioned
appropriations OF public moneys foi
the purchase OF new and improved
varieties OF seeds for gratuitous distribution
that from this would grow large appropr1a.
tions for the purchase and distribution by
Members of Congress OF ordinary seeds.
bulbs, and cuttings which are common in all
the States and Territories and everywhere
easily obtainable at low prices.
experiment station has been established.
These stations, by their very character and
name, arethe proper agencies to experiment
with and test new varieties Of seeds and yet
this indiscrlminate and wasteful distribution
by legislation and legislators continues, an
swering no purpose unless It be to remind
constituents that their representatives are
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 19,2OO
q
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
muskmelon and watermelon seeds to plant
2675 acres. The total quantity OF flower and
vegetable seeds thus distributed was con-
tanned In more than nine million packages,
and they were sufficient, If planted, to cover
SO, ,596 acres Of land.
In view Of these facts this enormous e1-
penditure without legitimate returns OF bene-
at ought to be abolished. Anticipating o
consummation 80 manifestly In the interest
of rood administration, more than 900
has been stricken from the estimate made to
cover this object for the year ending June
80, 1895 and the Secretary recommends thar
the remaining $35, 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 experiment 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 left to the common sense OF the
people.
THE CIVIL SERVICE LAWS.
The continued intelligent execution OF the
Civil Service law and the increasing ap-
most gratifying. The recent extension of tts
limitations and regulations to the employees
at free delivery postofflces, which has been
honestly and promptly accomplished by the
commission, with the hearty cooperation OF
the Postmaster General, is an immensely i'm
portant advance in the usefulness OF the sys-
tenn.
I am, If possible, more than ever con.
vnced of the incalculable benefits conferred
BY the Civil Service law, not only in It's efect
upon the public service, but also, what Is
even more important, in its effect In yelevat.
ing the tone Of political life generally.
NEED OF PUBLIC ECONOMY.
Economy in public expenditure is duty
that cannot innocently be neglected by
those intrusted with tho control OF
money drawn from the people tor pub
lie uses. It must be confessed that oui
apparently endless resources, the famil'
iarity Of our people with immense ae-
cumulations of wealth, the growing
sentiment among them that the expeDdi.
rure of public money should In some manner
be TO their immediate and personal advan-
tage, the indirect and almost stealthy man
ner in which o large part OF our taxsS are ex-
acted, and degenerated sense OF official ac-
countability have led TO growing extrava~
pance in Governmental appropriations.
At this time, when depleted public treas
ury confronts US, when many OF our people
are engaged in 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 80 limited by strict economy as
to exhibit an appreciation OF the CONDITION .a la
OF the Treasury and sympathy with the
o+ro;tonad oirnr, noatanceq Of our folloW-cit-
liens.
The duty OF public economy Is also OF i'm
imerse importance In its intimate aud neces-
sary relation to the task now In hand OF pro-
ylding revenue 70 meet Government expendt-
lures, and yet reducing the peoples. burden
OF Federal taxation.
TARIFF CHANGES.
After hard struggle, tariff reform Is di-
rectly before us. Nothing 80 important CLAIMS
our attention, and nothing so clearly presents
itself as both an opportunity and duty-an
opportunity to deserve the gratitude or our
fellow citizens and duty imposed upon us by
our oft-repeated professions and by the em.
phatic mandate Of the people. After rull
discussion, our countrymen have spoken IN
the work OF its accomplishments to the hands
Of those who are solemuly pledged to It,
II there is anything In the theory OF rep,
resentation in public places OF the people and
III,
servants of the people, and If political prom
ises and professions have any binding force,
our failure to give the relief so long awaited
will be sheer recreancy. Nothing shonld inter-
vene to distract our enors until tnis re.Grh ID
While we should staunchly adhere TO the
principle that only the necessity Of revenue
jnstifies the imposition OF tariff duties ana
other Federal taxation, and that they snould
be limited by strict economy, we cannot close
our eyes to the fact that conditions nave
grown up among us which in justice and fair
ness call for discriminating care In the distrt'
button Of such duties and taxation as the
emergencies of our Government actually de-
mand. :.
Manifestly. if we are to aid the people d..
rectly through tariff reform, one Of its most
obvious features should be reduction in
present tariff charges upon the neceS9aries or
life. The benefits Of such a reduction would
be palpable and substantial. seen and felt by
thousands who would be better fed and Detter
clothed and better sheltered. These gifts
should be the willing benefactions OF GOV
eminent whose highest raaot,Sn opss y 'ne pfo'
Not less closely related to our peoples pros
perity and well-being is the removal or re-
striotions upon the Importation OF the raw
materials necessary to our manufactures.
The world should be open to our national in
zenuity and enterprise. This cannot be while
Federal legislation. through the imposition of
high tariff, forbids to American manufactur-
ers as cheap materials as those used by their
competitors.
It is quite obvious that the enhancement OF
the price of our manufactured products re
sultiug from this policy not only connnes tne
market for these products within our own
borders, to the direct disadvantage of our
manufacturers, but also increases their cost
to our citizens.
The interests of labor are certainly, though
Indirectly, involved in this feature Of our tar
if system. The sharp competition and &C
tive struggle among our manufacturers to
supply the limited demand for their goods.
soon fiIi the narrow market to which they are
Consigned. Then follows suspension Of work
In mills and factories, q discharge OF EN-
ployes,an distress In the homes our working
men.
Even If the often disproved assertion could
be made good that lower rate OF wages