Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-12-08

While contagious pleurO- -pneumOnia in
cattle has been era1iclted. animal tuber-
cuOsis. a disease widespread and more dan
gerous to human life than pleuro-pneumonia,
is still prevalent. Investigations have been
made during the past year as to the means
of its communication and the methOl OF its
correct diagnosis. Much progress has been
made in this direction by the stu lies Of the
division ofanimal pathology. but work ought
TO be extended in cooperation with local
authorities until the danger TO human life
arising from this cause is reduced 10 n mini
mum.
In the year 1889 the Congress appropriate
$1,000. to be taken from the Patent Office
funds, for the purpose OF collecting and dis
trbutmg rare and improved varieties OF seeds
and for prosecuting agricultural investiga-
tions and procuring agricultural statistics.
From this small beginning the Seed Division
OF the Department Of Agriculture has grown
TO its present unwieldy and uniustinably cx-
trayagant proportions.
During the last fiscal year ,he cost OF seeds
purchased was s66.54S.6L The remainder
OF an appropriation Of s135, 900 was expend-
ed in putting them up aud distributing
them. II surely never could have entered
the minds Of those who first sanctioned
appropriations OF public moneys for
the purchase Of new and improved
varieties Of seeds for gratuitous distribution
that from this would grow large appropria-
tions for the purchase and distribution by
! Members of Congress Of ordinary seeds
bulbs. aud cuttings which are common in all
the States AMI Territories and everywhere
easily obtainlble at low prices.
In each State and Territory an agricultural
experiment statoa has been established.
Thes. stations, by their very character AMI
name. are the proper agencies 10 experiment
with and test now varieties OF seeds and yet
this indiscrimin1te and wasteful distribution
bv legislation and legislators continues an
swerng no purpose unless it be to remind
constituents that their representatives, are
willing to remember them with gratuiiies at
public cost.
Under the sanction of existing legislation
there was ssnt ont from the Agricultural
Department during the last fiscal year
enough Of cabbage seed 10 plant 1920
acres OF land a sufli eicnt quantity OF beans
f0 plant 1909 acres. beet seed enough To-
plant $500 acres sweet corn enough 10 plant
/ 1900 acres sufficient cucumber seed To
cover POPS acres with vines ard enough
mustmelon and watermelon seets 10 plant
2675 acres. The total quantity OF fowerand
vegetable seeds thus distributed was con-
ta'nei in more than nine million packages.
and they were sufficient, If planted. to cover
so SOC acres of land.
In view Of these facts this enormous eX-
penditure without Legitimate returns OF bene-
IN ought 10 be abolished. Anticipating q
consummation so manite-tly IN the interest
az cool administration. moro than 100000
ha- been stricken from the estimate mad" 70
cover this object for the year ending Jun'
30. 1895 AMI the Secretary rscOmmends that
the remaining S35.0)0 of the estimate bee con
fined strictly 10 the purchase OF new and inn
proy,l varieties of seeds. and that these he
distributed through exp riment stations.
Tlus the ssel will boz tested AMI after tine
test has been completed by the experiment
station. the propagation OF the useful Va
riefies and the rejection Of the yalueless may
safely be left to tho common sense Of tho
people.
THE CIVIL SERVICE LAWS.
The continued intelligent execution Of tho
Civil Service law and the increasing ap-
proval by the people Of its operation arc
most gratifying. The recent extension ofits
/ limitations and regulations TO the employees
/ At free delivery postofiices. which has been
honestly and promptly accomplished by the
commission. with the hearty cooperation ot
/ he Postmaster General. is an immensely I'm
portant advance in the usefulness Of the sys-
/ TEN.
/ am, il possible. more than ever con-
7 vince1 OF the incalculable benefits conferred
/ ~ the Civil Service law not only in its effect
I ipon the public service. but also. what IS
aven moro important. i'm its effect IN eleyat-
ng the tone Of political life generally
NEED OF PUBLIC EcoNoNY.
Economy in publir expenditure is dIty
nat cannot innO'entlv be neglected hy
hose intrusied with the control oi
money drawn from the people tor PUT
J. "A. L l.s -nI
apparently endless resources. the iamil-
iariiv Of our people with immense ac-
cumulations OF wealth. the growing
sentiment among them that the cxpenli-
lure OF public money shoul in some manner
be- 10 their Immediate AMI personal aivan-
tage. the indirect and almost stealthy ma
ner I'm which a large part OF our taxes are eN-
actei. and a degenerated sense OF Oincla az
countabiity have led 10 growing extrayl-
cance in Governmental appropriations.
At this time. when a depleted public treas
/ urv confr1nts rs. when many OF our people
ar, engaged ina hard struggle for the neres-
,lries %, ufc. and when enforced economy is
. r-rssing upon the great mass Of our coun-
/ irrmen. desire 20 urge with all the earnest
i nr.. at my cOmman that congressional
legislation be so limited by strict economy as
/ to exhibit an appreciation OF the condition
/ the Treasury AMI sympathy with the
straitenel circumstances Oi our ieNoW-flt-
liens.
The duty OF public economy is also OF im-
mense importance in its intimate aud neces-
-iry relation to the task now in han OF pro-
/ viding revenue 10 meet Government eNp'ndi-
iur.s. and Vet re- elucing the peoples buri
OF F. lcrll taXitiOn.
TARIFF CHANGES.
After a hard struggle, tariG reform is di-
I rectly before us. Nothing 80 important claims
our attention. and nothing 80 cle!riy presents
itself as hOth an opportunity ana duty-ln
b opportunity TO deserve the gratitude OF our
fellow citizens and a duty imposed upon us by
our oft-repeated professions and 6y the EN-
phltic mandate Of the people. After tul
+ discussion. our cOuutrymen have spoken IN
J favor OF this reform and they have cOnndeo
/ the work OF its Accomplishment 10 the hahus
! of those who are solemnly pledged TO II.
II there is anything in the theory OF rep,
resentation in public places OF the people anu su
their desires. II public officers are really the
servants Of the people. and il poll ucal prom
i lses and professions have any binding toIc
, our failure to give the relief so long awaited
| will be sheer recreancy. Nothing should lntet
yene 10 distract our efOrt until this reform Is
| accomplished by wise and careful legislation.
While we should staunchly adhere to th'
principle that only the necessity OF revenue
/ iustihes the imposition OF tariu duties au1
| other Federal taxation. au1 that they shoun
! =. limited by strict economy. we cannot close
our eyes to the fact that conditions nave
grown up among us which i'm justice and fair
ness call for discriminating care in the distri-
button of such duties and taxation as the
emergencies Of our Government actually de-
mand.
Msnifestly. if we are to aid the people di-
rectly through tariff reform, one Of its most
obvious features should be a reduction in
present tariff charges upon the necessaries of
! life. The benefits of such reduction would
/ be palpahe and substantial seen and felt by
J thousands who would be better fed and better
b clothed and better sheltered. These gifts
: should be the willing bencfactiOns of a Gov
/ ernment whose highest function is the pro-
motion Of the welfare Of the people.
Z Not less closely related TO our peoples pros
peritv and well-being is the removal Of re-
| strictions upon the importation Of the raw
I materials necessary to our manufactures.
| THE world should be open TO our national in
genuitv and enterprise This cannot be while
/ Federal legislation. through the imposition of
bigh tariff. forbids 10 American manufactur-
| ers as cheap materials as those used by their
II is ouite obvious that the enhancement ot
tbe nriee of our manufactured products re-
shifting from this policy not only confines the
q market for these products within our own
q horders 10 the direct disad vantage Of our
/ manufacturers. but also increases their cost
/ to our citizens. ,,-,-- .,.....-,.
! Tho interests OF labor are certainly, though
! indiroctlv involved in this feature OF our tar
I In svstom The sharp competition and ac-
/ tive strfIggle among our manufacturers 20
/ s,nply the limited demand for their goods.
| soon filI fse narrow market to which they are