The record-union., 1893-11-27
DEpARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
Secretary Morton Files HIS Annual
Report.


Report.
WAsHINGToN, Nov. 26.-Secretary of
Agriculture Morton III his report, Just
submitted to the President. regrets the
vague character of the department
organization, in which he says: 'It
offers opulent opportunities for the exer-
else of the most pronounced paternal-
ISM" but he adds that there are many
proper ways in which the Federal Gov
ernment may legitimately serve the cause
Of agriculture.
lie devotes considerable space to q re-
view OF what he regards as anomalous
between the Government Of the United
States and the Government of the re-
spective States for the conduct and en-
couragement Of State agricultural col
1eges and experiment stations.
lie suggests that the stations be entirely
divorced from the department and sum
appropriated charged directly TO them, or
the Secretary should have some power to
direct and restrain their disbursements
so as to insure a legitimate expenditure
OF the same. He adds that a thorough in
vestigation should be made TO demon
strate either the truth or falsity OF re-
ports of moneys appropriated to stations
which have been diverted from legitimate
purposes.
In reference to the expenditures Of the
department. the Secretary says he has
made strenuous endeavors to nationally
reduce the expenditures and eliminate
from the pay-rolls all persons not needed
for an efficient conduct of the depart
ment." The employees when he took
charge mum bered =, 2,4S7, and there are now
on the pay-rolls only 1854. The first
quarter of the fiscal year he reduced the
expenditures, in comparison with the
Df
S56,0J0. His estimates Tor the next year
show a net saving over the appropria-
uons for the current year OF s369. .656 81.
The classified service IS pronounced de-
fectlve, largely owing to the Inequalities
IN the compensation. With reference to
the services rendered. he argues that the
appropriations should be made in
gross for the clerical force and full dis
cretion given the head of the department
IN the matter Of remuneration. He states
that only elghty-seven employees in the
classified service came in by certification
by the Civil Service Commission, while
647 persons have been covered into the
classified service OF the department by
Presidential orders.
The distribution of seeds is reviewed,
and considerable saving is shown 10
have been effected in the purchase and
distribution of seed this year.
In the work of the Bureau of Animal
Industry the result IN the Texas fever
regulations is pronounced highly salts
Factory. but an increase of efficiency is
snggested in that penalty should be at
tached for violation of department regula-
lions by railroad companies in transports
ino- infected cattle. The total number of
imported animals inspected the past year
was 463. $50 and the total export of cattle
6lI.542. a further reduction was effected
bv vessel inspection in the percentage OF
cattle lost at sea- the ratio being for the
last wear less than half of l per cent An
amendment providing for the inspection
of horses imported into this country Is
si,grested. Careful comparison of the
meat exports for 1858 with 1872 shows that