The Washington times., 1894-05-18
DEPARTMENT OF AcRIcuLrURE.
Bill Fixing Expenditures In That Depart
mcnt Finally Disposed Of Yesterday.


Bill Fixing Expenditures In That Depart
ment Finally Disposed of Yesterday.
A fllibuster on question Of limiting de-
bate on an amendment consumed about two
hours in the House Yesterday, when the agri-
cultural appropriation bill was under discus
sion. The most important amendment
adopted was to restore the appropriation for
investigating the production of textile fibers,
| and $500 having already been appropriated
by an amendment adopted yesterday to con-
tinue the Investigations into the production
of fax and hemp in Washington. the sum oil
81 200 was added for introducing the Chinese
plant ''ramie,' so that the total appropria-
tion for the study of textile fibers is brought
up to 5000, as in the bill for the current
year.
Considerable discussion followed the read
ing OF the paragraph relating to the question
of irrigation, hat no change was made.
Mr.. Hatch offered n committee amendment
to the paragraph authorizing the Agricultural
Department 10 inquire into tine nutritive
value OF food products by the agricult-
ural experiment stations. to cooperate
with the Secretary OF Agriculture In carrying
out experiments into the value OF food siufls,
and the Secretary of Agriculture may require
the several experiment stations to report to
him the result OF any Investigation which they
might carry out. whether in cooperation
with the department or otherwise.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Sickles Dem. y. Y. offered an amend
ment appropriating : ..2C0 for experiments in
the growth Of textile fibers and for the pur-
chase and distribution OF seeds OF fibers. His
amendment was intended to encourage the
introduction and growth OF ramie, Chinese
plant resembling silk and almost as valuable
as silk, which he said would grow like weed
in the South, West. and Southwest.
Mr.. Hatch stated that inasmuch as the COM
mittee had already Incorporated in the bill an
amendment for the continuance of fiber in
vestgations in the state OF Washington. he
would offer no objection to this amendment,
which restored the appropriation in the bill
for the current year. The amendment was
accordingly adopted.
Amendments were proposed by Mr.. Hatch
and agreed to authorizing the Secretary OF
Agriculture to secure an executive seal for
the department, and also providing that any
person who should knowingly publish any
false weather forecast or warning should be
fined a sum not 10 exceed $500 or imprison-
ment not exceeding ninety days, or both.
Several amendments were eoileredtothe para
graph authorizinGth the Secretary OF Agriculture
and the Architect OF the Treasury to prepare
plans for new building for the Agricultural
Department. Among them was a rider offered
by Mr.. Grain, providing for his new building
for Laredo, Texas. This. like ali the amend
ments on the same paragraph which had
preceded it. were voted down, but Mr.. Bank
head, chairman OF the Committee on Public
Buildings ard Grounds, offered an amend
ment striking out the entire paragraph. This
amendment was agreed to by a vote OF 81 to
43. but Mr.. Hatch gave notice that he would
demand a separate vote on the amendment in
the House.
Mr.. Hatch offered IN additional paragraph
making it a misdemeanor to publish or make
use Of false weather forecasts or warnings and
fixing the punishment for such misdemeanor
a fine no. exceeding $500 or Imprisonment not
exceeding ninety days. or both. He had read
certain communications stating that weather
bureau warnings were being used rs advertise
ments. and the existing, statutes did not cover
the case. An amendment was also adopted
authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to
inquire as to the feasibility of displaying
weather signals from postal cars.
At O'Clock the consideration Of the bill
was concluded. and the Committee of the Whole
having risen the bill was favorably reported
to the House and the previous question being
ordered the bill was passed in spite of Mr..
NJ arshs effort to recommit it.