Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-12-08

ing June 30, 1894, out Of q total expendl-
ture Of 81, 0iS, $685. s che department APP
piled ST. per cent of that sum to scientific
work and investigation. Ii Is therefore
very plainly observable that the economies
which have been practiced in the admins
tration of the department have not been at
the expense of scientific research.
The recommendation contained in the
report of the secretary for 1893, that the
vicious system of promiscious free distri-
button of its departmental documents be
abandoned is again urged. These publi-
cations may well he furnished without
cost to public Libraries, educational insti-
buttons and the offers and libraries
of states and of the federal government,
but from all individuals applying for them
a price covering the cost of the document
asked for should be required. Thus the
publications and documents would be Sc
cured by those who really desire them for
proper purposes. Half "a million OF
copies of the report OF the secretary
of agriculture are printed for distribution
at an annua cost of about S3Oo,WW Large
numbers OF them are numbering store
rooms at tie capitol and the shelves OF
secondhand book stores throughout the
country. All this labor and waste might
be avoided if the recommendations of the
secretary were adopted. The secretary
also again recommends hat the gratnitous
dlSiIlblllJn vi SttflS ttit>N Lili AANA nv
money lie appropriated for that pur-
pose except 10 experiment stations
He reiterates the reasons given in his re
port for 1893 for disseminating this I'M
justi6able gratuity and ! fully concur IN
the conclusions which he has reached. a
further important utility in the agricillt-
ural statistics il found in their calculation
Of t,e relation of the supply of farm prod
uce to the demand for them in the mar
kets of the United States and of the world.
Ii IL deemed possible that an agricultural
census may he taken each year
through the agents of the sta
~tistical division of the department.
Such a course Is commended for trial by
the chief of that division. Its scope
would be:
/. The area Of the more important crops.
2. The aggregate products OF each OF
such crops.
3. The quantity Of wheat aud corn in the
lands of farmers at Il date after the spring
sowings and paintings and before the be-
ginning o! harvest. and also the quantity
of cotton and tobacco remaining in the
hands of planters either nj the same date
Or AT some other designated tina. The
oSt OF the work is estimated Mt g 1000.
Owing to the peculiar quality of TIE
statistical work and the natural and nc
quired fitness necessary TO It's successful
prosecution the secretary Of agriculture
th DIt>>ES lit bDltllOH UNA Every DNIHbii
employed in gathering statistics undc the
chief of that division should be admitted to
that service only after thorough, exhatls-
tive and successful examination AT the
hands OF the United States civil service
commission. This has led him ia call for
such examination of candidates for the
position of assistant statisticians ana
also of candidates for Offices in
other sections of that division.
The work done by this department of agri-
culture is very thoroughly dealt with in
this communication and | the
report of the secretary and the very impor-
tant interests with which il deals 10 the
careful attention of the congress. The adj
vantages TO the public service OF an adher-
encc to the principles OF civil service re
form are constantly more apparent and
nothing IS so encouraging to those in of!
life who honestly desire good govern
ment as the increasing appreciation by our
people OF these advantages. y vast mt
jority of the voters OF the and are ready to
insist that the time and attention of those
they select to perform for
them important public duties, should not
be distracted by doing II minor offices,
and they are growing TO be unanimous in
regarding party organization as some
thing that should be used in establishing
party principles instead Of debating the
distribution of public places rs rewards of
partisan activity. Numerous additional
offices and places have lately been brought
within civil service rules and regulations,
and some Others will probably soon be in
cluded. The report of the commissioners
will be submitted tn the congress-, and |
invite careful attention 10 the recommend
ations il contains. / am entirely con-
WINGED that we ought not to be longer
without a national board of health Office.
charged with nc other duties than such as
pertain to the protection of our country
from the invasion Of pestilence and dis
ease.
The Railroad Commission
BY virtue of "A statute of the United
States passed in 1883 | appointed in July
last Hon. John ID. Herman of the state of
New York and Hon. Nicholas T.. Worth
ington of the state of Illinois
70 form with Hon. Carol ID.
Wright, Commissioners of labor,
4 eaW9tMniassaiHQaat.l t2sELI 4 hee ~aanagGillPPS4e Al III kAiRG.
their employees which hal resulted in an
extensive and destructive strike, accom-
panied by much violence and dangerous
disturbance with considerable loss of life
and great destruction of property. The
report of the commissioners has been sub
mitted to me and will be transmitted to
the congress with the evidence taken
upon their investigation. Their work has
been well done and their standing and in
telligence give assurance that the report
and suggestions they max are worthy
of carcIul consideration.