The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-12-07

tOlANucc VITA inc IfOYlo.o1S CT Sui ~ L --iN
shall mako report thereon TO conarca%H
The best scryi.c OF the stAtistiol4a thc do
partment OF agriculture Is tho as1lrt1 nElcn5,
by diligence ana care, OF the aeia-i ll4 ro1i
conditions, favorable or unf 'voraDla % TIA
farmers and farms OF the country cai TO such
causes which produce these cor itiors, 70 tao
end that tho Facts aScertaiaoa may gulde tlcir
Intelligent trcatmcnt In obedience TO this
law tho dep srtInent OF agriculture Eamo-
diately sent out blank forms OF expense ac-
counts to each station. aud proposes Ia uldi-
tlon to make, through trusted exports,
systematic examination OF the several sta
lions during the yoar, for tho purpose or
acquiring by personal investigation tho do
tailed information necessary to cnaslo tho
secretary OF agriculture TO mako, as tho statute
provides, satisfactory report 30 congress.
The boards OF management OF the several sta
tions, with great alacrty and cordiality,
have approved the amendment 60 the law pro-
viding this supervision OF their oXpendi-
lures, anticipating that IL will increase
tho efficiency OF tho stations and pro-
tect their directors and managers from loose
charges concerning theis use OF public funds,
besides bringing the department. of agrioul-
turc into closer and more confidential relations
with tho experimental stations, end through
their joint service largely Increasing the use
fulness to tho agriculture Of the country.
Acting upon recommendation contained IN
the report of 1893, congress appropriated $4,000
TO enable the secretary OF agriculture to IN
vestigate AM report upon the nutrltlve value
OF various articles and commodities used for
humcn food with special suggestion OF full,
wholesome and edible rations loss waStetul
and more economical, than those in common
use For this appropriation the department.
has prepared and now has nearly ready for
distribution an elementary discussion OF the
nutritivo value ana pecuniary economy OF
food. When we consider that fully one-half
OF all the money earned by the wage-earners
OF the civilized world Is expended by them for
food the importance and utility OF such an in
vestigation il apparent.
Tho Department. expended in the fiscal year
1892, So 2i5,8 0950 and out OF that sum She total
amount expended in scientific research was
15.6 per cent. But in the year ending Juno 30,
1894, cut OF total expenditure of Sl9ls,9o8S5,
the department applied 5l.S per cent. OF that
SUM to scientific york and investigation 1t is,
therefore, very plainly observable that tho
economies which lave been practiced in tho
administration OF the department have not
been at the expenseof scientific research.
Distribution of Documents and Seeds.
Tho recommendation contained In the re-
port Of the secretary for 1898 that she vicious
system OF promiscuous free distribution OF its
departmental ID, dosuments be abando one, =, Is
educational institutions, and tho officers and
libraries OF states and OF tho federal govern
ment, but from all individuals applying for
them price covering tho cost of the document
asked for should DO required. Thus the
publications and documents would DO Sc
cured by those who really desire them for
copies Of p the report port Of tho '0 secre1
tary of agriculture are printed Tor distribu-
ton ut an annual cost Of about S3OJOol Large
numbers OF them are numbering 8torcrooms ut
the capitol and the shelves Cf secondhand
book stores throughout the country. All this
labor ana waste might bo avoided it tho rec
ommcudation5 OF the secretary were adopted.
The secretary also again recommends that
the gratutous distribution Of seeds cease ana
that TO money be appropriated Tor that pur-
pose except to experiment stations. He re-
iteratcs tho reasons given in his report for
1893 for disseminating this unjuStiilablo gratu-
fly, and fully concur IN the conclusions which
he has reached.
An agricultural Census.
A further important utility in AGRICULTURAL
statistics is found IL their calculation OF the
relation OF the supply OF farm products 10 tho
demand for them in the markets OF tho United
States ana OF the world. 1t is deemed possible
that an agricultural census may be taken each
year through the agents CT the statistical
division OF the department.. such q course IS
recommended for trial by the chief of that
division. It's scope would be-
1. Tho area under each OF the moro impor-
tant crops
g The aggregate products of each of such
crops.
g. The quantity OF wheat and corn in the
hands OF farmers at date after the spring
sowings and paintings ana Before tho begin
ming OF harvest; and also the quantity OF cot
ton and tobacco remaining in the hands OF
planters, either at the same date or ut some
other designated time.
The cost OF tho work is estimated at e50000Q
Owing to the peculiar quality OF the statiSti-
clans work and thonatural and acquired fitness
necessary to its successful prosecution, the
secretary OF agriculture expresses the opinion
that every person employed in gathering Sta
tistics under the chief of that division should
be admitted to that service only after q thor
ough, exhaustive and successful examination
ut the hands of the United States civil service
commission. This has led him to call for such
examination OF candidates for the position of
statisticians, and lso Of candidates for chiefs
of sections In that division.
The work done by tho department of agri-
culture is vcry specifically dealt with in this
communication and commend the report Of
the secretary and the very important In. creSts
with which 1t deals to the careful attention OF
the congress.
Civil Service Reform.
The advantages to the public service of an
adherence to the principles of civil service re-
form are constantly more apparent, and moth
Ing is so encouraging to those in official life
who honestly desire good government as the
increasing appreciation by our people Of these
advantages vast majority Of the voters of
the land 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 out minor offlces, and
they are growing to be unanimous in regard
hg RaF by tnas
instead OF debating the distribution of public
places as r ,:ar ~ Of partisan activity Numer-
Gus adait,oaAi 0i1Ses ana places have lately
regulations, and some others will probably
soon be included. The report OF the commits
invite careful attention to the recommended
tions 1t contains
To Protect Public Health.
I am entirely convinced that we ought not to
10 longer WltuOuCB uutlOual DOaru OF nealtn or
national health officer charged with no other
duties than such as pertain to the protection
of our country from the invasion of pestilence
ishment by such board or officer, Of proper
quarantine precautions, or the necessar aid
and counsel to local authorities on the subject,
prompt advice and assistance to locate boards
Of health or health officers in the suppression
of contagious disease, und In cases whore there
are no such local boards or officers the imme-
date direction by the national board or oflcer
OF measures Of suppression, constant and au-
thentic information concerning tho health
Of foreign countries and all parts OF our own
country as related to contagious diseases.
and consideration ofrcgulations to be enforced
in foreign ports to prevent the introduction
of contagion into our cities and the measures
which should be adopted to secure their en-
forcement.
There seems to be at this time decided in
clination to discuss measures O. protection
against contagious diseases In international
conference with q view of adopting means of
mutual assistance. The creation OF such a ma
tfonal health establishment would greatly aid
our standing In such conferences and Improve
our opportunities to avail ourselves of their
benefits earnestly recommend the inaugural
tion Of national board OF health or similar
national fundamentally. believing tho same !
TO be needed precaution against CONTAGIOUS
disease and In the interest of the safety and
health OF our people
The Labor Inquiry.
BY virtue Of o statute OF the United States
passed In 1888, I appointed, In July last Hon
John ID. Herman, OF the state of New York ANA !
Hon. Nicholas H. 'Worthington, Of the state of