The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-04


ment expended IN the nscal year lsJ2
| S2354. SG3.sb, and out of that sum the total
! amount expended In scientific research
was i5.6 per cent. But In the year ending
| June 80, 1894 out OF a total expenditure
| OF 81 ,9is.9 1888, the department applied bis
| per cent. OF that sum to scientific work
| plainly observable that the economies
which have been practiced In the admin
istration OF the department have not been
at the expense OF scientific research.
The recommendation contained in the
report or the Secretary for 1893 that the
vicious system OF promiscuous free dis
tribution OF its departmental documents
be abandoned. Is again urged. These pub
locations may well be furnished without
cost TO public Libraries, educational in
stltutions. and the officers and libraries
OF states am Of the Federal Govern
ment but from all individuals applying
Tor them price covering the cost OF the
documents asked for should be required
menus menus the eu,P publications and dOcg
who really desire them for prop
er purposes. Half million
OF copies Of the report Of the Secretary
OF Agriculture are printed for distribution,
al an annual cost of about $4,000. Large
hunters or them are numbering store
rooms at the Capitol and the shelves OF
second hand book stores throughout the
country; All this labor and waste might
be avoided IL the Recommendations OF the
secretary were adopted. The Secretary
also also again recommends that the gratui-
no money be appropriated for that pur-
pose except to experiment stations
ne reterates the reasons given IN his
tte ,pp.ig Tor 1893 for disseminating this I'M
gus.,ldple gratuity, and / fully concur
In the conclusions which he has reached
further important utility I'm agri-
C cidIstII statistics is found in their elu
t tn ,ba d OF me supply of farm products
70 the ueinand Tor them In the markets
OF the United States and OF the world
AN AGRICULTURAL Ornate
IT is deemed possible that an agricuI-
tuIdl census may be taken each year
lnfouBh the agents Of the statistical di-
Vl Smnh OF the department.
would be: " ''l'O
l. The area under each of the more
important crops.
2. The aggregate products Of each Of
such crops
3. The quantity of wheat and corn in
me hands of farmers at a date after
the spring sowings and paintings. and
Deiore the beginning Of harvest and also
the quantity OF cotton and tobacco re-
naming in the hands OF planters. either
AT me same date or at some other desig-
mated time
The cost of the work is estimated at
$500 600.
Owing to the peculiar quality of the
statlstclan's work, and the natural and
acquired fitness necessary to it's sue
cessful prOecution, the Secretary Of Ag-
riculture 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 thorough, exhaustive and sue
cessful examination at the hands of the
United States Civil Service Commission
This has led him to call for such eXami-
nation of candidates for the position of
assistant statisticians. and also Of cam
didates for chiefs of sections in that
division.
The work done by the Department Of
Agriculture is very specifically dealt with
In this communication, and commend
the report of the Secretary and the
very important interests with which II
Congress.
The advantages TO the public
service of an adherence TO the principles
of civil service reform are constantly
more apparent, and nothing is so en-
couraging to those In official life VINO
honestly desire good government as the
increasing appreciation by our people OF
these advantages. A vast majority OF me
voters of the land are ready TO insist
that the time and attention OF those
they select 10 perform FOR them lnnPoI taIli
uublic duties should not be distracted
by doing out minor offices ana they are
growing to be unanimous in regarding
party organization as something that
should be used in establishing party
principles. instead Of debating the as
trlbution of public places as rewards OF
Numerous additional offices and places
nave lately been brought within clVll
service rules and regulations; ana some
others will probably soon be included -,
The report of the COMMISSIONER VIII
be substituted TO the Congress, ana
invite careful attention TO the recon-
mendations 1t contains
NATIONAL BOARD OF HEALTH.
am entirely convinced that we ought
rot to be longer without a natlo n!9
board of health or hatipnal a hedlsh , ON,
Ger, charged with no other duties IMAM
such as pertain 10 the protecloL OF
our country from the invasion OF pestl-
lence and disease. This would involve
the establishment by such board or
officer IF proper quarantine precautions
or the necessary aid and counsel TO 10
cal authorities on the subject, prompt
advice and assistance 10 local boards OF
nealth OF health officers in the suppress
sion of contagious disease, and In cases
where there are no such local boards or
officers, the immediate direction by tie
national board or officer Of measures OF
supp: ,sSiOn, constant and authentic in
formation concerning the ne llth OF Tor
eign countries and all parts of our own
country as related to contagious disease
ana consideration or regulations TO be
enforced in foreign ports TO prevent the
introduction of cOntagiOn into our cities
and the measures which sh 1uld be adopt
ed TO secure their enforcement
There seems to be at this lime a Ge-
protection against contagious diseases
in International conference with a view
Of adopting means Of mutual rs jistance.
Tie creation of such a national health
establishment would greatly aid our
standing in such conferel les and i'm
prove our opportunities to avail CIR
selves Of their benefits. | earnestly rec
Ommend the Inauguration OF a national
board Of health or similar national in
strumentality. believing the same TO be
a needed precautlon against contagious
dis ease and In the interest of the safety
and health of our people.
BY virtue of a statute of the United
States, passed in 1888, | appointed in
July last Hon. John ID. Herman, OF
the State Of New York, and Hon. NichO-
las +. WorthingtOn, Of the State OF IL
linois to form, with Hon. Carroll ID.
Wright, Commissioner Of Labor. who
was designated by said statute com
mission for the purpose of making care
full inquiry into The causes Of the con
troversies between certain railroads and
their employees, which had resulted in
an extensive sand destructive strike, ac-
Companied by much violence and danger
Gus disturbance with considerable loss
Of life and great destruction of property.
The report of the commission has been
submitted TO me and will be transmitted
to Congress with the evidence taken upon
then investigation. Their work has been
we'll done and their standing and intel
ligence gives assurance that the report
and suggestions they make are worthy
Of careful consideration.
STILL FOR FREE RAW MATERIALS.
The tariff act passed at the last ses-
sion of the Congress needs important
amendments If 1t is 10 be executed eff
fectively and with certainty. In addition
Ia amendments