Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-05
STATE EXPERIMENT STATIONS.
Secretary Morton Explains HE Posi-
as to the Appropriation.

Secretary Morton Explains Hts Posi-
n to the Appropriation.
Considerable surprise has been expressed
by those who understand the state OF af-
fairs at the general misapprehension that
exists as to Secretary Morton's position
with reference to the appropriation for ex-
pertinent stations. According to them Mr..
Morton is anything but opposed to the sta
tions but simply considers that the appro-
2riation should not be charged in the esti-
mates for the Agricultural Department, as
the Secretary has no control over the ex-
penditure of the funds. A Star reporter
called to see Secretary Morton and obtain
his confirmation or otherwise OF the state
ment purporting to emanate from him and
sent out through the press. Mr.. Morton
reiterated the statement Of his position in
the matter. but added with emphasis: Il
want it distinctly understood that 1 do not
offer this statement as a defense-for I
have nothing to defend-but merely to ex-
plain my position. a position which il seems
to me should never have been misunder-
stood"
Il have taken the same course in this re-
spect as was adopted by my predecessor.
Gen. Rusk. and, as ! understand from
George William Hill. chief OF the division
Of records and editing, to whom Secretary
Rusk expressed himself on the subject. on
precisely the same grounds. Reading the
sixth page Of my report to the President
shows clearly what the grounds Tor my
action are"
In reply to the inquiry as to whether the
claims had not ben made that his eco
nomlc management had resulted in a de-
crease fr his estimate for the ensuing fiscal
year by comparison with the current year
Of over a million dollars. the Secretary
raid:
On page Is Of my report 1 give a de-
tailed comparative statement OF the appro-
priation and estimate for 1874 and 1895, re-
spectively. and by the omission of the sum
OF SI4o,OUO for experiment stations from the
department estimates and the additions
thereto Of $2o,OO for the office OF expert
ment stations. a total decrease in my esti-
mates from the current years appropria-
tion of nearly 100000 is shown, but 1
have taken pains in that statement to de-
duct sI2O,OVO from that total with the ex-
PLANTATION IN plain type that 1t is a sum i'm
properly included in the appropriation for
the Department OF Agriculture, and to
claim credit only for the net decrease thus
shown-$36q, ,656.
THE fact is plain" continued the Secre-
tary, to any one who will take the pains
to review the only official utterances L
have expressed on the subject that no sug-
gestion for the abolition Of the state sta
tions was suggested by me. The inclusion
In my estimate of the sum of $4,000 for
that division of the department work
known as the office of experiment stations
t,uica.es etat 10 not expect the work of
tnat DIVISION to cease, although il is per-
fectly well understood that il is maintained
as the connecting link between the depart-
ment and the state stations and for the
special benefit of the latter.
In other parts of my report offer sug-
gestlons as to certain things which should
be relegated to the stations. such as the
distributing and testing of new and i'm
proved seeds. plants. &c. 1t is obvious. in
iact. that would not have wasted words
urging the necessity for a more sa,tsT,c-
tory and clearer definition of the rela atoms
OF the stations to the department and vice
versa had my object been merely to ex-
tinguish them altogether
Il am afraid" added the Secretarv ar,,,.
that the Misrepresentation referred to ss
existing in the minds OF many people is
very largely due to some misrepresen.a-
ton on the part Of a few"