Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-12-06

Secretary of Agriculture to investigate
and renort pom the nutritive value of
various articles n commodities now
used for human food with special sugges-
ton offull, wholesome and edible rations
less waSteful and more economical than
those in common use" Under this ap-
preparation the department has pre-
pared and now has nearly ready for dis
~trlbutlon an elementary discussion of
the nntritive value and ~pecuniary econ
omy of flood. When we consider that fully
one-half of all the money earned by
wage earners of the civilized world is
expended by them for food, the impor-
lance of such an investigation is appar-
ent. The department expended in the
| fiscal year 1892 So, 354, 800. Sc; and out of
l that sum the total amoun ex-
pended in scientific research was
1876 per cent But in the year
ending June 3, 1894, out of a total ex-
| penditure of ST., 94S, 99S. SO the depart
ment applied SIS per cent, of that sum
to scientific work and investigation. 1t
is, therefore, very plainly observable
that the economies which have been
| practiced in the administration of the
| department have been at the expense of
| scientific research.
The recommendation in the report of
the Secretary for. 1893 that the
vicious system of promiscuous free
L NAASN - " 49, Sld Ii d
documents be abandoned, is again
urged. These publications may well
be furnished without cost to public
| libraries, educational institutions and
| the officers 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
| SpH1rp6 nv those who roa1 1U 6oSiro Thorn
for proper purposes. Half a million of
copies of the report of the Secretary of
Agriculture are printed for distribution
| at an annual cost of about $500, 600.
Large numbers of them are numbering
store-rooms at the capitol and the
shelves of secondhand book stores
throughout the country. All this labor
and waste might be avoided if the rec
concentrations of the Secretary were
adopted. The Secretary also again rec
ommends hat the gratuitouS distribu-
| ton of seeds cease and hat no money
be appropriated for hat purpose except
to experiment stations. He re-iterates
the reasons given in his report for 1893
for disseminating this unjustifiable gra-
tuity, and l fully concur in the conclu-
| sions which he has reached.
Owing to the peculiar quality of the
| statistical work and the. natural and
| acquired fitness necessary to its success
full prosecution, the Secretary of Agri-
| culture expresses the opinion that every
| person employed in gathering sta istics
| under the chief of that division should
be admitted to that service only after a
| thorough, exhaustive and successful
| examination at the hands of the United
| States civil service commission. This
| has led him to call for such examination
| of candidates for the position of assist
ant statisticians and also of candidates
for chiefs of sections in that division.
The work done by the Department of
| Agriculture is very specifically dealt
| with in this communication, and | COM
mend the report of the Secretary and
the very important interests with
which it deals to the careful attention
of the Congress.
A wORD o CIVIL SERVICE.
The advantages to the public service
of an adherence to the principles of
civil service reform are constantly more
apparent, and nothing is SO encouraging
to those in official life who honestly de-
sire good government as the increasing
appreciation by our people of these adj
vantages. A vast majority of the voters
of the land are ready to insist that
the time and attention of those
that they select to perform for them
important public duties, should not
be distracted byidoling out minor offices,
and they are growing to be unanimous
in regarding party organization as
something that should be used in es-
tablishing party principles, instead of
debating the distribution of public
places as rewafds 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 included.
The report of the commissioners will
be submitted to the Congress, and l in
yite careful attention to the recon-
mendations it contains.
NATIONAL BOARD OF A
am entirely convinced that we ought
not to be longer without a nationa
board of health or national health of
ficer charged with no other duties thar
such as pertain to the protection of oul
country from the invasion of pestilenct
and disease. This would involve the
establishment by such a board or Officer
of proper quarantine precautions, OIL
the necessary aid and counsel to loca
authorities on the subject; prompt ad
vice and assistance to local boards O.
health or health officers in the suppress
SION of contagious disease, and in case!
where there are no such local board
or officers, the Immediate direction b.
the national board or officer of meas
IlNC vi
thentic information concerning tn
health of foreign countries and all part
of our own country as related to con
tagious diseases; and consideration o
regulations to be enforced in foreigl
, ports to prevent the introduction o
/ contagion into our cities, and the meas
: ures which should be adopted to secur
: their enforcement. There seems to b
: at this time a decided inclination t
! discuss measures of protection agains
, contagious diseases in internationa
! conference with a view of adoptin
: means of mutual assistance. The crea
f ton of such a national health establish
ment would greatly aid our standing i
such conferences and improve our or
, portunities to avail ourselves of thei
benefits. [ earnestly recommend tn
I. Inauguration of a national board G
health or similar national instrumeI
tality, believing the anne to be a need
f ed ~precaution against contagious dis
q ease and in the interest of the safet
+ and health of our people.
e THE STRIKE COMMISSION RI
PORT.
{ By virtue of a statute of the Unite
|; States, passed in 1888, l appointed i
y July last, Hon. John d. Herman, of tn
" State of New York, and Hon. Nichols
= E. Worthington, of the State of LII
: nois, to form, with Hon. Carroll L
o Wright. Commissioner of Labor, WI
Ii II - - f@I Nv Cold a ofrIf0 q ron