Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-12-06
SECRETARY MORTON'S REPORT
He Discusses the Government S FL
nanciaI Policy and other Matters
of Interest.


nanciaI Policy and other Matters
of Interest.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. %.
In many respects the annual
report of Hon. J. Sterling Nor
ton, Of Nebraska, Secretary Of
A griculture, differs widely from
that of his predecessors. The
Secretary discusses the financial
policy of the government, the
silver question, and many other
matters of broad and general in
terest not usually treated in an
agricultural report. and demands
prime" currency in return for
Prime" beef or pork.
The Secretary denies the fire.
quent allegations on the part of
| European governments regard
| ing disease in American hog and
beef products, and suggests that
| if certain European nations con
tinue to INSIST on Microsopical
inspectation Of American pork
and veterinary inspection Of
beef, with governmental certifi-
cation to each, the govern
ment of the United States might
we'll insist upon inspection and
certitication by such foreign gov
ernments of all importations
therefrom, whether edibles or
beverages. intended for human
| consumption.
The Secretary deals somewhat
at length with the subject of the
farmers foreign trade, indicating
where, in his opinion, the farmer
can best find a market for his
different products. The work
of the bureau Of animal indus
tries. the various branches OF
other scientific work, and the
weather bureau are highly COM
mended. Regarding the latter,
the Secretary concludes that the
investment is a paging one and
the service may properly cCme
within the function Of the gov
ernment.
The report indicates that the
recent decision in several of the
larger cities resulting in a lessen
ing of the cost Of bread and the
betterment of the article itself.
was the outgroWth ofdepartment
>,,IIr+;,,c I,oo7,i,, n 7,1NOD tho D11tTi
ton Investigations recently un
dertaken.
The Russian thistle is made the
text for a suggestion that seeds
of new grass and other plants
from abroad must hereafter be
very carefully inspected. Indeed
the Secretary thinks it might be
we'll to demand a guaranty as tt
freedom from weed seeds and the
absolute purity and fertility o
seeds imported into this country
The exports Of American seed:
might be vastly incresed by ex
alting the standar2 of purity an(
terminating fertility and giving
to other people the guaranty w
TASK of them.
Secretary Morton devotes sev
eral pages covered with tables
in showing what the expense Q
, the department has been eacl
year since 1873. He again reiter
ates the correction that prOmis
, cuous free distribution Of de
! partment publications should b
abolished.
The comparison between ou
: statistical work and that Of fo1
eign governments is unfavOrabl
+ to us. The Secretary points ou
the exactness of the agriculture
statistics of Great Britain, sta
ing that such eXactneSS is reache
: through the revenue system {
r that country, and suggests tha
, it might possibly be obtainabl
. in the United States throug
similar agencies.
The Secretary is opposed
q the whole business Of givin
away seeds, and says:
s Internationally this enormol
a sum could be made of great a.
t vantage to farmers if expende
Z. in the publication of practic
/ bulletins, new ideas being
V more value than old seeds.
= lieu of S16O, 900, the present a
o preparation for seeds, he pr
r. poses $50, 900 to be devoted
the issue of such bulletins.
ID seed is to be given away graft
[. tously at all, it should be dol
7. under the direction Of the sever
experiment stations, the appr
le priation of each being increas
$500 for the purpose.