Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-07-26
SEED SUPPLY is TO BE SHUT OFF
Secretary Morton WIN Deprive Settlers
OF the Usual Gifts

Secretary Morton WIN Deprive Settlers
OF the Usual GIFTS.
Washington, July N.-About Is, 900 farm
ers in the state of Washington will read
with Indignation that Hon. J. Sterling
Morton, secretary of agriculture. has de-
clared that the customary quantity OF
seeds will not be provided to congressman
for distribution as heretofore. Many farm
ers. of course. will not suffer materially.
because they do not receive package of
seeds through the general government,
but to those settlers in the new states
who are striving hard to make home
upon the spreading prairie. or to hew it
out of the evergreen forests, such gift
is not only received as an earnest OF re-
membrance on the part of the man for
whom they voted to represent them at the
nations capital, but it is really a gift of
great value. Such settlers are not infre-
quently in Strengthened circumstances
Money Is often an unknown quantity, and
the dollar or half dollar which would be
required to purchase similar amount of
seeds, is not in the pocket, and could be
used to buy seeds only at sacrifice of
some necessity in case of sickness.
Secretary Morton, in a recently publish
ed TRADE against the farmers, made pub
lie one or two letters which, from their
poor spelling and the evident lack of edu-
cation of the writer, would have appealed
er mans nature. Secretary Morton used
them as an evidence of the fact that
once man received package of seeds,
he never failed to write another year ask
ing for more. The thousands of letters
received annually by congressman from
the northwestern states are each one an
unanswerable proof that Secretary Nor
ton wrought an injustice to the poor far
mer when he decided to attempt to evade
the law and practically to do away with
the distribution of seeds by his depart
ment Secretary Morton said in his in
terview that none of the farmers who
received seeds ever paid any attention to
the request of the government, which is
printed upon each package. for a report
as to their success in planting them In
this he is greatly mistaken, as any con-
gresham will tell you. The letters which
they receive are filed with statements
as to their success or failure with the
| seeds, and a great deal more interest is
taken in this by these farmers than by
| Mr.. Mortons whole department.
Congress made the usual appropria ton
| for seeds this year. but Secretary Morton,
acting under the advice of the attorney
general. now Secretary of State Olney.
who told him that under the law, he him
self was the sole Judge of what should
| be bought, has decided to purchase moth
| ing but rare seeds. Few, if any, seed
| man in the United States make business
| of furnishing rare" seeds. There is no
demand for them except by fancy garden
| ers, who either raise their own or i'm
| port them from abroad. "Rare" seeds
would naturally be those grown in some
| foreign land, and 1t is quite apparent that
If Secretary Morton carries out his avow-
ed purpose to supply the farmers of this
country with $4,000 worth of rare"
seeds. the total amount appropriated, he
| will have to go abroad to get them. This
would be quite in keeping with other for
eign policies of this administration.
One other thing may be done, however,
and some of those who are familiar with
the agricultural secretary's ways, seem
to think it quite likely. He has already re-
| jected the bids for seeds such as hereto
fore have been furnished, and in recon-
mending any at all for any other kind
may take no further action in the ma tier
| He will then be able to report to the pres
ident at the end of the next fiscal yeaI
that he has saved all this money to the
United States as a result of the economical
administration of the affairs of his depart
ment He will, of course, avoid stating
that it has been done at the expense OF
| the farmers of the country.