The Washington times., 1895-03-31
UNCLE SANS SEEDS SOLD
Congressman Are Supposed to
Give Them Away, But
AT LEAST ONE OF THEM DIDN'T
For Secretary Morton Has Complete Evil
dence Against One National Legislator
Who Prostituted This Privilege to His
Private Gain-0ther Little Small Side
Issues Of the Peoples Representatives.


Secretary Morton has just run down
thrifty member of Congress who has an
eye to business, O. member who is no
doubt some kin to the Congressman from
the West of a few years ago, who
exclaimed, when asked why he wanted to
increase the milage, Wen. what are We
here for?"
During the last days of the session which
closed on the 4th of March some of the mem
bers were disposing of their seeds in a way
which, to the mind of the vigilant Secre-
tray of the Agricultural Department, mas
not in exact accordance with the intention
of the law which provides for the cistri-
button of seeds throughout the country
through the various members and Senator's.
The Secretary took it into his head 10 set
a little trap for member or two, and in
less than a week he had in his pocket a
check for $75, bearing the Endorsement
Of a member who had the same cashed.
The check was given through an agent
OF the department, who bought the seeds
from the member, the latter giving his
written order for the same.
MADE S75 ON SEEDS.
The number of seeds given each member
every year is quite large and as follows:
10000 papers of vegetable seed, 81 quarts
of corn and grass seed, 1,70O papers Of
flower seed, besides quota OF bulbs,
Strawberries, grapeyines, etc, the total
cost of which to the department is about
$3.50 to each member. In the transaction
alb referred to the government got back
for SO what 1t had at first paid about $3.50
for, and the Congressman made S75 by the
transaction.
Mr. NJ E. Pagan, chief OF the seed diyi-
sion, when asked about the matter said he
knew nothing about the case in question
and did not know OF any sale OF seeds
among the members OF the FirtyfhiId
Congress, but that he had heard of its being
done. The law III relation to :he dis
trlbution Of seeds, said he, lis not, i'll tny
opinion, rightly constructed. The seeds
are to be distributed among the constituents
of the members, and do not belong 10 the
members themselves, but the law says that
the seeds shall be distributed through or
ders drawn by the members, and that the
whole amount of seed for each year stall
be apportoned out among the members
and Senators equally. without regard 10 the
number of constituents of each or the geo
graphical location, so that a member
living in the middle of New York city las
as many seeds as member coming from
the broad prairies OF Kansas.
LAWMAKERS TRADE SEEDS.
Members often exchange seeds for
books, documents, and in that way The aim
of the enactment is carried out. For in
stance, If a member from city, whose
constituents did not use garden SEEDS,
wishes to trade his quota to a member
from a farming region in exchange Tor
documents more valuable to city people
than to the farmers, that would be carry
ing out the intent of the law, and probably
if member who lived in locality where
seeds were not needed should sell the
same for the real value, instead of what lie
could get, and divide the money pra rata
among his constituents, under the way
the law now stands, it would De onl yfair
1.-The law should be changed so that only
mem bers whose constituents need the
seeds should get them, and then no member
ought to be allowed TO dispose of his seeds
i'll any other way than by afair distribution
among his constituents.
The name OF the member disposing of
his seeds could not be ascertained from any
of the officials at the department, and the
chief clerk, Mr. MacCuaig, stated that the
formation upon the subject. However,
when the reports for the office are made
| up the transaction Will appear i'll type.
MAY STOP THE CUSTOM.
| A certain individual in the city who makes
buying from one member and selling to
another, called Oh the chief of the seed
| division shortly before the adjournment
| and presented en- order from member
! from Wisconsin for a portion of his quota.
| The order, however, was signed Dy the
member through his private secretary,
and the chief refused TO honor it, stating
! that he could not accept orders not signed
! by the member in his own handwriting.
| This was done partly to protect the men,
| Der and mainly because the department
| does not receive orders save when prop
erly executed.
1t is generally acknowledged that many
| OF the clerks to members are in the habit
| of disposing of seeds and documents in
| other ways than by sending them to the
! constituents. In this way an evil has
| grown up that can probably only be eradi-
Gated by the abolition of the distribution
| of seeds.
The manager of large book store on F
| street told representative OF The Times
that he had just received an order for TO-
| 900 papers of vegetable seeds, and that he
expected to be able to fill it at the Capitol
at about quarter of n cent paper.
OTHER SIDE ISSUES.
By so doing he would be able to make q
! profit The agricultural reports each year,
which, by the way, are quite valuable to
many farmers, are apportioned out among
the members and Senators to be distrib-
uted among their conctituents, and the
dealer said he had purchased lot during
the session at q cents apiece.
Then there are large maps of the United
states, printed for distribution by the Gen
eraI Land Office These are often sold for
40 or SO cents apiece by clerks to the
members, who, OF course, find ready
market for them at that price.
1t reminds one of the OLD carpet bag
days OF the Caroiinas, when u certain
member, ROW practicing law III new city,
OF the West, sold his appointment for the
cadetahip at West Point for the sum of
$500 in cash
/ The matter was investigated by the
| House, ana he was expelled for his con,
duct. When approached by the newspaper
men as TO the occurrence he admitted the
! facts. hut said They oughtn't to mind q