The evening times., 1896-12-07

upon pension abuses, SO determined as to
overlook the discrimination due to those
who, worthy OF a nations care, ought TO
live and die under the protection OF ma
TONS gratitude.
The Secretary calls attention to the
public interests involved in an adjustment
OF the obligations OF the Pacific railroads
to the government
PACIFIC ] deem il to be an i'm
portant duty to es-
RAILROADS.. peciaily present TINS
subject to the consid-
GRAFTON of the Congress
On January l, 1897. with the amount
already matured, more than S13,O00,C0O
Of the principal of the subsidy bonds Is
sued by the United States In aid or the
way. including Its Kansas lire. and more
than $6,0OO,0O0 OF like bonds issued In
aid OF the Central Pacific Railroad, IN
Guiding those issued by the Western Pacifc
Railroad Company. will have fallen due and
been paid, or must on that day be paid by
the government. without any reference
to the application OF the sinking fund now
in the Treasury, this will create such
default on the part OF these companies to
the government as Will give II the right to
at once institute proceedings to forcclose
its mortgage lien In addition to ills in
debtedness, which will be due January l.
1897, there Will mature between that
principal OF such subsidy bonds, which
must alsobc met b the government. These
amount to more than $20,00O.OCO, on ac-
count OF the Union Pacific lines, and eN-
ceed S2l GOO 600 on account Of the Gen.
trail Pacific lines.
The situation or these roads and the
condition OF their Indebtedness to the gov
ernment have been fully set forth In the
reports of various committees to the pres
ent and prior Congresses; and as early as
1887 they were thoroughly examined by
a special committee appointed pursuant
tn anact OF Congress. The considerable nre-
quiring on adjustment of the governments
relations To the companies have been clear
iy presented. and the conclusion reached
With practical uniformity. that If these
relations are not terminated they should
be revised upon a tasis securing their safe
continuance. Under section 4 or the act
or Congress passed March 3, 1887. the
President Is charged with the duty in the
event that any mortgage or other incrm-
brance paramount to the interest OF the
United States In the property OF the Pa
ciric railroads shall exist ana he lawfully
liable to lie enforced, TO direct the action
OF the Departments OF Treasury and OF
Justice In the protection OF the interest OF
the United States by redemption or through
judicial proceedings. including foreclosures
or the government liens.
In view or the fact that the Congress has
Tor a number or years almost constantly had
under consideration various plans FOR deal
ing with the conditions existing het ween
these roads and the government, bavethds
far felt justified in Withholding action un-
der the statute above mentioned
Inthe case ofthe Union Pacific Company,
however, the situation has become especially
and Immediately urgent Proceedings have
been instituted to fOrecluse first mortgage
upon those parts OF the main lines upon
which the government holds "A second and
subordinate mortgage lien. In consequence
or those proceedings and increasing com
pilcations, added to the default occurring
onthe lst day of January. | Sy7 "A condition
VIII be presented at that date - far this
company is concerned that must emphasize
The mandate OF the act Of ] sS7 and givcto
executive duty under its provisions a more
imperative aspect.
therefore, unless congress shall other
wise direct, or shall have previously de-
terluined upon different solution of the
problem, there will hardly appear TO
exist any reason for delaying beyond the
date or the default above uIeutioueJ such
executive aciiou as Will promise to sub
serve the public Interests. and save the
government from the loss threatened by
further Inactl1l.
The Department OF Agriculture is so in
tmately related to the welfare OF our
people aud the prosperity or our nation,
AGRICuLTu RE- stantIy receive the
care aud management
or the government. From small be-
ginnings lt has grown To De the center
or agricultural intelligence and the source
OF ald ana announcement to agricultural
efforts
propriated for the maintenance OF this de
partment, and 1t must be confessed that
the legislation relating to il has not al
ways been directly in the interest II prac-
teal farming or properly guarded against
waste and extravaganza. So far however,
as public money has been appropriated
10 ttlOse WHO
actually till the soil no eXpenditGre has
been more proritably made and more gem
orally approved by the people. Under the
present management OF the department
Its usefulness mas been enhanced in every
direction and at the same time strict econ
omy has been enforced to the utmost ex-
tent permitted by Congressional action.
From the report or the Secretary II ap-
pears that through careful and prudent
iInanciai iinanagementheh has annually saved
Il large sum from his appropriations, ag-
UreKHtlnR during his tpCnItlttanGv
to the close or the present fiscal year nearly
one-rirth OF the entire amount appropriated,
These results have been accomplished by
a conscientious study OF the real needs OF
the farmer and such a regard for economy
as the genuine farmer ought to appreciate,
supplemented by rigid adherence to civil
service methods in department which
should ee conducted in the interest OF dgri-
culture instead or partisan politics.
Tie Secretary reports that the value OF
our exports or farm products during the
last TlscaI year amounted 10 500 900 900.
an increase or SIT 600, 900 over those OF
tile year immediately preceding This late
nent is not the less welcome because of the
fact that, Notwithstanding such Increase
the proportion or exported agricultural
products to our total exports OF all descrp-
tons Teil Off.
The benefits of an increase in agricultural
exports being assured, the decrease in it's
proportion o our total exports is the more
grItlIy wing when we consider that il Is Ow-
Ing To the fact that such total exports for
900. 'NO''
The large and increasing expectation of
our agricultural products sGg gestS the great
usefulness of the organization lately estab-
lished IN the department for the purpose OF
giving to those engaged in farming pursuits
reliable Information concerning The condi-
ton. needs and advantages OF different for
eign markets.
Inasinuch as the success of the farmer
depends upon the advantageous sale of
MS products, and inasmuch as foreign
markets must largely be the destination of
knowledge of the conditions and wants
that affect those markets ought to
result in sowing more inteliigently and
reaping with better promise of profit.
Such Information points out the way 20
a prudent foresight in the selection and
cultivation of crops and to a rele ase from
production, glutted and depressed mar
toll.
In my opinion, the gratutous distribution
OF seeds by the department as at present
conducted ought TO be discontinued. No
one can read the
SEEDS. statement of the Sec
retary on this sub
1ect and doubt the extravaganza and ques-
tIonaole Results OF this practice. The pro-
ressed friends of the farmer, and certainly
the farmers themselves, are naturally en-
pected to be willing to rid department
devoted to the promotion of farming inter
estS OF feature Wnlcn tends SO much to
Its discredit.
The Weather Bureau now attached to the
Department. OF a griculture has continued to
extend It's sphere of usefulness, and by an
improvement in the accu-
racy of Its forecasts has greatly increased
Its efficiency as an aid and protection to
all whose occupations are related to wealth
er conditions.
Omitting further reference to the opera
tions of the department, 1 commend the
Secretary report and the suggestions it
to the careful consideration of
the Congress.
The progress made in civil service reform
furnishes cause for the utmost congrat-
uiation. 1t has survived the doubts of its
friends as well as the