The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-23
BELIEVES In CIVIL SERVICE.
SAYS IMPROVEMENT HAS BEEN
SECURED WITH LESSENED
EXPENSE.
FREE
DISTRIBUTION
SEED
Comes In for Another Denunciation
-0ppOses Free Distribution of
"HOrse Books" Also.

priations for the current fiscal year,
there will have been turned back into
the treasury since March Z, 1898, over
$2,000,000, out Of total appropriations of
Sill, 179, 455.45 That this great econ
omy was effected without any loss of
efficiency he attributes in a large de-
gree to the improvement in the per-
sonnel Of the force under civil service
rules, which he declares to be "abso-
lutely indispensable to vhe mainten-
ance of an economic and efficient ad-
minstration Of the public service"
To complete "the already almost per-
feet system Of civil service" in his de-
partment, the secretary recommends
the appointment of a permanent di-
rector in charge Of bureaus and scien-
tific Investigations. The chiefs Of
scientific bureaus and their assistants
he declares are not adequately COM
pensated, and strongly recommends
that the salaries of this class of en-
ployes be increased.
The inspection of animals intended
for food is treated of at length, and
stress is laid upon the increased ef-
ficiency Of the work, due to the eX-
tension Of civil service rules, which has
been in this service. The total number
of ante-mortem inspections Of cattle,
sheep and hogs during the year was
95, ,47S, an increase over the previous
year Of over so per cent. The total
number Of post-mortem inspections
was 25,164,858, an increase of 25 per
cent. The total number Of abattoirs
under inspection in 1896 was 102 in
twenty-six cities; in 1892 there were
but twenty-eighth in twelve cities.
For the sake of economy, the exports
Of microscopically inspected pork to
countries not exacting such inspection
have been greatly discoura ged. The
total amount thus inspected was in
round numbers 100000 pounds, of
which 21 10000 pounds went to coun-
tries requiring inspection.
Clearances were issued to S19 vessels
carrying cattle and sheep. OF cattle,
there were tagged for export 81, ,639
and 422,6O3 inspected sheep were ex-
ported. The per centage of loss in
transit was considerably less than
ever before. Mr.. Morton urges strong
ly that
GOVERNMENT INSPECTION
should be extended to all animals in
tended for human food, whether for
consumption in the United States or
abroad.
The cattle and meat trade Of Great
Britain is reviewed at length. Of live
meat arriving in the United Kingdom
during the first six months of 1896. the
United States supplied rs per cent of
the cattle and As per cent of the sheep.
The testimony Of the department rep
resentatives abroad is that cattle from
the United States arrive in English
ports in excellent condition The GIas-
gov market is especially commended
to American shippers.
The report shows a steadily increas-
ing demand in England for American
horses. During the first nine months
Of the present year more of these ami
mails were shipped to that country than
for any previous entire year.
Reviewing the work of the weather
bureau, special stress is laid upon the
value Of the many timely warnings
which have been issued by the bureau
and have resulted in the protection
from loss or damoge of many millions
Of dollars. worth Of property, to say
nothing of the many lives saved from
impending danger. An increase in the
percentage of Verifications is noted
During the year the department is
sued 376 publications, mainly for gra-
tuitous distribution. The aggregate
number Of copies printed was 6, 561, 700.
The publication work has grown enor-
mouS1y during the past few years. and
increased appropriations must be pro-
vided, but the secretary declares that
neither the department of agriculture
nor the government itself can continue
for the next five years to increase its
publications for gratuitous distribution
in the same ratio as for the last five
years without disbursing millions of
dollars. He protests against the in
trusion in the act of appropriation for
the department for the current fiscal
year Of $S2,500 for reprinting horse
books and cattle books to be given
away by congress.
The secretary again takes occasion
TO express his opposition to the gra-
tultous distribution of seeds, and to
express the hope that the practice will
be discontinued.
The work of the experiment stations
is reviewed at some length. He op-
poses for the present the establish
ment Of an agricultural experiment
station in Alaska, but recommends an
appropriation of $4,000 for a prelim-
mary investigation of the AGRICULTURAL
resources of the territory
The secretary suggests some form Of
cooperation between the agricultural
colleges and the civil service commits
sion with view to certifying more
readily persons adapted for employ
ment in the scientific divisions Of the
department. The report concludes
with a comprehensive review of the
condition Of
AMERICAN FARMS.
Seventy-two per cent of the farms in
the United States occupied by their
owner are absolutely free from mort
cages or other membranes. The sec
retary refutes the idea prevailing that
the farms of the West and South are
more heavily burdened with mortgages
than those Of the East and Northeast
States along the North Atlantic. he
says, are quite heavily incumbered
with farm mortgages and New Jersey
carries a debt of this kind greater in
proportion to it's farm valuations than
any state in the union. The frequent
claim that the farmers are almost uni
versally in debt, respondent and suf-
fering, he declares to be without any
foundati a belittlement OF agricul-
ture and an indignity to every intelli-
gent and practical farmer. The farmers
are not mendicants nor wards Of the
government to be treated to annuities.
but the representatives Of the oldest,
most honorable, most essential occu-
patton Of the human race, upon which
all other vocations depend for sub
sistence and prosperity.
--.~t Legislation he says, "can neither
plow nor plant. The intelligent practi-
cal and successful farmer needs no aid