Evening journal., 1896-11-23
REPORT Of MIR. MORTON
The Secretary Of Agriculture's
Annual Statement.
SAYS FARMERS ARE PROSPEROUS.

- ~NNN%'N
WASHINGTON, Nov s8.-secrctary Nor
ton, in his fourth annual report just made I
public, shows that with $3.50, 600, which /
may be saved from the appropriations for |
the current fiscal year. there will have been
covered back into the treasury since March
z, 1898, over So, 600, 600 out Of total ap.
propriation Of S11, ,119, 455.45.
Ehat this great economy was effected
without any loss of efficiency be attributes
in large degree to the improvement in
the personnel of the force under civil serv-
ice rules, which he declares to be "ubso-
lutely indispensable to the maintenance Of
an economic and efficient administration
of the public service -
To complete 'the already almost perfect
system of civil service in his department
the secretary recommends the appointment
of permanent director in charge of hu-
reaus and scientific Investigations The
chiefs of scientific bureaus and their as
sistants he declared are not adequately
compensated, and strongly recommends
that the salaries of this class of employees
be increased.
The inspection of animals intended for
food is treated at length and stress is
laid upon the increased efficiency of the
work, due to the extension Of civil service
rules, which has been very rapid in this
service.
Mr.. Morton urges strongly that govern
ment inspection should be extended to all
animals intended for human food, whether
for consumption in the United States OF
abroad.
The report shows a steadily increasing
demand in England for American horses.
During the first nine months of the pres
ent year more of these animals were ship
ped TO that country than for any previous
year.
During the year the department issued
$40 publications. mainly for gratuitous
distribution. The aggregate number of
copies printed was 6,561, 700. He protests
against the intrusion in the act Of appro-
priation for the department for the current
fiscal year of $50, 500 for reprinting horse
books and cattle books to be given away
by congress
Against Free Seed Distribution.
Tho secretary again takes occasion 10
express his opposition to the gratuitous
distribution Of seeds and to express the
hope that the practice viii be discontinued.
The report concludes with a cOmprehen-
sive review of the condition of American
farmers
Seventy-two per cent Of the farms in the
United States, occupied by their owners,
are absolutely free from mortgages or 9TH
er membranes. The secretary refutes
the idea prevailing that the farms Of the
west and south are more heavily burdened
with mortgages then those of the east and
northeast States along the North Atlantic.
hc says. are quite heavily incumborod with
farm mortgages, and New Jersey carries a
debt of greater in proportion to farms
Tv.Tfn fhWn state in fhn NTnfrrn The
frequent claim that the farmers are almost
universally indebted and suffering, he dc
Ciarcs to be without any foundation, be-
Hitloment OF agriculture and an insult 60
every intelligent and practical farmer
The farmers are not mendicants to be
troatod to annuities, but the representa-
4 tives Of the oldest, most honorable most
essential occupation of the human race,
upon which all other vocations depend foi
subsistence and prosperity
Legislation" he says "can neither
l,low nor plant The intelligent, practical
nd successful farmer needs no aid from
2 c government. The ignorant, impracti
rli and indOlent farmers deserve none. It
not the business of the government to
s-isiatc in behalf of any class of citizens
ocause they are engaged in any specific
callings, no matter how essential the call
ing may be- to the needs and comforts of
civilization Lawmakers cannot erase
natural laws, nor restrict or efface the op
elbtioH Of economic laws 1t is a benen
ci.nt arrangement of the order of things
slld the conditions Of human life that leg.
1siators are not permitted to repeal OF
;lnend or revise the laws Of production
aid distribution "
Denounces Homestead Act.
Referring to the stress of competition
h LffaIa 4 Isf.
70 endure, Mr.. Morton calls attention tc
the nearly 2,O0O,O 900 farms of so acres
each given away by the government un.
der the homestead act of 1866, during the
past 80 years, and TO the amount donated
under the timber culture law, equivalent
TO over 30, 600 more farms Of the same size.
Lands long titled and rendered partially
infortile could not, of course enhance i'm
value and sell in competitor with virgin
soil donated by the government No legis-
1ation relative to the public domain has
been so directly inimical to the farmers
who had bought and paid for the lands
upon which they had lived and labored. 1t
was impossible for farmers in the old states
to proftably sell their products in compe-
tition with those of the newer states grown
upon lands which cost their owners moth
ing
Referring to the impression that greater
rates of interest are charged for money
loaned upon farms than for that loaned
upon other kinds Of real estate Secretary
Morton states that the rate of interest
charged on mortgages upon residential
property other than farms averages eighty
four-hundredths Of per cent less than the
rate of interest charged upon farm loans.
During the fiscal year just ended the ex-
ported products of American farms aggre-
gated $3.50, 600, 900, an increase Of S17, 600,
600 over the preceding year In spite OF
this there was falling off in tho percent
age of agricultural products exported tc
the total exports, but this was due to the
unprecedented sale abroad Of American
manufactured goods. The largest market
for our products is admitted TO be the
home market, but tho export trade is the
regulation, the balance wheel for the
home products, follows the interest Of tn,
manufacturer as well as the farmer. Gen
eral prosperity depends absolutely upon
Il agricultural prosperity end any CONNER