Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-12-11
THE MESs AGE.

thoroughly examined by a special commits
sion appointed pursuant 10 an act Of con-
gress. The considerable requiring an al
justment of the governments relations TO
the companies have been clearly ppesenitsd
uniformity, that If these relations are not
terminated they should be revised upon
basis securing their safe continuance.
Under section of the act OF congress
PASSED March 3. 1884, the president Is
charged with the duty, in the event that
any mortgage or other incumbrance para
mount TO the interest of the United States
I'm the property of the Pacific railroads
shall exist and be lawfully liable TO De
enforced. TO direct the action OF the de-
partments OF treasury and of justice Ia the
protection Of the interest Of the United
States by redemption or through judicial
proceedings, including foreclosures OF the
government liens. In view of tn" fact
that the congress has for number OF
years almost constantly had under con-
sderation various plans for dealing with
the conditions existing between these reads
and the government, have thus far fell
justified In Withholding action under the
statute above mentioned.
Must Take Action.
In the case Of the Union Pacific company.
however, the situation has become eS-
pecially and Immediately urgent: Proceed
ings have been instituted TO foreclose
first mortgage upon those aided parts OF
the main lines upon which the govern
ment holds second and subordinate mort
gage lien. In consequence OF those pro-
ceedings and increasing complications,
added to the default occurring on the ISL
day of January, 1897, condition VIII De
presented at that date, so FAR as TINS com
pany Is concerned, that must emphasize
the mandate of the act or 1881 ana give 10
executive duty under It's provisions more
imperative aspect IhEreloro, ui he b Vo
previously determined upon different So
luton Of the problem, there VIII hardly ap-
pear to o, exist any fs 1nfa i above men
TONED such executive action as Will prom
Use TO subserve the public interests ana
save the government from the loss threat
ened by further inactlon.
Department of Agriculture.
The DEPARTMENT of agriculture is so In
timately related 10 the welfare OF our peo-
pie and the prosperity or our naticn thH,
It should constantly receive the carr an, ana
email beginnings II has grown 10 De tr'
center OF agricultural intelligence and the
source OF aid and ENCOURAGEMENT 10 agrl-
cultural efforts. Large sums of money are
annually appropriated for the aintenance
o; this department, and II must be con
tossed that the legislation relating TO II
has not always been directly in the inter
est OF practical farming or properly
guarded against waste and eXtFavaSancc.
So far, however the public money has beer
aDpropria ted fairly and sensibly TO help
those who actually till the soil no eS-
pendture has been more prohtabii MADE
or more generally approved by the peo-
pie. Under the present management OF the
department its usefulness has been en-
HANGED in every direction. and at the same
time strict economy has boon enforced TO
the utmost extent permitted by congress
sional action.
shows Great Saving.
From the report of the secretary II APP
pears that through careful and prudent
financial management he has annually
saved large sum from his appropriations.
aggregating during his incumOcncy and up
TO the close Of the present fiscal year near
~ one-fifth of the entire amount appro-
priated. These results have been accom-
plished by a conscientious study of the
real needs OF the farmer and such regard
for economy as the genuine farmer ought
to appreciate. supplemented by rigid ad-
herence TO civil service methods In depart
mcnt which should be conducted In the In
tcrest of agriculture instead or partisan
Value OF Farm Products
The secretary reports that the value o.
our exports of farm products during the
last fiscal year amounted to S51O,CVcOVO.
an Increase Of ST. 100000 over those Of the
year Immediately preceding. ms state
nent is not the less welcome because OF
the fact that. notwithstanding such m
crease, the proportion Of exported agrlcu!-
tural products TO our total exports or 81
descriptions fell of during the year ! ne
benefits Of an increase in agricultural eN-
ports being assured the decrease in its
proportion 10 our total exports - the more
gratifying when we consider that Il Is oW-
ing TO the fact that such total eMiorts tOi
the year increased more than S'o,VO,VVV'
A Useful Adjunct.
The large and increasing expectation oF
our agr ultUral products suggests the
great usefulness Of the organization lalc-
~ estab!! shed in the department. LOT the
purpose Of giving 70 those engaged in farm
Ing pursuits reliable information concern
ing the condition, needs and advantages or
different foreign markets. lnasmuch as me
success of the farmer depends upon the adj
vantageous sale Of his products, ana mas
much as foreign markets must largely De
the destination of such products, II Is quite
ont hot n a H.
lions and wants that affect those markets
ought 10 result In sowing more intelligent
ly and reaping with better promise OF
profit. such information points out the
way 10 d pruG mt foresight in the selec-
ton and cultivation OF crops and 10 re-
lease from the bondage of unreasoning
m0notony Of production, glutted and de-
pressed market and constantly-recurrlng
Improbable toll.
Opposed to Free Seeds.
In my opinion the gratutous distrlbu-
ton Of seeds by the department as al pres
ent conducted ought to be discontinued
No one can read the statement OF the sec
rotary on this subject and doubt The eX-
traVagance and questionable results o:
farmer and certainly the farmers them
selves, are naturally expected 10 Ne willing
to rid a department devoted TO the promo
ton Of IA ming interests OF feature
which tends so much TO its dlscredit.
The Weather Bureau.
The weather bureau. now attached to the
department of agriculture, has continued
to extend its sphere Of usefulness, and by
an uninterrupted Improvement in the ac-
CUr2ey of its forecasts has greatly In
creased rs efficiency as an aid and pro
lection 10 all whose occupations are re-
lated 10 weather conditions
Omtting further reference to the opera
tons of the department, | commend the
seCrctary's report and the suggestions #
contains TO the careful consideration of
the congress
The Civil Service.
The progress made in civil service re-
form furnishes cause for the utmost con-
gratuladons. 1t has survived tho doubt
of its friends as we'll as the ranCOr Of its
enemies, and has gained a permanent
place among the agencies destined to
cleanse Cur politics aud 10 improve, econ
omize ana elevate the public service. There
are now in the competitive classified serV-
ace upward Of $1,000 places. More than half
OF those have been included from time 70
time since March 4, 1888. \ most radical
AID sweeping extension was made by eX-
eCutiNe order dated the 9Th day OF May,
1896. And II fourth-class postnastership
are not included in the statement IL may
lp said that lrarficaily all DpgitiOns