Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-23
Not More Heavy in the West Than in
the East.
SECRETARY MORfON'S ANNUAL REPORT
Efficiency in His Department Due
to Civil Service System.
TO EXTEND INSPECTION

The annual report of the Secretary OIL
Agriculture Mr.. j. Sterling Morton, has
been given TO the public. The great econ
omy in his department without any loss
OF efficiency he attributes in a large degree
to the Improvement in the personnel of
the forces under civil service rules. which
he declares TO be absolutely indispcnsa-
bic to the maintenance of an economic and
eincient administration of the public serv-
ice."
To complete the already almost perfect
system of civil service" IN his department
the Secretary recommends the appoint
ment OF permanent director in charge
oil bureaus and scientific investigations.
The chiefs of scientific bureaus and their
assistants. he declares, 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 of at length
ana stress is laid upon the increased f.
hclency of the work due TO the extension
OF civil service rules, which has been very
rapid in this service.
Extension of the inspection S,stem.
MIR. Morton urges strongly that gov
eminent inspection should be extended 10
all animals intended 'or 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 king
dom during the first six months of lS.6
the United States supplied a. per cent of
Inc cattle and ~ per cent of the sheep
The testimony of the department repre-
sentatives abroad is that cattle from the
United States arrive in English ports in
excellent condition The Glasgow mar
ket is especially commended TO American
shippers.
The report shows a steadily increasing
demand in England for American horses
During the first nine months of the present
year more of these animals were shipped
to that country than for any previous
entire year.
Reviewing the work of the weather bu-
reau- special stress is laid upon the value
of the many timely storm warnings which
have been issued by the bureau and have
resulted in the protection from loss or
damage of many millions of dollars worth
OF property, 10 say. nothing of the many
lives saved from impending danger. An
increase in the percentage of veriiications
lis noted.
The Secretary declares that neither the
Department of Agriculture nor the gov
eminent itself can continue for she next
i've years TO increase its publications for
gratuitous distribution in the same ratio
as for the last five years without d.sburs-
ing millions OF dollars. He protests against
the intrusion in the act of appropriation
for the department for the current fiscal
year of $3.50 for reprinting horse books
and cattle books to be given away by Con-
gfosS.
The Secretary again takes occasion TO ex-
press his opposition to The gratuitous dis
tribution of seeds and TO express the hope
that the practice will be discontinued
Some form of cooperation between the
agricultural colleges and the civil service
commission is suggested, with view to
certifying more readily persons adapted for
employment in the scientific divisions of
the department.. The report concludes with
a comprehensive review of the conditions
of American farmers.
Farm MortSages
Seventy-two per cent Of the farms In the
United States occupied by their owners
are absolutely free from mortgages or
other membranes. The Secretary seeks
to correct the impression prevailing that
the farms of 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 mcumbered with farm mort
cages, and New Jersey carries debt of
this kind greater in proportion TO its farm
valuations than any state in the onion
The frequent claim that the farmers are
almost universally in debt, despondrn; and
suffering ne declares to be wit 1uiit Iounda-
uon. beiittlement of agriculture, and an
indigni:y to every intelligent and practical
farmer. The farmers are not rnendtcanls
nor wards Of the government 10 ue treated
10 annulties, but The representatives of the
Oldest, most honorable, most essential &C.
cupation of the human race. upon which
all other vacations depend for subsistence
and prosperity.
During the fiscal year just ended TIE cx-
tod