New-York tribune., 1896-12-08
present this subject to the consideration of the

and subsidy bonds issued by the United States in
aid Of the construction Of the Union racine nan.
road. including its Kansas line. ana NOR Cna" rnn
Sc 600 600 Of like bonds Issued In aid OF the Cen
trail Pacific Railroad. including mos. Ssan,, ,ssueu
to the Western Pacific Railroad company.
will have fallen due and been pad or
must on that day be paid by the GOV
ernment. Without any reference 10 'ne ap-
plication Of the sinking fund now IN the Ireas
ury this will create such default on the par,
Of these companies to the Government as VIII
give II the right to at once institute proceedngs
to foreclose its mortgage lien. In addtloh 10 ons
Indebtedness. which will be due January l. 1885,
there will mature between that date and January
/. 1899. the remaining principal OF such SUBSIDY
bonds, which must also be met py 'ne ,o "'' o
ment. These amount to more than S-""e'"~
on account OF the Union Pacific lines. ana eX-
ceed $21.00O.OOO on account Of the Central IA
cifc lines.
The situation Of these roads and their condi-
tion Of Indebtedness to the Government nave
been fully set forth in the reports OF various
committees to the present and prior o,
amined by special commission appointed puI-
suant to act Of Congress. The cohs'deratlohs
requiring an adjustment Of the Government
relations to the companies have been clearly
presented. and the conclusion reacheu WIN
practical uniformity that if these relations are
not terminated they sh )uld he revised upon
a basis securing their safe continuance
Under section Of the Act OF Congress
passed March 3. 1881. the President is charged
with the duty in the event that any mortgage
or other incumbrance paramount to the interest
Of the United States in the property of the Pacilc
railroads shall exist and be lawfully llaple 10
be enforced to direct the action OF the Depart
ments Of Treasury and of Justice In the protec-
ton of the interest OF the United states by re-
demption or through judicial proceedings, inciud-
ing foreclosures of the Government liens.
In view Of the fact that the Congress has for
a number of years amos, constantly had under
consideration various plans FOL dealing with the
conditions existing between these roads and the
Government, have thus far felt justified In
withholding action under the statute above men,
toned
I-pf,p ciG
however the situation has become especially ana
Immediately urgent. Proceedings have been IN
stituted to foreclose first mortgage upon mos
aided parts OF the main lines upon which the
Government holds second and subordihaie
mortgage lien. In consequence or those proceed
ings and increasing complications added to the
default occurring on January j, 1871. conhi-
ton will be presented at that date 30 1ar as tnis
company is concerned. that must emphasize the
mandate Of the act Of 1857. and give to Execu-
tive duty under its provisions more imperative
aspect Therefore, unless Congress shall oth"r,
wise direct. or shall have previously determihed
upon a different solution OF the problem: there
will hardly appear to exist any reason Tor de-
laying beyond the date or the default ABOVE
mentioned such Executive action as VIII prom
Use TO subserve the pub' interests ana save the
Government from the loss threatened by further
inactiOn.
THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
The Department OF Agriculture is so intimately
related to the welfare OF our people and the
prosperity of our Nation that II shou1 con-
stantIy receive the care and announcement Of
the Government. From small beginnings IT has
grown to be the centre OF agricultural ihtein-
gence and the source OF aid and encouragement
to agricultural efforts Large sums Of money
are annually appropriated for the maintenance
Of this Department. and II must be confessed
that the egisati ton relating to II has not always
been directly In the interest OF practical farm
ing or properly guarded against waste and ex-
trayagance. SO far. however as public money
has been appropriated fairly and senslbly To
help those who actually till the soil. no expendi-
ture has been more profitably made or more
generally approved by the people.
Under the present management OF the Depart
ment its usefulness has been enhanced In every
direction, and at the same time strict economy
has been enforced tn the utmost extent per-
mtted by Congressional action. From the re-
port OF the Secretary II appears that through
careful and prudent financial management he
has annually saved large sum from his appro-
priations. aggrcgatine during his incumbcncy
and up to the close OF the present fiscal year
nearly one-hfth OF the entire amount appro-
priated These results have been accomplished
by n conscientious study OF the real needs of the
farmer and such regard for economy as the
genuine farmer ought TO appreciate. supple
mented by rigid adherence 10 civil Service
methods In a Department: which should be con-
Quoted in the interest OF agricultural instead OF
partisan politics.
The Secretary reports that the value OF our
exports OF farm products during the last fiscal
year amounted to SJ10.00O,OOO an increase OF
Si1 OOOOO over those Of the year Immediately
preceding This statement Is not the less wei
come because OF the fact that. not outstanding
such increase. the proportion OF exported agri-
cultural products TO our total exports OF all
descriptions fell off during the year The bcne-
fits oNan increase In agricultural exports being
assured the decrease In ts proportion 10 our
total exports IL the more gratifying when we
consider that II Is owing TO the fact that such
total exports for the year increased more than
S75. 100000
The large and increasing expectation Of our
agricultural products suggests the great use
fulness OF the organization lately established
tn fho no artn IN 10 %
those engaged in farming pursuits reliable in
formation concerning the condition.. needs and
advantages Of different foreign markets. Inas
much the success Of the farmer depends upon
the advantageous sale Of his products. and mas
much foreign markets must largely he the
destination Of such products. 1t Is quite APP
parent that a knowledge OF the conditions and
wants that affect those markets ought to re-
suit in sowing more intelligently and reaping
with n better promise OF profit Such nforma-
tion points out the way to prudent foresight
In the selection and cultivation OF crops and to
a release from the bondage Of unreasoning
monOtony OF production. gutted ana dc-
pressed market and constantly recurring un-
profitable toll.
THE FREE SEED DISTRIBUTION.
In my opinion the gratutous distribution OF
seeds by the Department as at present con-
Quoted ought to be discontinued. No one can
read the statement Of the Secretary on this
subject and doubt the extravaganza and ques-
tionable results Of this practice: The professed
friends OF the farmer. and certainly the farmers
themselves, are naturally expected to be willing
to rid a DEPARTMENT devoted TO the promotion
OF farming intcrcstJ OF a feature which tends
SO much to it's dscredt.
The Weather Bureau. now attached to the
Department OF Agriculture. has continued TO
extend it's sphere Of usefulness. and by an un-
interrupted improvement in the accuracy OF II:
forecasts has greatly Increased its efficiency as
an aid and protection to all whose occupations
are related to weather conditions.
Omitting further reference TO the operations
OF the Department, | commend the Secretarys
report and the suggestions II contains to the
careful consideration Of Congress.
PROGRESS IN CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The progress made in Civil Service Reform