Crawford avalanche., 1896-05-28

Of the privilege Of scattering compliment
airy prize packages among their constitu-
ents without cost to themselves.
The hoilowness of the fraud was strik-
ingly exhibited when, few weeks ago,
Secretary Morton proposed to furnish
to each member Of Congress 1000 pack
ages, every one Of which should contain
one large paper of big peas or corn and
fourteen papers Of small seeds. This
raised row right away, because the
legislators said that 1000 packages would
not go around among their constituents.
They obliged the Secretary to divide the
seeds into, packages of five papers, so as
to give 5000 to each Congressman. 1t
was made clear to them that the pack
ages Of five papers each would ybe too
small to be OF any practical use but that
objection was ignored. 1t was not de-
sired that the seeds should be useful to
the farmers and other people, but that
they should serve the political ends of the
Congressman. Accordingly the order
was changed at n cost of about 5000 for
the additional number Of envelopes en-
ployed.
Not Enough to BE of Service.
I The law prescribes that the seeds shall
be of ''rare and uncommon varieties"
But the Congressman will have nothing
but ordinary garden and field seeds, rang
ing from nasturtium and pansy to corn
and peas. Each package contains five
little papers Of seeds, amounting in all to,
about two-thirds of an ounce, and con-
sisting of two-tenths Of an ounce Of cab
bage seed, two-tenths Of an ounce Of
cucumber seed, three-tenths Of an ounce
of squash seed, three-tenths Of an ounce
Of turnip seed and less than one-tenth Of
an ounce Of tomato seed.
This is as much as any individual gets
from the much-advertised distribution of
free seed by Congress. 1t is for this chat
the Government is paying out $4,000
this year, without counting the cost Of
sending the packages by mall The cost
Of such a package to Uncle Sam, includ-
ing the envelopes and printing, Is Bic.
The actual expense of delivering it by
mail Is 4c in addition. For this expendi-
ture the farmer receives little gift which
he could purchase at the country store
for from one to three cents. In any such
store will usually be found on the counter
several boxes of assorted seeds, retailing
at from two cents to five cents paper.
They are just as good as those furnished
by the Government and the papers are apt
to hold about twice as much.
$165,OOo Wasted Every Year.
In every third package Of vegetable
seeds sent out this year Is a paper con-
tanning about one-sixth Of pint Of peas
or corn. Imagine how useful that Is like
ly to be to the farmer. But as has been
said, it is not intended to be useful to
him; it is designed as a compliment from
the Congressman and to please the good
wife and the children. The seed contracts
enforced by Congress call this year for
10, 125,0O0 papers OF seed, costing the
Government $4,000 to which must be
added $4,000 for postal expenses. In
other words, the so-called "free seed" this
year will cost the people Of the country
nearly $1G5.O00, besides injuring the le-
gitimate seed trade to an extent represent
ing an equal amount. The distribution is
made in order, as a member Of Congress
said during the recent discussion, to show
the poor toiling farmer Mt home that I'm
Gle Sam remembers him and desires to
assist him in his struggle for existence
to the extent, forsooth! of three-quarters
of an ounce of seeds, which he must in
the end pay for himself Congress has
increased the appropriation for the seed
distribution for next year so as to make
possible the purchase of about twice rs
much seed as will be distributed this year.
The recent fight in Congress has attracted
so much attention to the seed distribution
that applications for free seed have great
ly increased in number.
The distribution Of seeds by the Govern
ment began in 1880 with the appropria-
tion Of $1,000, which was given to the pat
ent Office for the purpose of collecting
and giving away rare and improved varie-
ties. Since that date, with the aid of
steadily increasing sums Of money fur
nished by Congress annually, every seed
that could be found anywhere offering
a reasonable prospect of usefulness in any
part of the country has been purchased
and literally distributed People all over
the United States have already secured
nearly all Of the vegetable and field seeds,
plants and trees that are adapted to their
peculiar soils and climates. 1t goes with
out saying that the obtainable number
of valuable and uncommon seeds Is lin
tied. Although a request is sent with
each package for a report as to the result,
not one recipient in 1000 makes any re-
sponse.