The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-15
The Government seed Farce.

It appears from the advices that the gov
eminent seed distribution. under the Nc
Kinley administration, is to be more of
farce than ever before, Notwithstanding
the cost TO the people is not TO be reduced.
It viii be remembered that Sterling Nor
ton as Secretary of Agriculture tried to
abolish the seed bureau, but the congress-
men made a great racket, declined TO give
up their seed privileges, and passed a
measure not only to perpetuate the bu-
reau but to spend more money on it.
Heretofore the seed distribution has
been maintained nominally for the purpose
of supplying the people with rare and
valuable seeds for experimental purposes,
and for the promotion of the cultivation
of new and profitable species. The per-
sons receiving the seeds have been re-
quired to make reports to the government
upon the results obtained with them. Not
one per cent of the number of persons
to whom seeds have been given
have ever reported. This year,
however, the farce of pretending
to supply rare and valuable seeds for ex-
perimental purposes" has been dropped.
It appears now that the bureau is TO be
run solely for political purposes. Here is
the evidence; The bureaus advertisement
for supplies of seeds for the ensuing year
calls for the following seeds, and no
others: Beet, cabbage. carrot, celery, GU
cumber, eggplant, lettuce, cantaloupe,
watermelon, onion, parsnip, radish, ruta-
baga, squash, tomato, turnip, beans, peas,
sweet and field corn, tobacco, Australian
salt bush, cotton, COW peas, canadian field
peas, vicia volosa, alsike, clover alfalfa,
Bermuda grass, lawn grass, mangel-wur-
eel, kidney veteh and choice varieties of
flowers"
1t will be seen that the list includes only
everywhere for ridicuIously low prices.
Probably every seed in the list is kept at
the majority of general merchandise
stores and nearly every drug store in the
country. Certainly every scotsman sells
them and at such prices that for a dollar
or two a supply running through the whole
list could be purchased. There is nothing
rare or valuable mentioned. Neverthe-
less the government is required to buy not
less than $4,000 worth of these seeds to
be distributed by congressman to their
constituents. This cost to the govern
ment which means cost to the people,
does not include postage. which probably
amounts to half as much more.
Last year each senator and congressman
had 1900 packages of seeds to distribute
to voters. The average voter who re-
ceived seeds got probably less than 81
worth, and possibly not more than fifty
gress take so much interest in sending out
seeds? We refrain from answering the
question; 1t must carry its own answer.
Yet it would be an insult to the American
farmer and voter to say that his vote
could be influenced by a gift of fifty cents
worth of seeds.
While the distribution amounts to very
little in the case of the individual who re-
ceives seeds, it amounts to a great deal
to those who produce seeds for sale. The
government enters into an unfair compe-
titlon with the seedsmen. 1t requires them
to pay taxes the same as anybody else,
and then takes a part of their tax money
to buy seeds with which 10 ruin their bus
mess. Furthermore, 1t teaches a depend
ence upon the government which is not
in consonance with democratic doctrine
The seed humbug should be abolished.