Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-04
DISTRIBUTION OF SEED
An Attack Made in the Senate on the Prac-
tice.
Denounced by Mr.. Plat Of Connecti-
cut as an Unmitigated Humbug-
Retaining Arid Lands.

Mr.. Caffery continued his argument
on the Corbett case in the Senate yester-
day afternoon after The Stars report
closed He commended that a governor of
state could not appoint to all an original
Vacancy-a vacancy beginning with a new
term-especially where the legislature had
had an opportunity to elect and had failed
to do so. This point he supported by
long list of precedents and quotations from
law. He maintained that the constitutional
authority of the legislature could not be
transferred to the governor. He contended
that the Oregon legislature. by intrigue or
otherwise, failed TO elect: but that the
Senate of the United States could not place
on the part of legislature as would en-
able the governor to appoint a favorite Of
his to a seat in the Senate
AT the conclusion of Mr. Cafrery's speech
Sir. Lindsay Ry) gave notice that today
at the conclusion of the routine business
ne would submit some remarks upon a
matter personally concerning himself and
in which he thought the Senate would have
some interest
Mr.. Cullom then calle,- ..r, the agricul-
tural appropria ton bill. PEI ling thu sub
mission Of certain amendments to the bill
MI Platt Comm expressed his regret that
the committee had not stricken from the
distribution IF seeds. He read letter from
a member of Connecticut grange, in
which the statement was made that the
seeds sent out by the Agricultural Depart
ment We're not good, could not be depended
upon and were of no use 10 the farmers or
gardeners
In reply to Mr. Platt's brief statement
Mr. Allen thought that the chief opposition
to the governments distribution of seeds
came from those who themselves had seeds
for sale. He thought that in many ways
the distribution OF seed did great good to
the cause of agriculture and hoped that it
would not be discontinued
Mr.. Bacon tGa.) thought there ought to
be reform in the distribution of seeds
He believed the department ought to p,Ir-
chase seeds for distribution from persons
who were known to raise or produce seeds
OF value. In many instances the seeds pur-
chased were neither valuable nor rare
That is the unmitigated humpug of the
whole thing" interjected Mr.. Platt (ConnD
Mr. Bacon said hs was confident the
present SECRETARY of Agriculture desired to
distribute proper and good seed, but that
the action of the last Secretary of Agri-
culture tforton) had made a farce of the
seed distribution.
Mr.. Hawley Comm said he simply d.
sired to express himself as unaIterably on
posed to the distribution of seeds in ac-
cCrdance with the methods hitherto pur-
sued.
Mr.. Allen expressed his great respect for
ard faith in the present Secretary of Agri-
culture, and was satisfied he would prom
erly and intelligently interpret and execute
thu law.
MIR. Cullom said he knew that the Score
tary had experts in various parts of the
country seeking for seeds of all kinds. of
the highest quality and value.
Rights of the Hawaiians.
At this point Mr.. Cullom in charge of
the bill yielded to Mr.. White CCal1 for the
Introduction of the following joint resolu-
ton: Resolved, that of right IL belongs
wholly to the people of the Hawaiian Is
lands to establish and maintain their own
form of government and domestic polity:
that the United states ought in nowfse to
interfere Herewith and that any interyen-
ton in the political affairs Of these islands
by any other government will be regarded
as an act unfriendly to the United States"
The resolution was passed by the Senate
on May 81, 1894, having been reported by
Mr.. Turpie of the committee on foreign
relations. Mr.. White asked that the reso-
luton lie on the table
The amendment to the agricultural bill
offered by Mr. Warren, providing for a di-
vision of irrigation and reclamation of
arid lands and for investigation of the
methods of constructing irrigation canals
and Of storing and distributing water in
the reclamation of arid lands. the whole to
cost 21,300 was discussed briefly by its
author and by Mr.. Stewart (Nev.). 1t was
maintained that the adoption of the amend
ment would be of enormous value to the
western country.
MI. Bate CrennD was of opinion that the
present proposition was simply the first
step in a mammoth scheme to reclaim the
arid lands of the country. 1t was a beau
tiful idea, he said. but the finances of the
country were not at present in such condi-
ton to enter upon the proposed scheme.
In addition he maintained the proposition
was wrong because it looked to the per-
Torrance of work by the federal govern
ment that ought to be done by state or in
dividual enterprise.
Mr.. Gear Qowa3 called attention TO the
fact that so per cent of the arid land was
government land.
Mr.. Bate contended, however. that the
time was not opportune to enter upon the
scheme proposed.
Mr. Carter (AIont) took issue with some
of the statements of the senator from
Tennessee tAIr. Bate. He pointed out that
there was not a plat of 100 acres OF gov
errment land in the western country upon
which settlement had not been made
cept arid lands. He depicted the results Of
irrigation in various parts of the world
and maintained that the government must
either cede to the states the arid lands or
take up some proper and adequate plan
fer the irrigation of those lands. He main
tanned that il was the business OF the gov
eminent to care for the interests of the
people to the extent at least which he
outlined.
Information About Irrigation.
Mr. Cullom proposed as a substitute lor
Mr.. Warren's amendment the following:
For the purpose of collecting from agri-
cultural colleges, agricultural experiment
stations and other sources, including prac-
teal agents and engineers, practical infor-
nation and data on the subject OF irriga-
ton and publishing the same in bulletin
FORM 10000"
The amendment was adopted and the
bill, carrying 81. 527. 202 was passed.
A bill providing for the appointment OF
an additional district judge for the north
ern judicial district of Texas was passed.
The Senate then at 5:25 pm. went into
executive session.