Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1900-01-04


COST OF WHICH is ABOUT $780,
600. WILL SOON BEGIN-sEED
ARE DIVIDED AMONG THE CON
GREssMEN.
washington. Jan. Am impartial
examination Of the question Of the an
nual distribution Of seeds by the Agri-
cultural Department leads to the con-
clusion that, while it is not, perhaps,
iustifable except from a paternal
standpoint, little harm results to the
Treasury. while some benefit is derived
by the members Of Congress who send
out seeds and possibly by those VINO re-
ceive them. Practically all the objee-
tions come from seedmen who bid too
high TO secure the contract
Under the old system when the de-
partment went into the open market
and purchased seeds wherever II
pleased and at market prices the seed
men had no complaint to make, but the
substitution Of the contract system by
Secretary Morton, which system Is
still in vogue, gave rise to complaints
These, however, were without substan-
tial foundation. The annual appropria-
ton for seeds is $4,000.
FOR THE BENEFIT OF CONGRESS-
MEN.
AS the distribution is now conducted
there is no Disgusting the fact that II
is run principally for the benefit OF
members Of Congress. Not only is the
greatest care taken in arranging the
schedule of distribution so that tne
greatest possible advantage will be
gained by members of Congress, but
the varieties of seeds distributed are
such that any claim that they are SEN
out for experimental purposes seem'
to be absurd. The cultivation OF peas
beans. corn, etc, has been observed toC
long for the Department to obtain vain
able scientific Information from tn
planting Of seeds sent out by congress
men.
When lawn-grass seed was added 4
the list inquiry was made as TO VIVA
benefit could come from distributing Il
In reply it was stated that many mem
bers of Congress came from thlekly
settled districts where their constltu
ents had no farms or even back yaro
in which to plant vegetable seeds, blu
many of them had few square feet Il
front of their tenements or cottage
which they would be delighted TO I'm
prove BY sowing lawn grass. AT pres
emit $4,000 pounds of the best kentuck
bluegrass are sent out every year.
THE ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION.
On January 10 Charles Parker, {
Santa Clara, Cal, will begin TO put u
seeds for Congressional distribution
He secured the contract some month
ago. being the lowest bidder He wi
employ a large number of women an
girls, who viii place the seeds in pacl
cts, so many packets to the pound, an
then assert these packets into package
of five packets each, the work bein
done in Washington. Each member {
Congress will then be entitled to s
many packages OF each kind of seed
which will soon be flying through th
mails to voters all over the countr.
When the flowers, vegetables or grass
es push their tiny heads above II
ground, the voters will rise up and ca
their congressman blessed. In n
Spring the congressman sends out II
seeds and in the Fall he gathers Il
votes.
DIVISION OF THE SPOILS.
To adjust the seed distribution pro-
erly as to the varieties of seeds mo
suitable to different localities was
matter of great difficulty and w
never done satisfactorily until r.
Whittleton. chief Of the seed divisio
took the matter in hand. Under q
law congressman must receive, as nea
ly as possible. seeds of equal value. I
carefully scanning price lists, invesi
eating the needs of different sections
the country and juggling with vario