The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-31
FARM TOPICS DISCUSSED
The Agricultural Appropriation
Bill Passed by the House.
Mr.. Landis Raises the Question of
PoiyEamN in Utah-..n Amendment
Agreed to Increasing the Amount
of Money to lie Expended in the
Distribution of the bulletins.

There was brief revival Of the anti
polygamy crusade of last year in the
House yesterday while the Agricultural
Appropriation bill was under considera-
ton. In Committee of the Whole Mr.
Lands moved an amendment withhold
ing the appropriation for the agricultural
college of Utah until the Secretary of
Agriculture should be satisfied that none
of the trustees, officers, instructors or
employees is engaged in polygamous
practices. and after a fight against it by
Mr.. King of Utah, the amendment was
agreed to. In the House, however, 1t was
stricken out by a vote of 10 to 50.
The usual ineffective contest against the
publication of farmers bulletins and the
distribution of seeds by the Agricultural
Department was waged, but the appro-
priation for these objects remained in the
! bill when it was passed by the House.
| When the House resolved itself into
Committee Of the Whole for the consider
alton of the bill, the reading for amend
ment was resumed at the section relating
4 to general expenses of the Bureau Of For
| estry.
Mr.. Corliss moved to amend by reduc-
ing the amount appropriated for the Blu
reau of Forestry from s1s7.24O to sS7,24O.
| He pointed out that the sum appropriated
| for this service last year was $SS 600 and
! said that there could be no valid reason
| for the remarkable increase contemplated
in the pending bill. Mr.. Wadsworth said
that this country had reached a point in
the matter of the production of wood when
the science OF forestry should be given
| greater attention. Mr.. Corliss amend
| meDt was defeated.
Mr.. Talbert made plea for the farmer
| He said that when the manufacturer
| wanted anything from the Government he
| got II, but when anything was asked for
| the farmer. great big bushy- headed
| statesmen jump up all over this House
| and say it is unconstitutional
Mr.. Talbert paid the usual tribute to
the farmer, saying that he is he founda-
| tion of all prosperity; that he pays the
taxes OF the Government and that he fur
nishes the soldiers to fight its battles
The gentleman from South Carolina in
! sisted that the amount appropriated for
| the distribution of seeds should be dou-
bled. Mr.. Talbert is a speaker Of extraoT-
binary vehemence, loudness and velocity.
! and he caused considerable applause.
Mr.. Fitzgerald offered an amendment
| setting apart, under the section providing
! for the general expenses of chronological
| investigation, an appropriation Of 81 900
| TO aid Massachusetts in Graduating the
coddling moth. A point of order by Mr.
Henry of Connecticut against the amend
ment was sustained.
Mr.. Latimer offered an amendment in
creasing by $50 600 the appropriation for
farmers bulletins. Mr.. Shackleford sup
ported the amendment. He said that
when he first raised his voice in Congress
in behalf of the farmers he was hazed
by his sophomore friends on the floor for
speaking on an questionable subject for
speaking in behalf OF a class which does
not send lobby to Washington to repre-
sent il.
Mr.. Mahon, representing. as he said, an
agricultural district. decried increasing
appropriations on these lines. The bull
letins,' he said. were OF no value to his
farmer constituents; they know more
| about farming than the Agricultural De-
partmeEt and they would not have the
! bulletins. Mr. Mahon said that mem
bers desired to distribute these bulletins
10 make themselves popular with the
farmers. They thought it good politics
He had thought so himself a enc time
and had tried it. I put it - the test"
he said, and sent a public document to
every registered voter III two Counties in
my district. The result -;.s that / ran
behind in every voting q.. net in each
one of them and ran ar q be- every pre-
cinct TO which did not and documents"
Perhaps where you ributed the
mos. information you ran worst" suggest
ed Mr.. Lacey.
Mr.. Latlmer's amendment was adopt
ed by a vote of % TO a.
To the paragraph making provision for
the agricultural colleges OF the States Mr.
Lands offered an amendment that Gov
ernment aid should not be extended to
the college in Utah until the Secretary of
! Agriculture should be satisfied that none
Of the trustees. officers teachers. or en-
| pioyes is engaged IN polygamy or pglysa-
| nous practices.
| Mr.. King, opposing the amendment said
/ it seemed TO him TO be an aftermath of
! the crusade of year ago resulting in
the expulsion OF the member from Utah.
! The people of Utah he said were law
| abiding: not for ten years had pulyga-
nous marriages been solemnized, and the
proposition looked to him like gratui-
tous affront to the people OF the State.
Mr.. Lands said there was nothing gra-
| tuitous about the amendment nor was Il
his intention to reflect upon the people OF
| Utah. But IL had come TO his knowledge
as member Of the Roberts Special Com
| mittee that several officials of the Utah
| College were living in open and notorious
| polygamy and publication OF the facts
| elected no denial from the church organ.
| one of the trustees resigned his position,
| Mr. Lands said but had subsequently re-
turned to the office.
| If the statements we're not true, il was
| due the people of Utah that it be shown;
| II they were true. Il was clearly the duty
Of the United States not 10 eXpend any
money in the support OF an institution
| thus ufticered
Mr. King made point OF order that the
amendment was new legislation, but this
WIS overruled by Chairman Payne, and the
| amendment agreed io-54 to a.
| An amendment was then offered by Mr.
| King, prohibiting the use Of any OF he
| appropriation for any college the trus-
tees and professors Of which had engaged
| IN lyUcEing and who did not show 10 the
| satisfaction OF the Secretary OF Agriculture
| that they had not been guilty of certain
| other offences mentioned In the amend
| ment This was ruled out of order. and
| then Mr. King made several Intellectual ef-
| forts TO put the amendment in shape to
| meet objections; first, restricting it to the
| agricultural colleges Of Utah and Indiana
and finally to the Indiana College alone. In
that shape It was held to be in order.
| In the course of these proceedings a
| spicy colloquy occurred between Mr.. King
| and Nj. Grosvenor Mr.. GrOsyenor re-
| torted TO remark by Mr.. King by say
| ing that the latter should not scold be-
| cause he was not permitted TO bulldoze
| his propositions through the House.
on" said Mr. King. Il cannot scold
| with the gentleman, who is the common
scold of the House"
We'll" dryly responded Mr. Grosvenor,
If you had lived in the days OF legisIa-
| ton for common scolds you would not
| haNn lived he old you