Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-12-12
MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS.
Aid to Farmers - Smithsonian Institution
Public Printing

~tSS66SANGOOS tOTtSSs
Aid to Farmers - Smithsonian Institution
Public Printing,
In no department of Government
work in recent years has there been
greater success than in that OF giving
scientific aid to the farming population
thereby showing them how most eff.
GENTLY to help themselves. There is
no need of insisting upon its import.
ance, for the welfare of the farmer is
fundamentally necessary to the welfare
of the Republic as a whole. In
addition to such work as quarantine
against animal and vegetable plaques,
warning against them when here
introduced, much efficient help has
been rendered to the farmer by the
introduction of new plants specially
fitted for cultivation under the pecu-
liar conditions existing in different
portions of the country. New cereals
have been established 10 the semi-arid
West. For instance, the practicability
OF producing the best types of macaroni
wheats in regions of an annual rain.
fall of only 10 inches or whereabouts
has been conclusively demonstrated.
Through the introduction of new rices
in Louisiana and Texas, the produc-
ton Of rice in this country has been
made to about equal the home de-
mand. In the Southwest the posi-.
bility of regrassing overstocked range
lands has been demonstrated; in the
North many new forage crops have
been introduced, while in the East it
has been shown that some of our
choicest fruits can be stored and
shipped in such = way as to find q
profitable market abroad.
again recommend to the favorable
consideration of Congress the plans oil
the Smithsonian Institution for max.
ing the museum. under its charge
worthy OF the Nation, and for preserv.
ing ct the National Capital not only
records Of the vanishing races of men
but OF the animals Of this continent
which, like the buffalo, will soou
become extinct unless specimens from
which their representatives may be
renewed are sought in their native
regions and maintained there il
safety.
The District Of Columbia is the ONLY
part of our territory in which thu
National Government exercises loca
or municipal functions. and where ir
consequence the Government has .
free hand in reference to certain typei
of social and economic legislation
which must be essentially local OF
municipal in their character. Tn,
Government should gee to it, fo
instance, that the hygienic and sani
tary legislation affecting Washineto tor
is of high character. The evils o.
slum dwellings, whether in the shap,
OF crowded and congested tenemen
house districts or of the bach. allie,
type, should never be permitted t
grow up in Washington. The cit,
should be . model in every respect fol
all the cities Of the country. TIL,
charitable and correctional systems o
the District should receive considera
ton 1t the hands of the Congress t,
the end that they may embody tn
results of the most advanced though
in these fields. Moreover, Will
Warrington in not a great industria
city, there is some industrialism here
and our labor Liquidation, while i,
would not be important in itself
might be made model for the rest O
the Nation. We should pass, TO
instance, q wise employers liability
act for the District of Columbia, ant
we need such An act in our Nav,
Yards. Railroad companies in tn,
District ought to be required by Law
to block their frogs.
The safety-appliance law, for tn
better protection of the lives an,
limbs of railway employees, which wa
passed in 1893, went into full effect OF
August l, 1901. It has resulted il
averting thousands of casualties. Ex
perience shows, however, the necessity
OF additional legislation to perfect thi
law. A bill to provide for this passed
the Senate at the last session. It i.
to be hoped that some such measure
may now be enacted into law.
There is q growing tendency to pro
vide for the publication of masses o
documents for which there is no pub
lie demand, and for the printing o
which there is no real necessity. Larg
numbers OF volumes are turned out b,
the Government printing presses TO
which there is no justification. Moth
ing should be printed by any of tn
departments unless it contains some
thing Of permanent value. and tn
Congress could with advantage Gu
down very materially on all the print
ing which it has now become custom
airy to provide. The excessive cost o
Government printing 10 strong argu
ment against the position of those Wit