Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-08-01
seed oistrlbutIOn By the e0vernment

strongly enough to create seriou
alarm. is the free distribution o
J seeds through congressman by tbs
!, Department of Agriculture.
, At its recent session congress in
dulged in its expected annual debate
over the appropriation. 1t was de
nounced by some as "steal" and al
outrage. The cost was shown to be
100000 per annum.
During the present year the distri
button is in the neighbornood of As,
100000 packets, few or none Of which
differ in any respect from the seel Is
which may be purchased at any re-
tail store
In spite of protests and arguments
the appropriation was made for
1905, and the distribution will con.
tlnue. 1t is not for the Sentry to
determine whether or not the people
desire this distribution to be kept up.
That matter rests entirely in their
own hands. They can stop it when
ever they desire to do So This is a
government of public opinion, and so
long as that opinion does not vehe.
mently object the custom will prob.
ably continue. Meantime, some ludi
crous incidents illustrate how anon.
alous and exceptional the function
H. Congressional records are bur
dened with peculiar episodes thrown
out In discussion, and the mails of
congressman are loaded with strange
applications from constituents who
misunderstood the purpose and scope
Of this gratuity.
A Virginia farmer who omitted to
give his name and consequently wrote
in vain, recently applied to the house
document room at Washington for
some seed popcorn" The letter, af-
ter appealing for popcorn. adds:
please send some fiat Dutch cab
bage, and the hollow crowned pars-
nips, and the long red beets and the
latest cucumber, and the long radish,
and some good acron squash"
When a district consists of nothing
but houses in a large city where
there are not even back yards for
bunch Of radishes to grow the seeds
are often exchanged with other con.
gressmen for public documents. One
representative from New York City,
however, concluded that he would
send a few packages to his constit.
uents as an experiment. Some of
the seeds went to people living in a
model tenemenA A few days later
he received protest from the owner
of the tenement. please do not
send any more seeds" he wrote; "the
people in my building have converted
all the bath tubs into gardens. The
scheme is all right as far as irriga
tion is concerned, but 1t is hard on
the tubs" 4
An Iowa congressman sent a pack |
age to rural constituent in a |
franked envelope bearing the usual
Three hundred dollars penalty for
private use The recipient was in
great distress of mind, and wrote. IL
can not put the seeds to public use,
and | cannot afford to pay $500 for
using them myself
A member OF the Georgia delega.
lion In congress received the follow.
Ing remarkable communication:
Dear Mr., Kongressman: Sum
time ago writ yu asking is there any.
hing the government cud 10 to make
a htin' wife behave herself. amt
herd from yu, and things is no bet.
Ter, VIII yu please let me no II yu
Rim git me one OF them poison snakes
from Afrika at the Cultural Depart. |
nent | have alters voted for va. and
This is mitey little to ask. specially
wen a mans wife is alters peckin'
aim"
The agitation for abolishing the
seed distribution causes annual dis.
comfort to at least one citizen who
operates each year In different con.
smssional district IN the South with
distinguished success. His name Is
Unknown, but he makes practice OF
raveling over the country. and when.
'ver meal time comes he calls at the
lone OF some farmer to waom he
'epresents himself as being special
r'end OF some influential official at
For small considera.
ion In the tom OF single meal the
'isltor will cause 10 be sent TO the
armer a large variety OF garden and
lower seeds. To the average farmer
MS proposition seems reasonable
nough, and the negotiations are usu.
lily closed ON the spot. The tour.
st writes to the congressional repre
entative Of the district for the seeds
y course. toe farmer might hava sa