Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-08-10
MONEY SPENT IN LUMPS
Alleged Extravaganza in the Agricul'
tural Department.
SEC. WILSON HAS LARGE POWERS.
For Much Of the Appropr Ions Tor the Agrl'
cultural Department There is No Return
Except 10 the Shape Of Scientific Data
Scientists Say Their Discoveries Are Cheap
at Any Price.

Washington, D. &. (Spccial).-hs
result Of recent disclosures concerning
affairs in the Department of Agrlcult-
urc, Congress will consider at its next
session the wisdom of continuing to
make lump sum appropriations Tor the
various bureaus of that department.
The existence of this system is one
of the explanations of the alleged eX-
travagancc of the present admnlStra-
ton of the Secretary of Agriculture.
Since 1902 Congress has appropriated,
under 2S separate headings, the total
sum of $23ooS,35o Except to keep
within the general character Of the broad
headings under which these appropria.
tions were made, Mr.. Wilson has had
practically unlimited discretion as to
their expenditure, go.
In the annual appropriation blllS' al
least for the last FIVE years, there mas
been made for each bureau, division or
office special provision for salaries
All officers, clerks and employees arc
enumerated and their respective salaries
stipulated In addition TO this, there Is
made an appropriation OF a lump sum
for general expenses.
The appropriation bills simply emu
mcrate a large number of things. when
may he done by expenditure OF TINS ap-
preparation. For instance, under the
head Of general expenses OF the bn,
rcau of Forestry S254,ooo Is appropriated
"to enable the Secretary ot Agriculture
10 experiment and to make and con-
,inuc investigations, and to report on
forestry. forest reserves, forest hrcS ana
numbering, to seek through inVcSliSa-
,ions and the planting OF native and tor
eien species suitable trees tor trccleHH
regions" etc. But just how much or
how little he shall cxpcnd for each pur-
pose is not stipulated. So II Is IN the
Bureau Of Plant Industry
For vegetable, pathological and ply
siolopical Investigations $4,000 IS ap-
propria,cd this year \ score OF things
which this may be used for are named,
but there is no specification As t" the
amount which will be spent tor each.
When money is appropriated Tor the
army or navy it is very carefully item,
i7cd If the Naval Appropriation bi''
contcmpatcS the erection OF certain
buildings at various navy yards ca'h
building and the maximum cost Is Stp-
ulated. But in the Department OF Agrl-
culture it is different.
When the Weather Bureau, III 1905
desired to erect a new observatory the
appropriation bill simply stated that
S5oooo was to be made available tor the
purchase Of a site and erection ct the
building. For 1904 the Weather bureau
asked for another appropriation o, S5o,
600 for the construction ot hrc build
ipes. locations not indicated, FIVE more
building, were authorized in each or
the appropriation accounts for 1905 and
1000.
The lump-sum approprlatlons made
for the various bureaus OF the Depart
ment of Agriculture include the employ
ment of assistance, There are few re-
stric,ions as to such employment. IN
der the lump-sum system i the chict OF
scientific bureau has particular mob
by he can ride that hobby at the cz-
pcnse OF other things which ought to
be done through expenditure OF lump
sum appropriation.
For much of the appropriations for the
Department of Agriculture there is no
return except in the shape OF Sclentlhc
data, and there is no way OF detcrmln-
ing whether the appropriation Is eco
nomcally expended The scientists say
that their discoveries are cheap at any
price