The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1905-08-10
HONEY SPENT IN Jumps
Alleged E1travagsnce in The Agricrl.
tural Department.
SEC. WILSON HAS LARGE POWERS.
Fer Much Of the Appropr sdess for the ASrl-
cultural Department There Is No Return
Except In the Shape Of ScientiiIc Data
Scientists Say Their Discoveries Are Cheap
az Any Pslce.

Washington, d. c. (SpeciaD JAS a
result Of recent disclosures concerning
affairs in the Department of Agricult-
ure, Congress will consider at its next
session the wisdom of continuing to
make lump-sum appropriations for the
various bureaus of that department
The existence OF this system is one
of the explanations of the alleged cx-
travagance of the present administra-
tion of the Secretary Of Agriculture
Since 1902 Congress has appropriated.
under 28 separate headings, the total
sum Of $23,ooS.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.
In the annual appropriation bills, at
least for the last FIVE years, there has
been made for each bureau. division or
Office a special provision for salaries.
All officers, clerks and employees are
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
merate large number of things which
may be done by expenditure of this ap-
preparation. For instance, under the
head of general expenses of the Btu
rcau of Forestry S254,OOo is appropriated
ito enable the Secretary of Agriculture
10 experiment and TO make and con-
tinuc investigations. and TO report OH
forestry, forest reserves, forest fires and
numbering, to seek through iuvestiga-
tions and the planting OF native and for
eign species suitable trees for trecleSs
regions" etc. Blu, just how much or
how little he shall cxpend for each pur-
pose is not stipulated SO it is in the
Bureau OF Plant Industry
For vegetable, pathological and ply
siological Investigations $4,000 is ap-
propriated this year A score OF things
which this may be used for are named,
but there is no specification as 10 the
amount which will be spent for each.
When money is appropriated for the
army or navy it is very carefully item
lied. If the Naval Appropriation bill
contcmplates the erection OF certain
buildings at various navy yards each
building and the maximum cost is stip-
ulatcd But in the Department of Agri-
culture it is different.
When the Weather Bureau, in 1908.
desired to erect new observatory the
appropriation bill simply stated that
$4,000 was To be made available for the
purchase Of site and erection of the
building. For 1904 the Weather Bureau
asked for another appropriation of $780,
900 for the construction of five build
ings, locations not indicated. Five more
buildings were authorized in each of
the appropriation accounts for 1905 and
1906.
The lump-sum appropriations made
for the various bureaus of the Depart
ment of Agriculture include the employ
ment of assistance. There are few re-
strictions as to such employment. I'm
der the lump-Sum system if the chief of
scientific bureau has particular hob
By he can ride that hobby at the ex-
pense 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 scientific
data, and there is no way OF dctermin-
ing whether the appropriation is eco
nomically expended. The scientists say
that their discoveries are cheap at any
nrice