Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-02-06

familiar with all its branches. His
clear exposition OF the situation was
therefore received with interest
As might have been expected the
house of representatives. again voted
down its committee on agriculture On
the free seed question. The committee
adopted the suggestion Of the Depart
mcnt of Agriculture, intended To provide
for the distribution of really rare and
valuable seeds. bulbs and plants. The
house however. insisted the distribu
tion Of pumpkin and squash seed
should be continued. and although the
chair ruled the amendment continuing
the pumpkin seed distribution out of
order. the house over-ruled the chair
by vote of l36 to - The arguments
Of the friends Of the humble squash
and the luscious tUruip would be rid
iculoUs We're they not so childish and
so manifestly insincere. II was pointed
out that the Department Of Agriculture
favored the change. and the free-seed-
ers replied that it did so TO extend its
own work II was then represented
that every organization Of farmers in
the country. state. national and local
which had acted on the question. had
urged that the old varieties they had
been receiving for twenty years. be cut
out. and the money given to the de-
partmeut of agriculture for purposes
Of some real benefit To agriculture. To
this the pumpkin seed advocates repli-
ed that the hundreds Of CARNATIONS
referred To were not real farmers. and
did not represent the farmers. Il was
finally pointed out that substantially
every newspaper of Importance. inclu-
ding the solid agricultural press, had
condemned the spending of government
money 10 give away seed which could
be purchased al any country grocery
store. Their answer 20 this was that
the seedmen had subsidized the press
with their advertising" Last Yea. the
great point made was that the COM
mittee had struck out the tomato seed
proposition without any one preparing
before il against the item. This year
the seedsman had a hearing and the
ones who complained because they We're
absent last year turned and called them
lobbyists" because they had appeared.
The plain truth is. as every one fam
liar with the subject knows that many
of the congressman b,lieve-sud most
Of them privately admit-that their
constituents are nattercd by receiving
these misera bly, insignificant gifts. and
think their congressman has personally
remembered them. They insist on hav-
ing them for their campaign value,
pure ana simple Millions OF packages
are sent 10 people who live IN cities.
some of whom have small gardens. but
most Of them without any earthly use
for the seeds The worst feature of ali
however. is the fact that the seeds are
openly bought and sold in the corridors
Of the United States capitol. No mem
Der Will admit selling them but many
admit buying them. The seeds which
the house apportiOns to, its members
are thus made a source Of revenue 10
some one. It is not charged that mem
bers vote for this appropriation and
then sell the seeds for money. but as
they are sold il is fair 10 assume that
the members or some one close to them.
profit by the sale II is possible that
some frugaI-minded statesman thus
further increase their stipends. as some
Of them do by using committee station
cry and pocketing their incidental al
lowance in cash.