The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-27
BLOW IN The HOUSE
Campbell Tries to Kill the
Weather Bureau.
KANSAS OFFICIALLY MALIGNED
Motion TO strike out Whole ApprO-
printiOn for Government PrOba-
biIities Shop UrEed-Meaf InsPec-
ton Law Re-enacted for Fear of
Defective Legislation Last Session.

Defective Legislation Last session.
There was quite a spell of weather IN
the House yesterday while the agricul-
tural appropriation bin was up.
Mr. Campbell, of Kansas. took Occa-
sion to eriticise the kind Of weather that
the government has been handing out to
his constituents. At one time there were
signs Of a general onslaught on the
Weather Bureau. and but for the jocular
intervention Of Mr.. Mann. OF Illinois, and
Chairman Wadsworth, something might
have been done 10 the Weather Bureau
of a serious character
There was a strong expectation that
MIR Littlefieid Of Maine, would take a
hand, but ne refrained from doing SO.
As chairman of the Committee on EX-
penditures in the Department Of Agricul-
ture. Mr. LittlefeId has been quietly con-
Quoting since the holidays an investiga-
ton Of the various bureaus OF the de-
partment Among other things that ne
has gone into with much thoroughness
has been the work of the Weather Bureau
and it is said that the testimony OF Off
Gals of the bureau has brought out
good deal of information as 10 methods
and expenditures that is open 10 severe
criticism. The testimony has been
printed. but the seal of secrecy has not
vet been lifted and probably will not be
until Mr.. Littleheld has completed his
work. lie did not dip into the discussion
yesterday.
Attack on Weather Bureau-
Mr.. Campbell showed the most feeling
about the bureau, and moved to strike
out the entire appropriation for the
Weather Bureau
IF the information generally given out
by this bureau" said he, is no more ac-
curate than that given out relative 10 the
conditions OF the weather in Kansas 1t
is wholly useless. A few days ago
the chief of this bureau solemnly gave
out TO the country the information that
weather conditions in Kansas had not
changed within the last seventeen years.
Now. there is not "a farmer in Kansas,
there is not farmers wife who does
not know more about the weather condl-
tons in Kansas than the chief of this
bureau. if that is his information.
why, everybody who knows Kansas,
who knows anything at all about H.
knows that the velocity Of the WIND mas
been materially decreased, and anybody
who knows anything at all about the
rainfall in Kansas knows that il has very
materially increased within these years
In all probability. the gentleman in charge
of this bureau entertains the delusion
about the weather in Kansas that is en-
tertained about Kansas generally by peo-
pie who have never been there. He, no
doubt, has visions of the abOTlglnes OF our
country still roaming over the pralrles OF
Kansas. He probably has visions OF but
falO dispOTting themselves in the wuilows
of that great State. No doubt ne
thinks we stin have grasshoppcTs out
there He probably INDUCES in the delu-
sion that we still have long whiskered
Populists. and 1 have no doubt that he
thinks he is correct in giving the Old-rime
information about Kansas, that we have
nothing out there except winds, cyclones,
and all that sort Of things
I'VE have no more cyclones in Kansas
than they have in Massachusetts, and We
have as good rainfall. and have had for
the last twelve or fifteen years, as they
have in any other Of the mldcOntlnent
States Of this Union II is a SANDER upon
the great State of Kansas TO have a gov
world the statement that the conditions
there have not changed In all these years,
and that the wind still howls and blows
there as il was originally supposed 10
blow by people who knew nothing Of Kan
sas. and that the rainfall has not in
creased
TIE House had a good laugh at the
conclusion Of Campbeus resentful re-
marks
The wind Of Kansas seems to have
travelled with the gentleman" observed
Mr.. Mann.
L am inclined to think" said Chair
man WadsworJh amid much laughter,
that there is no wind left I'm either Hi
nOis or Kansas"
The House refused to strike out the ap-
preparation.
Free seed Discussion.
Mr. Mann. of Illinois advocated the
enactment OF law forbidding the sale Of
adulterated or pernicious farm and gar
den seeds. He asserted that 10 TO % per
cent of the seeds sold in the country were
adulterated. and the adulteratiOn in the
case OF Kentucky blue grass was as high
as % per cent Mr.. Mann exhibited
samples of seeds, SEINE Of which he had
procured by mail orders from seedsmen,
and others furnished by the Department
of Agriculture. OF So varieties Of alfalfa
seed inspected by the department 100 were
found 10 be aduiterated with dodder.
These authorizations, and others, he said,
were not accidental. but intentional and
with fraudulent intent.
Mr.. DriscoU Of New York, said a seeds
man guilty of deceit was liable in dam
ages, and asked if the subject was a
proper one for legislative action.
''Of course. the gentleman does not in
tend 10 insult me-" replied Mr.. Mann, far
from ii. but If / did not think it a proper
subject of legislation, I should not take
I'D the time Of the House talking about it.
The Federal government is the only
agency that can deal with the impOrta-
ton of seed for the purposes OF adultera-
ton, and that can regulate interstate traf-
fic in them.
Mr.. CrumpackeT, Of Indiana. defended
the Congressional free-seed distribution,
saying his observation had convinced him
that it resulted in much good, It was
now proposed to stop that distribution,
and confine 1t to rare. new, or uncom-
mon seed, bulbs or cuttings; yet the APP
preparation was not reduced one cent II
there were some saving TO the govern
ment in the proposition il would 20 some
extent commend itself TO his judgment.
Grain Inspection Urged.
Strenuous objection was made 70 the
paragraph authorizing the department to
establish standards for grain entering
into interstate or foreign commerce by
Messrs. Mann and Tawney, who spoke
for the grain inspection Of their respec-
tive localities. Chicago and Minnesota,
They said that the provision was the
entering wedge for an extension Of the
work Of the department which would re-