The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-12
Times Dispatch Bureau.
MunsnY building.

washington. d g., April IL.
The American farmer never received
such scant consideration from any Con-
gross as IL being bestowed upon him
In this first session of tho Sixtieth
Congress. 1t Is the soldier and the
sailor in the uniform of Uncle Sam who
have the cali at Washington. The
farmer has to content himself, or Is
supposed to do so, with what is left
after our fighting men have been pro-
yided for.
1t will astoniah many people to
know that tho total appropriations OF
this session for all military purposes.
including the support of the army and
navy, Qualifications. appropriations for
military and naval hospitals and a
500, 900. 900 pension bill, will aggregate
a grand total Of 100000 900, probably
something more.
And as against this. 1t has taken
the hardest kind OF, lighting to induce
the House to agree to appropriate SILL
100000 for the support of the Depart
ment OF Agriculture.
Work of Agricultural Department.
1t is admitted by every opponent of
liberal appropriations to the support Of
this department Of the government
that Secretary Wilson, the farmer
member Of the Cabinet. is doing more
for the material welfare of the people
OF this country than any other min
lister who sits at the Presidents coun-
ell board.
From every state In the Union, from
almost every county in the State. there
come reports showing work which the
Department of Agriculture Is accom-
plishing in the way of helping the
American farmer to realize greater
returns from his tillage of the soil.
Through the Bureau of Plant Industry,
the Bureau of Soil Survey. which tells
the farmer what Is needed TO adapt tn e
soil to the crops he desires to- grow
the Bureau of Animal Industry, the
Bureau of Propagation, the Bureau of
Entomology. the Weather Bureau. the
Forest Service, the department is ac-
complishing a work so vast and of
such great benefit that 1t Is well-nigh
uncomfortable how any considerable
portion of Congress should oppose sup
porting with most liberal appropria-
lions this department OF the govern
ment.
Yet, all that the department has got
this year has been after hard strus :
gle. The House Committee on Agri-
culture kept the appropriations down
to the lowest possible limit. and every
effort of the Democrats to raise this to
point commensurate with the necessi-
ties of the situation and the demands
of the masses of the Taxpayers met
with opposition Of the most strenuous
character In few cases the demands
were successful in the majority they
failed of course.
Enormous Military Expenses.
The army this year will cost the
country almost exactly sio0.oo0,O0o. the
naval bin amounts to o3,000,ooo, the
pension bill to sl60,000,00o, and va
rious other appropriations have OBJ
jects germane TO the support OF the
army and navy, and Will bring the total
military expenditures to over $ioo,-
100000.
IT costs money to be a world power
Whether the farmer gets as much out
of 1t as some of the people, there is no
doubt that these other people are get
ting a lot
The end is not in sight. The special
board appointed by the President TO
consider plans to enlarge and reorgan-
izc the army has under consideration a
system which proposes to increase the
American army TO $4,000 officers ana
men 1t is known that the President
and General Bell. chief of the general
staff, heartily approve of this proposed
increase in the size of our army.
Half II Billion for Army and Navy.
If the plan should be adopted, and
If the Spanish War veteran pension roll
continues to increase as in the past
year or two, and If Congress adheres
to this policy of putting on the pension
roll every individual with the shadow
of claim to pensionable status. and of
increasing the rate in every case now
covered by the general pension law, the
time is easily foreseen when we will
be expanding annually S500,000,O00 for
military purposes.
The time is not at hand, nor even
within seeing distance, when we shall
he appropriating even s20.000.00O foi.
the promotion and encourag cement of
agriculture and the preservation and
development of the country's natural
wealth.