The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-08-14

the farmers. They were seized with
the idea that the tillers OF the soil
should be represented in the Pres.-
dents cabinet, so they organized and
flooded Congress with petitions prac-
tically demanding that the farmers,
who produced the wealth OF the cOun-
try, be given representation in the
cabinet.
When the farmers unite on legisla-
ton they usually get il. In 1889 the
department OF agriculture was created,
and Commissioner Coleman OF Ms
souri, was promoted TO the secretary
ship. From the day the bureau as
sumed the dignity OF an executive de-
partment, that day the work of the
department began TO expand, and with
il the appropriations began to grow.
Great Work Accomplished.
From a million dollars the depart
ment's budget now exceeds S13, 900, 600
annually. Under the administration
OF Secretary Wilson, who has been in
charge of the farmers department
since March 4, 1897, every branch of
agriculture has been exploited; va
riOus Investigations having for their
objects the improvement. of the prod
ucts OF the soil, have been made by
partment has spent millions of dollars
in behalf OF agriculture.
But in addition to promoting farm
ing and increasing the value OF farm
lands, the department OF agriculture
looks after the health of the cOnsum-
ing public by seeing that the pure
drug and food act is strictly observed
by manufacturers OF food products
and drugs. The internal revenue bu-
reau is charged with keeping watch on
the ''mOOnshiners" who manufacture
mountain dew without paying Uncle
sam for the privilege, and the officers
Of that bureau do good work in ms k
ing IL interesting Cor the "moonshin-
ers." But Secretary Wilsoa and his
lieutenants never sleep when suspicion
is aflOat that some manufacturer is
putting on the market a misbranded
and adulterated food product as a
patent cure-an medicine that is ,aCk-
ing in virtue and qualities. One fea-
ture, perhaps the strongest card Of Mr..
Wilson's administration. IS a literary
bureau. With the assistance Of a corps
of experts he supplies the farmers of
the country with the latest and most
up-to-date literature on specialized
farming, and tells them how TO raise
two bushels of potatoes where only
one was raised before, The secret Of
his stay in the cabinet is easily ex7
planned He understands the farmer,
and the farmer is the power behind
the throne The mail received by the
agricultural department exceeds, it is
said. the mail of any other depart
ment.
Much Needed Bureau.
while some of our national law
makers are talking about economy IN
public expenditures. it strikes me"
said veteran official of the treasury
department, that much time and Ia
Dor would be saved by creating in one
of the several departments a bureau
Of Information. i mean a bureau TO
which all letters from the people seek
ing public information might be ad-
dressed so as TO ensure the letter
reaching the right department. You
would be surprised to see the large
number of letters that are daily re-
ceived by the departments asking for
information which comes under the
Jurisdiction OF another department.
The writer, by reason Of addressing
the wrong official. Jumps on" the adj
ministratiOn for not promptly answer
ing correspondence on public matters.
A bureau such as I suggest would
prove Of value, not alone TO the people
at large. but TO the government. It
would facilitate the handing Of cor
respOndence which increases as the
country grows. and the average letter
would be handled but once, instead of
going through the lands of several
clerks, as now required.