Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-25
CLIP FOREST BUREAU
Steps Taken to Abridge Its
0ne-Time independence.
WILSON BACKED IN SENATE
Agricultural Bill Transfers Law
Officers Of Service.
COST OF LIVING INQUIRY
Specific Authority Given Secretary
to Make Investigation-Fea-
lures of Bill.
osT OF LIVING INQUIRY

| The agricultural appropriation bill
which was reported TO the Senate from
the committee on agriculture and forestry,
carries "a total Of S1a,512 6s6, which il
S1S2.36O more than the House allowed
for carrying on the work OF the depart
ment during the next fiscal year.
| One of the amendments added by the
Senate committee provides $1,000 for the
construction and equipment of an ex-
pertinent station for the bureau Of animal
industry near Bladensburg. Last years
appropriation bill gave $4,000 for the
purchase of site for the experiment
station, and the department has found
that further appropria ton is necessary
to erect the proper buildings, repair
fences and roadways and make other
improvements. The station is to be used
primarily for the investigation of remedies
for diseases of animals.
Another amendment of general interest
authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture
to make Investigations and disseminate in
formation as to the cost of food supplies
at the farm and to the consumer. In
his last report Secretary Wilson traced
the price OF a steer from the time IT left
the farm until ii reached the consumer.
The House committee which drew up
the appropriation bill proposed to give
the Secretary specific authority to in
vision was struck out on point of order
on the floor of the House. Secretary
Wilson desires the authority. made his
plea to the Senate committee, and the
amendment was inserted.
Law Officers Transferred.
One of the important changes in the
bill is the transfer Of all the law officers
from the bureau of forestry to the Office
~
move in line with the policy of Secretary
Wilson to reduce the bureau of forestry
TO its legal position a branch Of the
Agriculture Department instead of being
an institution by itself, as ii was under
Chief Forester Clifford Pinchot.
Specific authority is given to the
weather bureau by another added clause
to cooperate with other bureaus of the
government and institutions of learning
for the dissemination of meteorological in
formation. The intention of this pro
| vision is to allow meterologists OF the
department who arc stationed in diff
ferent parts of the country, to lecture to
college students and to explain the prac-
teal application of the work of the
weather bureau TO agriculturists, horti-
culturists and farmers institutes.
Provision is also made i'm the bill for
weather bureau observations at Canyon
City. Col, to serve large area i'm that
section devoted to fruit growing. The
telephone expenses is increased by 500,
making IL $2B., 7(O
For the enforcement Of the pure food
act the Senate committee increased the
appropriation from s2l5,UO TO $24O.OoO.
The $4,000 added is intended to pay the
expenses of expert witnesses and inspec-
tors I'm attending trials OF cases submit
ted to United States attorneys.
War on Boil weevil.
The appropriation for exterminating the
cotton boil weevil Is increased by $4,000,
making the total 500 600.
Tile SeEate committee has also increas-
ed from % to ID per cent the portion OF
the receipts from forest reserves to be
paid to the states in which the reserves
are located. for the benefit of public
schools and public roads.
For the removal of the denatured alco-
hol distllery to the experimental farm at
Arlington. Va, where it is belived better
facilities for demonstrating the work can
be obtained, the committee has provided
1000.
An appropriation of SEQ, which was
struck out OF the bill in the House on A
point of order, is provided by another
amendment, to allow the Department OF
Agriculture to investigate drainage prob
lens.
The Secretary of Agriculture is also
given specific authority in another amend
ment to purchase, destroy or quarantine
diseased animals in order to prevent the
spread Of any animal disease from one
state 10 another. Specific authority is
also given the Secretary to secure the
punishment of any one interfering with
any emp,oye of the bureau Of animal in
dustry in the performance of his work. a
section OF the law which has not been en-
forced UP to the present time.
The maximum salary that may be paid
to scientific investigators in the depart
ment is increased from $500 to 400
The loss Of several good men from the
department recently. because Of the for
mer limitation. served to point out to the
Senate committee that an increase i'm the
ma xmum will probably result in the re-
tcntion of exceptionally good men.