Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-04
Committee IS NAMED
Lecture Offers for Department Of
Agriculture Scientists.
OTHER EMPLOYEES INVOLVED
Secretary Wilson Appoints Investi-
eating Body at Instance Of Men
Whose Services Are Wanted.

How much OF an employees time is the
government entitled to?
Inquiry to decide this question has
been undertaken by Secretary Wilson at
the request OF employees OF the Depart
ment OF Agriculture. who are frequently
invited to deliver lectures I'm various
parts of the country. and who are Of
fered good pay for such services.
committee. composed OF DIR. A. c.
True. director of experiment stations:
George p. McCabe, solicitor for the de-
partment; Prof. Willis Moore. chief OF
the weather bureau. and DR.. Harvey ".
Wiley. chief chemist, has been appointed
by Secretary Wilson to consider the
matter. The committee will meet In the
near future.
Other Employees Involved.
In addition to the scientists who de-
liver lectures. there are other classes OF
employees who will be affected by the
committees decisions They are not only
employed in the Department or Asricul-
ture. but in other departments a we'll.
Warrington is the home OF many pro-
fessional men who are known as sun
downers." Doctors and lawyers prin-
cipally, they work at their respective
callings after their government Offices
close The inquiry OF the Secretary OF
Agriculture involves these. !.
Another class OF employees OF the De-
partment of Agriculture is known as
student employees" They are located
principally In Washington, but are scat
tered In smaller numbers over, the entire
country.
Their salaries are from $500 to $500
year. Most of them help out this
small wage by doing something else
The Secretary does not want to inter-
fere with this class OF workers more than
can be helped. But. after the govern
ment has spent time and money In orain-
ing man and has advanced him to q
ton whether the government has not a
right to expect the best OF his time and
efforts
The Secretary says this is particularly
true of the Department OF Agriculture.
where often a man may work for years
on problem producing nothing. but
finally may develop something that will
pay for his entire salary several times
over
This was particularly exemplified in the
case OF hog cholera, where an employe
worked for eleven years before he pro-
duced the hog cholera serum which now
saves the farmers Of the country millions
of dollars each year.
Attitude of Secretary Wilson.
This is proposition upon which my
mind Is open," said Secretary Wilson,
after he had gone over the question with
all the bureau heads Of his department at
special meeting yesterday, afternoon.
l want to get all the facts and settle
upon fair policy.
The class Of employees most affected in
my department are the scientists. We
take young men from the colleges, put
them 10 work at small salaries and then
promote them as they give evidence of
their aoiiity They get salaries that
range from $1,000 to as high as 81 .OOo and
$500. o'o @lu
should the government be content with
the services they give during the regular
department hours and allow them to
make money on the outside or should
tne position be taken that the salary
education and training they get from the
government De considered an equivalent
for their full time?"
Lecture Giving Encouraged.
Most Of the lecturing done by the scien
fists Of the Department of Agriculture
is before agricultural and other colleges.
The heads of bureaus. as well as the Sec
rotary. are always getting requests for
men to deliver such lectures.
The practice is encouraged by the de-
partment 1t is of material assistance
in .he general education OF the agricu-
tural classes for whose benefit the de-
partment was organized and is now being
run with such great success by Secre-
tary Wilson.
The committee appointed by Secretary
Wilson is expected to study the lecture
question carefully and to decide whether
scientist shall be allowed to accept q
fee for such services or merely his ex-
penses.