Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-07-15

vided for in express terms in some
general appropriation"
Hereafter, in conformity with the
foregoing provision, no officer or en-
ployee of the Department of Agricul-
ture attending any convention or
meeting of an association Of any kind
will be reimbursed for any expens-
es incurred in connection Herewith.
In case officers or employees desire
to attend at their own expense So
ciety or association conventions or
meetings which have for their OBJ
ject the advancement Of sciences or
objects otherwise related to the work
of the Department, permission must
be secured in advance from the Sec
rotary upon the recommendation @
the Chief Of the Bureau involved.
When such permission is granted by
the Secretary the time consumed by
officers or employees in proceeding TO
such conventions or meetings, in at
tendance thereon, and in returning to
their official duties, will be charged
TO annual leave, with or without pay,
as the Secretary may direct.
The Washington Post comments
upon the act as follows:
The effect Of this provision IS to
cripple the educational work that is
being done by the United States gov
ernmcnt. In bringing about success
full reforms, organizations of citizens
have been most successful in heir
work of agitation. They have planted
the SEED for many great improve
ments.
The United States government has
always played a large part in this
educational work. The forestry bu-
reau, for instance, has sent lecturers
to appear before farmers oranges in
order that the farmer might have
first-hand knowledge Of how TO meet
dangers that arise from forest fires.
The various bureaus of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture likewise have
sent lecturers to societies agitating
for better roads, better farming, bet
breeding, etc, so that those engaged
i'm the movement might have the ben
eft Of expert advice. Agricultural and
industrial schools and meetings Of en-
gineers and craftsmen have had the
benefit Of expert advice from the gov
eminent.
Millions Of American citizens want
to know what the government is do
ing for them, and thousands Of meet
ings Of one kind or another have
been addressed in the past by en-
ployes Of the government who have
aided in solving problems confront
ing the citizens.
Under the provision in the District
act it is impossible for the govern
ment to send out lecturers, no matter
how great the demand from the vari-
Gus communities. It is impossible to
expect that the employees will pay
their own expenses and surrender
their salary and vacation period in
order to continue the splendid educa-
tional work that they have been do
ing.
As the Herald sees ii the Govern
ment is abusing the trust it accept
ed from the people who placed it in
power. The Government should be
for the people. The people are paying
taxes to support an agricultural de-
partment that is supposed to help the
farmer. The people did not create the
department for an ornament to
the country 0 to provide
sinecures for its chiefs of bu-
reau. They created the department
for the good of the farmer, and the
farmer can, and will see to it that
the department makes good.
The department has become a Sc
ries Of hide bound, red taped bu-
reaucracies o" ofhcialdom governed
by its own politics as a political ma
chine. and its chief officers are APP
parently imbued with the idea that
they are 1T and the farmer does
not count.
While farmers are footing the bills,
by what right has their servant the
ID. partment Of Agriculture, to say to
them 1--WE have made valuable dis
coyeries at your expense, but we will
not allow them to be personally eX-
planned to you at your conventions
where II would do you most good?'
A political bureaucracy run in this
manner, is not filling the purpose for
which il was created.
The farmers should make their in
fluence felt. through their represent