Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-01-19
SENATOR HOEE SMITH
OFFERS HIS FIRST BILL
Georuia'S New Senator Pro-
poses to Enlarge Work of
Agricultural Department
D. RALPH sMrTR.

WASHINGTON, Jan. Ex-senator Hoke
Smith introduced this morning his first
bill into the senate. The bill has been
carefully prepared after conference with
leading officials OF the agricultural de-
partment. 1t is intended TO enlarge the
work of the agricultural colleges. which
have received the BENEFITS Of what Is
known as the Morrill, fund, provided by
an act OF congress in 1862. and Of the
acts OF congress supplementary there
to.
The bill provides for the establishment
OF departments in each of these colleges
to be known as agricultural extension
departments or divisions. II makes II
the object and work OF these agricultural
extension departments or divisions to
give instructions and demonstrations In
agriculture and I'm home industries and
economics applicable TO rural life to per-
sons not attending the colleges, but to
the residents of the state engaged at
home in the work OF farming where
the states accept the provisions OF the
act
II provides for furnishing the grown
farmers and their families at home the
benefit Of such Information as can be
gathered at the colleges, experimental
stations and by the government so that
those already engaged at work may
have the benefit of all the information
obtainable through official sources, and
1t provides that this information is to
be carried through field demonstrations,
publications and in other ways. The bill
carries printed matter OF this work from
the college of agriculture through the
postofice free of charge.
$4,000 APPROPRIATION.
It first appropriates 5000 to the use
OF each state without regard TO the
population Of the state. It provides for
further appropriation Of 5000 for the
first year, increasing 100000 annually un-
til the total amount is 5000 600, this
amount to be distributed to the states
in the proportion that the rural popula-
ton OF each state bears to the total rural
population of all of the states, deter
mined by census reports. 1t provides, how
ever. that no state shall receive the
benefits Of this fund unless the state
furnishes like fund toward the estab-
lishment of agricultural extension de-
partments or divisions IN the college
OF agriculture.
The bill provides the machinery for
the distribution of the fund and for re-
ports through the department of agricul-
ture of the work done in each state as a
result OF the fund.
In short. the bill provides a detailed
plan for the establishment of agricultural
extension work by the colleges Of agri-
culture, this work to be done through the
state agencies at the college of agri-
culture, and to consist OF demonstration
work in farming, instruction on the farm
by demonstrators and by bulletins which
viii carry TO those already engaged
I'm farming all the information which
scientific investigation can procure with
reference to farm progress.
It also contemplates the study Of In
dustries that can be followed in con-
nection with the home I'm rural life.
PROVIDES INSTRUCTORS.
BY the time the total sum TO be ap-
propriated. namely, sS.0O0.O00. is reached
in a state with the rural population OF
Georgia. the fund should provide a ca
pable demonstration in every county OF
the state ] progressive farm instruc-
ton. in the organization OF the Boys
Corn clubs and the Girls Domestic Sci
ence Clubs. and in the study Of those
problems that win so TO make farm
work more successful and profitable and
add to the comforts OF rural life.
Senator Smith would have introduced
bill upon this subject Immediately up
on the reassembling of the senate, but
he found that parties connected with the
National Soil Fertility league were a'fo
working upon a proposition very similar,
and he therefore delayed introducing his
bill. and at his instance the different
parties came together and agreed upon
the bill which Senator Smith introduced
today.