The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-12-18

lava r. t1OuSIOu, oSCIe IdIS u no
riculture, today published his an
nual report for the year 1913. The
report, which contains only Sc pages,
differs from previous reports IN that,
instead of merely reviewing the agri-
cultural situation, it presents in
summary many broad economic ques-
tons. Throughout the report strong
emphasis is placed upon co-opera-
ton between the department of ag-
riculture and other federal depart
ments and the state agricultural
agencies to promote coordination
and eliminate duplication of effort
The keynote is getting the depart
ment's information in all fields more
directly and in more valuable form
to the people. The following are
summarized statements OF the more
important subjects and recommended
tons discussed in this report:
THE PROBLEM OF PRODUCTION
Increased tenancy, absentee own
ership, soils still depleted and eX-
plotted, inadequate business methods
and the relatives failure to induce a
great majority of farmers to apply
the suggestions of dependence on
foreign nations for food supplies
warn us of our shortcomings and in
cite us to additional efforts to in
crease production. The report states
that there is no ground for thinking
that we have yet appropriated the
limit of our output from the soil, but
that we have just begun to attack
the problem, and have not reached
the end of the pioneering stage, and
only in a few localities have develop
ed conditions where reasonably full
Setarns are secured. We have I'M
histakably reached the period where
we must think and plan.
INCREASES ASKED.
Increases in the appropriations for
the next fiscal year are recommend
ed, as follows:
$25O,86O for extending the work
of Graduating animal diseases, feed
ing and breeding live stock, and for
dairying and the enforcement of the
meat-inspection law.
$45,660 for the Introduction and
breeding of new plants, the control
the methods of crop production,
especially cereals.
$143,577 for the classification of
agricultural lands and the survey of
homesteads in the national forests.
SOCIAL for extending investiga-
tons of the handling, shipping and
storing of poultry, eggs and fish.
$24.420 for investigating fertilizer
resources, soil fertility, and the
chemical and physical properties of
soils.
$1,000 for extending investiga-
tons of insects attacking deciduous
fruits, cereal and forage crops, and
forest trees. .s-s--a..ss.-,s,, .,...,. .-....s~.
$4,000 to enforce the migratory
bird law.
$4,000 for gathering crop fore
casts and estimates.
$113,5O0 for road management
and road building and maintenance.
$4,000 for Investigations of the
marketing and distribution of farm
products.
$4,000 for live stock and other
demonstration work in the Weather
Bureau, made possible by the in
creased efficiency shown in handling
it's work.
It is recommended that the con-
gressional seed distribution as now
conducted be discontinued, and that
constructive work in securing and
distributing new and valuable seeds
and plants be substituted.
PLAN TO REORGANIZE THE
DEPARTMENT.
To promote coordination, allow
greater latitude in carrying out of
projects, and to establish more logi-
cal handling of regulatory work and
research, investigation and demon
work, the secretary will ask
congress in the coming estimates for
to prepare a plan for reor-
ganizing, redirecting, and systema-
tizing the work of the department as
the interests of economical and eftic1-
ent administration may require. This
plan would be submitted in the fiscal
estimates for 1916. 1t is believed
that the department can best carry
on it's functions and carry its infor-
nation to the people it seeks to serve
probably by having it's work conduct
ed in five of six main groups such as
a research service, regulatory SER
vice, a state relations service, rural
service, forest service,
a weather service, and others as
special occasion might warrant.
PROMOTION BASED ON EFFICI-
ENCY.
A system of efficiency ratings af-
fecting all clerical and sub-clerical
employees, designed to eliminate all
danger of favoritism and to pro-
vide for promotion entirely upon
merit, has been established.
Increased efficiency and consider
able economy has been gained
through changes in the handling of
fiscal matters. --.r. 81.
It is recommended that the de-
partment be given authority to in
crease the maximum salary of $4,000
which now can be paid to scientific
1t is pointed out that
many of the leaders in the depart
nent could command salaries in
many cases more than twice what
they are receiving.
CHANGES IN WEATHER BUREAU.