New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-08
To Redistrict Country to
Insure Enforcement and
Improve Supply.
SECRETARY AGAINST
EASY RURAL CREDIT
Wants No Unique or Special
Legislation for Farmers
Would Aid the Women.


the Department OF Agriculture is fore
Swallowed in Secretary Houston's first an
nual report, presented to-day 10 President
Wilson. \ plan TO be submitted TO con-
Sress in the fiscal estimates for 1916 pro-
poses 10 carry out the work OF the de-
partment in five or six main groups, such
as research, state relations. rural organ
ization, forest service, weather and resu-
lation. Such a plan. Secretary Houston
believes, will promote coordination.
Plans for redistricting the country for
the enforcement Of the pure food law are
announced. and the Secretary declares
his intention to ask for authority to pre-
pare amendments To the pure food law
to improve the food supply protect the
public health and promote uniformity In
food legislation.
Tho country will he divided into sew
cra districts. each under the direction Of
a competent official. All branch labora-
tories and food inspectors Will be under
single direction and will work together
instead Of being independent of each
other. a condition which led to lack OF CO
ordination i'm the past. Certain branch
Laboratories will be consolidated. because
the work can be done more effectively
and moro choaplv in the larger central
laboratories. which are provided with
complete equipment and specializing
chemists. Efforts will he made to maEe
the act more Of q hygenic measure
through increased attention TO milk, eggs,
oysters and shellfsh, which are subject
to organic contamination and may be-
come carriers Of disease.
To Expedite Prosecutions.
Prosecutions under the food and drugs
act ana other regulatory statutes will he
expedited and made still moro effective
through cooperation with the Depart
ment Of Justice whereby the solicitor
will prepare cases in the form OF Grim
inal nformatons and place at the service
of the United States District Attorneys
i'm the trial of cases the department. at
torneys, who are thoroughly familiar with
the highly technical and chronological as
poets of many Of these causes
Free distribution OF seeds by Congress
men should be discontinued the Secro-
tary recommends. He would conduct in
its stead q constructive work in securing
and distributing new seeds and plants.
Conditions vary widely in the United
States, SAYS the report. because farmers
do not equally need better credit ar
rangements. and all sections are not SINH
larry clrcumstanced II contends that
when all necessary allowance has been
made for fundamental factors II is prob
ably clear that the rural communities
h1V
should be by existing financial arrange
ments
The Secretary believes there does not
appear 10 be need for unique or special
legislation, or for legislation which shall
aim TO give the farmer credit on easier
terms than other members Of society.
What is needed is the creation OF cond-
lions and machinery which shall enable
him, on similar credit foundations. TO
secure money at the same rates as those
that prevail for other classes and for
other sections.
Even though the problem OF how the
farmer can best sell his produce and can
improve the conditions under which he
can secure the necessary capital were
solved there would still remain vital
things to be accomplished before rural life
can be made fully efficient, profitable,
healthful, pleasurable and attractive. and
before A larger disposition TO remain on
the farm develops. Good roads are pre-
requisite for better marketing for bet
ter schools and for more comfortable
rural living. Better sanitation and by
giene i'm the home. In the school and in
the community are just as vital for the
rural community as for the urban" says
the report
Would Aid Farmers Wives.
ITO gain information to enable the de-
partment better to serve rural women the
Secretary has addressed letters OF inquiry
To- the women Of 5000 selected farms.
covering every county. Other surveys and
studies were also conducted. Analysis OF
the small part OF the letters as yet di-
gested shows that farm women desire as
sistance IN all phases OF home manage
ment. especially as to ways OF securing
running water. introducing household
power machinery and labor-saving ar
rangements and providing better hygienlc
and sanitary conditions.
marketing Of the articles they produce.
Others ask the department to prove 10
the men that their work is worth some
thing IN dollars and cents. The over
work Of women and children and difficulty
OF securing domestic help are mentioned
by number Of the writer's. The Depart
ment believes that intelligent help 10
women i'm matters Of home management
will contribute directly to the agricultural
success of the farm. 1t purposes, there
fore, TO ask Congress for means and au-
thority to make more complete studies of
domestic conditions on the farm, TO OK
pertinent with labor-saving devices and
methods and 10 study completely the
question of practical sanitation and ny
gienic protection for the farm family"
Good Roads Favored.
As to federal laid for good roads, the
Secretary says the federal government
should deal with the state as the lowest
unit, through an expert highway commits
sioner as its agency. The plan should
provide for maintenance as well as con-
struction. Preference should be given 10
the improvement of roads over which
products from the farms can be taken 10
the nearest railway station. A scheme
OF road construction and maintenance
within a state should be developed and
mutually agreed on. Money appropriated
by the federal government should be APP
portioned on the basis of such factors as
total population, farm population area,