The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-03-24
Congressman Also Denies The
Charge That Recesses of
Congress Are Voted For
Purpose of Collecting Mile
age - Refers To Congress
sionaI Record In Support of
OeniaIS

Washington, ID. c., March 2l.-
Representative Hannibal l.. Goodwin
sees no graft in the distribution OF
tree seeds by the United States gov
eminent through the offices of the
country'S congressman. He received
This week O letter from q constituent
inquiring as to his views on what the
writer called "the accurately termed
Tree seed graft" The writer says
also:
II have been Informed that ii is q
rather frequent occurrence for the
members of Congress to vote them
selves a recess and collect mileage for
d return trip to their home at the
enormous rate allowed when travel
cost about ten times what ii does
now, without so much as leaving
their seats"
Mr.. Goodwin says he has received
hundreds OF letters from people in
MS district asking for seeds and has
received almost as many letters praiS-
ing tho Federal government for it's
distribution Of the highest quality Of
seed for nothing. His letter to the
constituent setting forth his views on
ne two subjects Of inquiry is as fol-
iows:
al have the honor to acknowledge
receipt OF your favor OF the 18th inst.
IN which you ask me to state my po-
SitiOn with reference to what you
term free seed graft In reply I
Deg 20 state that I do not know of
she existence OF n free seed graft
n Congress or III the Agricultural
department here or anywhere elso.
The Department. OF Agriculture fur
nishes 8. limited mount OF free seed,
which are made available to mem
bers OF Congress and are sent on
during tho spring of each year, but
the seed are purchased In the market
at the market price. and l have nc
knowledge or information Of corrup-
tion or bad faith surrounding the
seed transactions by the government
OF the appropriations for same by
Congress. / do know, however, THAI
the free seed distribution Is of great
interest to the poor people Of my
district, and / am uncOmpromisingly
n Favor Of 1t. 1 have voted to con.
tinue no distribution OF free seed ts
The people OF my district n tn,
country since l have been in Congress.
n expect to continue to do so a.
long as I have The privilege of re
manning here.
The Department OF Agricultur,
has done q great deal within the pas
ten years towards upbuilding our dis
triCt Ill the way OF distributing i'm
proved seed for agricultural pur
poses. I do not know that the garde,
Iced, such "a cabbage, beans, lettuce
Gucurnosr, etc. are of sue grea
value and interest to the masses. bu
( do know that the practice of dis
tributins improved seed to promot
agriculture has wrought much benefi
70 u people. We are now growing
the vetches and clovers for winte
cover CROPS IL many OF the improve,
seed which the government il dis
tricutirS from its test farms hay
sery materially increased the yiel
&C u farmers in their general crop.
With reference to the frequent oC
currcnCe for the members OF Cor
RresS &c vote themselves a recess &c
n purpose OF collecting mileage.
ceg TO state that no such practice ha
peeE carried on since 1 have bee
here, and to prove my statement.
respectfully refer you to the Coz
~srcas:onal Record Congress cor
vencs under the constitution OF til
United States OF the first Monday
December OF each and every year an
tho Record will show that il has hel
it, sessions continuously followir
each converting until regular az
tournment."