The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-25
FINISHES AGR|CUiT TURAl. BILL.
LEVER WILL REPORT ANNUAL
APPROPRIATION BILL TO-DAY.
Most Comprehensive Report Ever Sub
mitted by the Committee Made to
Iionse-Changes Proposed.

Washington, Feb. 10.-Chairman
Lever OF the house committee on ag-
riulture today completed and tomor-
row will report to the house the an
nuol agricultural appropriation bill. 1t
aggregates S1S.947.00O. exclusive OF
permanent appropriations. an increase
of s96O.00o over last years total.
The bill is accompanied by the most
comprehensive report ever submitted
by the committee.
Many radical changes are proposed
including reorganization OF the wealth
er bureau and preparation by the sec.
retary OF agriculture of plan for re-
organizing and systcmatizing depart
ment work. The report cts forth that
the department is "now developed tc
a point where its present system oi
bureau organization has become cum.
hersome. is not as effectively efficient
as II should be-" and the bill contem.
plates that existing bureaus should be
rcarmngcd to cover five or si; main
lines OF work, such az the research
rural organization, state relations
weather and forest service.
The bill appropriates s25. 200 to en-
courage agricultural development OF
the reclamation pro. o.ects through
demonstrations and advice to settlers
An Increase OF $4,000 over the pres
ont appropriation Is provided for CO.
operation with States in the protection
from fire OF the forested watersheds
of navisable streams.
The elaborate Mount Weather OBJ
servation station, occupying CT acres
in the Blue Ridge mountains OF Vir-
ginia. which has cost since 1902 ap-
proximately slS2.O00, would be vir-
tually abolished ~ the bill. the Sec
rotary Of agriculture being empowered
To sell or lease, I'm whole or i'm part,
and TO maintain there only an "ordl-
NARY observation station. 10 cost not
'cxceeding $1,000 year. The com
mittee and the department hold that
the special work heretofore carried
on at Mount Weather can be better
performed IN the west.
To increase the benefits from ma
tional forests. the bill would authorize
the secretary of agriculture to rent or
lease to responsible persons or cor
porotions. for not exceeding 90 yeas,
pOIuons OF ground for construction OF
hotei. summer cottages. stores or
other building for recreation and SER
vice. The forest service appropria-
tions would total s5.5S4.25G.
Provisions for attention To cost OF
living problems is made i'm several
items. For investigating the prepara-
tiOn for market. handling. grading,
packing. freezing. drying. storing and
Transporting OF poultry and eggs, u
$4,000 appropriation would be made
Fifteen thousand dollars would DC
appropriated for use i'm educating the
people on the value Of fish as n
supplement TO the supply and investi-
gate the handling OF food FISH.
Oysters and other shell fish also fig
ure. with an appropriation OF $4,000
To investigate their packing. handling,
storing and shipping. in the United
states and border waters.
The controversy regarding a board
OF experts to pass ON pure food and
drugs Ia settled by a brief provision
establishing the right OF the secretary
OF agriculture To employ and desig-
nate scientific experts to make inves-
LEGATIONS and act as boards or COM
mittees to report To him upon ques-
tions arising In the enforcement oe
the pure food and drug law"
The bills appropriate $i7S.O0o for
cooperative and farm demonstration
work I'm the South. boil wcevn craGi
cation, etc.