The Washington times., 1914-12-11
HOUSTON TO ABOLISH
FIFTY-FIVE POSTS
Reorganization Plan Announced
in Reproductions Asked to
Fight Stock Plague.

Reorganization Of the Department of
Agriculture. which will result in the
abolition or fifty-fivc positions is
planned by Secretary Houston. Bureaus
and divisions will be consolidated to
save duplication of effort and simplify
administration.
II his annual report made public to-
DAG. the Secretary EN,es in detail the
plan Of reorganization. but makes no
mention Of a reduction in force. These
estimates for the department. however,
provide for iifty-Gve fewer positions
Than heretofore.
An emergency appropriation of sew
eTal million dollars will be necessary
10 meet the expenses Of the foot and
mouth disease quarantine. The report
declares that the interests at stake
are vast and justify any reasonable eX-
pyuditure.
Secretary Houston calls attention to
tho decreas' ug meat supply of the coun-
Try and confeSSeS that experts can not
nnd the cause. He says that II is eS-
Ecutial that the small farmer raise
more meat animals and that more at
, teution Toe given the smaller animals,
on the farms, such as sheep, swine and
poultry.
Opposes Aid To Farmers.
There seems to be no emergency"
the Secretary says, which requires or
justifies Government assistance to the
farmers directly through the Use OF
the Government cash or the Govern
nIeut's credit. Tho American farmer Is
sturdy, independent. Self-reliant. He is
not in the condition of serfdom in
which were some of the European
peoples. for whom government aid was
, extended in some form or OJner curing
he last century"
TIL g is rho Secretarv's replv TO those
urging direct aid TO the farmers. The
Secretary favcrs land mortgage bank
nag system operated thrOus.I ur axe
Canital but not by the Government.
american farmers are the most pro-
tClent IN the world in per capita pro-
duCtiOn, the Secretary shows. even
though European farmers are far ahead
OF them in increased production per
acre
Diversifcation Of crops in the South IS
urged. the report declaring that the
Southern States buy millions of dollars
worth of food each year. az vel ~
Secretary Houston is in favor of
limited Federal aid for good roads, but
declares that such aid, II extended,
should be applied to community dirt
roads. favors exploitation of the
adjacent communities during the tnr:
OF 7 oneerirg and not after the COM
munity Is established.
Plans For Reorganization.
With respect to the reorganization Of
The department. so that the research.
roculatory. and educational extension
work will be arranged to avoid conflict
Of interest lost motion, and ineffici-
cncy, Secretary Houston says:
The reorganization proposed to the
Congress involves no need for addi-
IOnal legislation and no interference
Ith the existing bureau and office or
-anizatiOns. The principal changes are
a. follows. Placing Of the office of farm
management under the office Of the
secretary: transfer of the farm demon
~iration work for the North and the
South To ~" office of experiment sta
uoUs. IN" title Of which will he States
Relations Services Capitalization OF
% eng n""rin- work. including iTTiEa-
frHU- urHIuaS,. and farm ascuIteCIG. ..
.H IN" offic" of public roads which viii
%. renamed the office of public roaCs
and rural Cu-iaCeTing- transfer to the
u'flC" OF markets and rural Organiza-
ton of the work in farm credit ana
Iaru Insurance investigation from the
Eurcau OF Plant Industry, of the mar
.sT mill. Investigations of The Bureau
u. Animal Industry. ana the giving 10
.lI~ office Of cooperative interest
.u The poultry and egg Investigations of
fh' Bureau of Animal Industry and the
IHgCsu Of Chemistry. The TeorganiZa-
ION also transfers the soil fertility in
'-Ji-aiOns from the Bureau of Soils
-H the Bureau of Plant Industry. where
Us 10 be located with the work in soil
aactoriolo-v and plant pathology
--rrr'iaTy Houston would change the
Methods OF administering the national
.Hrests in uHdeveloped sections. 80 nat
'roy VIII Weld at once revenue that
..u he applied to local DEVELOPMENT and
% in tho settlement Of the territory.
Tho Secretary recommends changes in
'Ho system Of demonstrating.
Vita respect To general crop cOndi-
-rr- and the decline Of two important
rood staples. The report says:
"Ert after all our efforts, while there
rs an increased diversjfiCatiOn Of aEri-
'l'ur" and both relative and abso-
.H'' increase in important products, such
wheat. forage crops, fruits. dairy prC-
ducts, -ua p"Vlt'E. We still note not only
.'H-f.E" hat also an absolute decrease
n number ~ our important staple
food products. such IS corn and meats.
Meat Supply Drops.
Tn tHc former in the last fifteen years
rHorr has been no substantial advance.
Ia cattle, sheep. and hogs there has
.eon an absolute decline-in cattle. from
mo 'ousEs year Of 1899 to that Of 1903, |
.- from 10000. 900 head to 81 900 coo :
. sheep OF from 10000 to 500, 90:
.. hogs. Of from $4,000. 900 To IS 900, 900
noe 1909 the tendency has been down
Hrrd end Vet during the period since
$40 the population has increased over
-H rHu. 600
Tho Secretary points out that com
-rrt'c is now studying the subject Of
Hsa- supply. and q report is expected
rnHH. iiC SAYS that the small farmers |
can greatly increase the supply.
Tho recent outbreak of foot and
mouth disease IN the United States was ,
imported in tanning products. the re
-.urf doc ares
Tho disease may b. carried by birds,
r.DIS. cats rats. or ruminantS. or by
.gWan beings passing over territory Z
.rf,h diseased animals have traversed. !
D. Doc most plausible suggestion as TO =
.hI origin of To" present outbreak IS j
.ta' Dr. was introduced with imDortA-
...nE o. an article used in tanning"
nfer 81 plea TO the economists Of the
country 60 devote more attention 70
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