Evening star., 1915-01-31
AGRICULTURAL DEPT.

| FROM TIE STANDPOINT OF the Depart
lment probably the greatest little hap
,pening in the District last week was the
passage of the urgent deficiency bill con-
,tainings the two-and "a half million dol
lar appropriation for paying the expenses
incurred by the department in its fight
against the foot and mouth eplzootic, and
the signing Of the bill by President Will
son. thereby making 1t law.
The department at once mailed checks
to farmers the country over who had
sent in their vouchers showing their right
to government money for cattle slaugh-
tered by the bureau of animal Industry
officials during the fall and winter in Its
efforts to wipe out and prevent the
spread of the disease.
The bureau of animal industry officials
are no less glad to send the money than
the farmers are glad to receive II. The
bureau has been besieged for weeks by
claimants. whose appeals for the money
due them ranged from the comic to the
pathetic. The officials of the bureau.
however. while anxious to comply with
the requests. were utterly unable to do
$50, and had to wait on the appropriation
of money by Congress the same as the
farmers themselves.
! Howard A. Edison of the bureau Of
plant industry spoke before the local
alumni club of the PHI Delta Theta fra
iternity Tuesday night at the University
Club on his experiences in Germany be-
fore and after the outbreak OF war. Mr..
fGdscn was sent to Germany and nearby
countries on special work for the de-
pa rtment, and while there had opportuni-
ties for seeing several Gern,ah institu-
tions not usually seen by the tourist.
During the course OF his stay in Ger
many he was one night invited to at
tend meeting Of one of the student
!socfeties. the nearest approach the Ger
man students have to the American COL
;lege Greek letter fraternities. Mr.. Ed
sen told Of the fencing duels. the phi
losophical discussions and the drinking
Of huge quantities Of beer. all Of which
featured the meeting he attended He
declared that the students drank twenty
four stems of beer apiece.
! Paul +. Jameson Of the bureau of crop
estimates was on the sick list during the
week. Mr.. Jameson was taken Ill last
| week
| Charles Sperle, supply clerk of the bu-
reau of crop estimates, was on leave of
| absence for the week.
movement is ON foot in the Depart
| ment to start bowling duckpin league.
an interbureau league that shall bring
into play some of the many excellent
| bowlers that are working in the de-
partment. Monday night the first step
was taken by the playing of game
between teams representing the bureau
of entomology and the insecticide and
fungicide board (combined) and the bu-
| reau of chemistry.
| These two teams are known respective
ly as the Insects" and the ''vapors"
| The Vapors won the game. Another
game is scheduled for tomorrow night
\ between the bureau OF chemistry team
and one composed of members Of the
J Office of the disbursing Office. 1t is
! hoped by those who are interested that
| this will be the first tentative steps
toward something that will soon branch
| out into one of the best leagues of it's
kind In the city. and especially in gov
| ernment circles.
j: L. Monarch. chief clerk of the insec-
| ticide and fungicide board. was on leave
Of absence Wednesday afternoon.
Inspectors Bestwick, o'Toole and Wig
| gins of the insecticide and fungicide
board are to leave the city tomorrow on
their annual '.all year" inspection trips.
| DR.. o. n. Fansler. chief clerk of the
bureau of crop estimates. was on the
| sick list during the week.
| c. c. Claycomb of the division of crop
| reports of the bureau of crop estimates
| was away during the week on account of
| illness in his family.
| Frank Andrews. in charge of crop
| records Of the bureau of crop estimates.
| ieeehtiS StaFeed series OF lectures on
/ transportation subjects at the George
| Washington University
The next report to be issued by the
bureau is that on wheat oats. corn and
| barley. to be issued March g.
Capt. Almont Barnes of the bureau OF
| crop estimates returned to his desk
| Tuesday after slight illness. Capt
| Barnes is declared one of the men in the
| government who is captain who
really earned his title in actual fighting
| during the civil war
The captain. after the war, was at
| one time chief clerk of the State De-
| partment. and United States consul to
| Curacao. one of the Dutch West Indies,
| where the oranges come from, which are
| made into curacao" the liqueur, in Hol-
| land. He was also consul to La Guayra,
Venezuela. at one time He Is the au-
| thor of a member Of entertaining books