Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-06
AN INTERPRETATION OF THE
sMITH-LEvER extern
SION ACT.

There seems 10 be considerable con-
fusion in the public mind with reference
10 the terms and provisions OF the
Smith-Lever extension act. This act
swas approved BY the president. May =
1914. and was accepted by a joint reso-
luton of the general assembly OF Geor-
Rfs on behalf of the state August H.
1914. The purpose OF the act Is sue
cinctlv and definitely stated In the cap
ton which reads as follows:
An ACT 10 provide for cooperative
agricultural extension work between the
agricultural colleges i'm the seNeraI
states receiving the benefits OF an act
Of congress approved July :. lNo-, anu
OF act supplementary thereto. and the
United States department OF agrlcul-
ture."
II will be observed that extension
work is TO be carried on comparatively
BY the agricultural colleges IN the sew
eral states receiving the dement's OF lhe
act of congress. approved July :, 1862.
and act suDpIementary thereto. and the
United States department OF agricul-
tire. Thus. the medium through which
the work shall be conducted IN each
OF the several states i definitely stat
ed as the agricultural college establish
ed under the original land grant act ana
acts supplementary thereto Il Is also
provided that this work shall be cor
related with that Of the United states
department OF agriculture, the idea De-
ing 10 harmonic all teaching agencies
engaged in agricultural bettermeut
work. whether representative OF the
state or state and federal governments
The terms and provisions OF the
Smith-Lever act are in harmony with
the previous actions Of congress In pro-
vfdine for semi-fedeTal institutions in
the several states through the passage
of the land grant Morrill,. Hatch. Nell
son and Adams acts BY the passage OF
these acts provision had been made
for instruction TO resident students and
for the promotion Of research work IL
was eminently proper. therefore, that
ARRANGEMENTS should be made for the
dissemination among the people living
OUT in the open country Of the infOr-
nation acquired in these Institutions
The action OF congress was consistent
therefore with the policy already in
augurated and il was eminentIy proper
and in the interests OF efficiency that
the administration OF the Smith Lever
extension act be associated with the
agricultural colleges already in opera
ton in the several states through the
aid of the federal government.
Extension teaching is defined i'm sec
ton I as an effort Ito aid i'm diffusing
among the people Of the United States
useful and practical information on sub
jects relating to agriculture and home
economics. and 10 encourage the applica-
ton OF the same" II is provided that,
pending the Inauguration and develop
ment Of the cooperative extension work,
nothing in the Smith-Lever extension act
shall be construed a. disseminating the
farmers cooperative demonstration
work which has already been in progress
in Georgia for several years Fifty
thousand dollars a year has been avail
able from this source for some time
past. and this appropriation mas been
wisely continued up TO the present time.
II is well 10 bear i'm mind that the state
Is expected 10 Offset the above fund
through local subscriptions Just as def
initely as the money available under the
terms OF the Smith-Lever act. This
statement will no doubt clarity the sit
ustion for many and will explain why
the counties are called on TO appropriate