The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-08-17

When the agricultural appropriation
bill was voted out of committee this
year it contained a curt and unap l.
ogetic amendment abolshing an old
and esteemed political custom-the an
nual free distribution of garden seeds
by members of congress to their con-
stituents.
This custom, which originated IN the
early days of the republic, is now as
serted to have degenerated into a mild
sort of political graft of statesmen, and
in the majority of cases, unwelcome to
the constituents. At the beginning the
practice was instituted by Benjamin
Franklin who sent back various roots
and seeds gathered in his visits to
Europe, suggesting to Congress that
they be distributed throughout the
country for experimental propagation,
In this way many valuable species of
European plants were introduced into
this country. Now, however, the collec-
ton and dissemination of rare species
is carried on entirely by the Depart
ment of Agriculture through its repre-
sentatlves in Europe and through its
experimental farms in this country.
The seeds distributed under the con-
gressional frank now include only such
well established varieties as radishes.
beans, peas, onions and tobacco; and
nasturtiums, which may be found grow
ing on almost every farm and in great
many back yards all over the country.
The members of Congress have moth
ing to do with the seeds other than
passing the appropriation for their
purchase and making out the lists of
constituents to whom they are to be
sent. They are bought by the Depart
ment of Agriculture upon the same
system that other government supplies
are bought. At the beginning of the
year the department sends out lists of
the varieties of seeds required for spring
distribution to large wholesale firms
both in this country and abroad, and the
contract is awarded to the most salts.
factory bidder. Certain stipulations are
given concerning the standard of seeds
desired, and they are supposed to meet
the tests of the department scientists,
but IN handling such tremendous
quantities of seeds these specifications
are,necessarly largely perfunctory. As
matter of fact package of radishes
is just as likely to contain lettuce, and
instead of being the soft succulent
variety naturally expected from such
an expert as Uncle Sam it often turns
out to be as thick texture as cabbage.
Under these circumstances, the con
stituents are usually disappointed and
panied, and instead of receiving the
praise due benevolent benefactor, tie
member Of Congress is occasionally the
victim of bitter vituperation. One
congressman received letter from
constituent, asking him please not to
send him any more seeds if he desired
his vote. The year before, he asserted.
he had spent hours OF perfectly good
leisure planting congressional seeds in
his garden only to have unexpected and
undesirable plants grow. A few small
frail radlshes came up where he had
fbnnnht he vtiapfaA
sweet alysum grew in his parsley bed.
while several packages of seeds which
he had carefully watered and weeded
never came up at all. This unpopu-
larity of the seeds in many cases may
have had its influence in urging the
senator's to abolish the practice.
1t gives the average citizen. however,
pleasing sense of Importance to re-
ceive mail, even if it be government
seeds for which he really helps to pay,
under the frank of his district congress
man. This Importance grows even
larger when the next year the package
of seeds is addressed to his wife. He
points with pride to his bed of struggl-
ing petunias and explains with studied
carelessness that these government
specimens were presented to him by
Smith or Jones of his district The
seeds may be actually a liability, but
the distinction conferred upon the
citizen, who knows very little about
parliamentary procedure, is usually suf-
ficient to bring forth favorable vote.
This was much more 80 a few years
ago than now. Today, even the most
remote farmer is familiar with the
congressional seed distribution and is
aware that it is nothing but form. In