Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-11

h renresanted a district composed mostly of poor
neonle including farmers and who work IN the
mines placed an advertisement in every newspaper
throughout district stating that he had seVerai
thousand packages of garden seeds to SEND out anu
ing those desired them to write him letter ineh
he sent to every teacher printed slips TO De as
tributed among school children, requesting those
who wanted the seeds to write to their congressman
From these sources of widespread advertisement
the congressman in all 5000 requests for seeds
in answer to which ne able to send out only IL L.
per cent of his total allotment
A congressional prerogative of any kind, however
USUALLY dies hard until the bill actually leaves tho
chance that amendment will be stricken OH. In
the debate preceded the final voting OF the senate
many insisted that the seeds were appreciated
parts of the country and that II only ~ per cent
of the seeds were used anyway the distribution was
justified.
IT was then suggested the matter be left entirely
in the hands of the department agriculture which
would send seeds in answer to any request for them
Since the quantity Of seeds required would be greatly
it might therefore be possible to buy better
ones time to give explicit directions
to their growing. The money formerly wasted IN
Inadequate radshes lettuce could be spent for the
introduction of and useful species. For example,
occasionally past when the department OF agrt-
culture had made successful experiments with some
new specie would send few packages to special
country under the congressional dstri-
button system. In this the durum wheat, which
discovered growing in Siberia sent into various
sections of the for experimental propagation,
where fourishing vigorously. Under the. new
department would specialize in this sort or
distribution sending the varieties of seed only
when special requests made for them.
The expense purchasing the seeds is minor con-
sderaon compared bother and expense Of carry
ing thousands of packages through the mail This
year eighty million packets of garden seeds max
sixteen million large packages, carried by the
postal service under congressional frank which, IL
bearing postage would have amounted to 100000 Not
only this. every spring a large force OF employees
must hired by the bureau of seed distribution of the
department of agriculture to and prepare the
mail them the lists of constituents. At this
national legislation is forgotten while the members
of play Santa Claus. Letters must accompany
several of the packages and time and must be
exercised in making the lists Of persons to whom
they TO Many congressman who represent ur-
ban districts where garden useless for the
that there is ground in which to grow them,
endeavor to exchange their supply with rural
for something else. Now after many years the
members Of congress have suddenly come to realize
that their work is largely unnecessary and that their
benevolence is not appreciated.
Thus the member of congress has turned his newly
acquired sense of economy himself and nobly
rficed time-honored perqusite. No longer is he
be the dispenser zinnias beets sunflowers
oats The constituent has last reniged planting
any more congressional seeds unless passed by
pert board of censorship.