Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-28
ny Frederic J. mnsIsIp

WASHINGTON. d. c., July 27.--When
the agricultural appropriation bin was
voted out OF committee this year 1t
amendment abo!ishing an old and
esteemed political custom--thc annual
free distribution OF garden seeds b.
members OF Congress TO their constit-
ucnts.
This custom. which originated In tho
early days of the republic. is now as
serted TO have degencrated into n mild
sort of political graft unworthy OF
statesmen and, In the ma jority OF eases.
unwclcomc 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 Con-
gress that they be distributed through.
out the country for experimental prop
agation. In this way many valuahle
species of European plants were intro
.duced into this country. Now. how
evog. the collection and dissemination
OF rare species Is carried on entirely
by the Department OF Agriculture
through Its representatives In Europe
and through it's experimental farms in
this country. The seeds distributed un-
der the congressional frank now in
cludo only such wcll-cstablished va
and tobacco; and nasturtiums. sweet
peas, mar!GoldS and sunaowers. which
may be found growing on almost every
farm and in n great many backyards
nll over the country.
The members OF Congress have moth.
ing 10 do with the seeds other than
passing the appropriation for their pur-
chase and making out the lists OF con-
stttueEts TO whom they are to be sent
They are bought by the Department, OF
Agriculture upon the same system that
other government supplies arc bought
Al the beginning of tho year the de.
partmcnt sends out lists OF the varieties
of seeds required for spring distribu-
ton 10 large wholesale firms both in
this country and abroad, and the con-
tract Is awarded to the most satisfac-
tory bidder. Certain stipulations arc
given concerning the standard OF seeds
desired, and they are supposed 10 meet
the tests OF the department scientists
but in handling such tremendous guam
titles OF seeds these specifications are
necessarily largely perfunctory. As a
matter or fact, package OF radishes
is just ms likely TO contain lettuce, and
instead of being the soft succulent va
riety. naturally expected from such IN
expert as Uncle Sam, IL often turns
out TO be OF a5 thick n texture rs cab
bage.
Practice Sometimes Dangerous.
Under these circumstances. tho con-
stituents are usually disappointed and
pained. and instead of receiving the
praise due a benevolent benefactor. the
member OF Congress is occasionally
tho victim of bitter vituperation. One
Congressman received a letter from a
constituent. asking him please not to
send him any more seeds If he desired
his vote. Tho 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. 4 few small
frail radishes came up where he had
thought he planted nasturtiums and
cwect alyssum grew in his parsley bed.
while several PACKAGES of seed which
he had carefully watcred and weeded
never came up at all. This unpopu-
iarity of the seeds in many cases may
have had it's Influence in urging the
Senator's to abolish the practices.
II gives the average citizen, however.
a pleasing sense OF Importance to re-
ceive mail, even IL 1t be government
seeds, for which he really helps to pay,
under the frank of his district con-
gresham. This Importance grows even
larger when the next year the pack
age of seeds is addressed to his wife.
lie points with pride to his he'd OF
struggling petunias and explains with
studied carelessness that these govern
ment specimens We're presented to him
by Smith or Jones, of his district. Tho
seeds may be actually liability, but
the distinction conferred upon the citi-
zen, who knows very little about par
liamentary procedure. is usually SUM-
cient to bring forth favorable vote.
This was much more so n few ycars
ago than now. To day. even tho most
remote farmer Is familiar with the
congre ssional seed distribution, and (.
aware that IL is nothing but a form.
In n great many instances. according
to letters received by various members.
the seeds are Immediately thrown into
the waste basket or given to tho chill
dren to play with.
Got Five Thousand Requests.
One Congressman whip represented n
district composed mostly OF poor pnG-
pie, including farmers md mon who
work In the mines. placed an advortiac-
ment in every newspaper throughout
the district stating that no had Bcvcrai
thousand packages OF garden needa TO
send out and asking those who desired
fhAna write him n 1cffnr Frhop a..