Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-06
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING

| W1AI HE UUIE
1t is exceedingly apropos at this time
when the cost Of living is rising ever
| higher that Off
Agricultural Gals of the De-
| Transportation. culture. who have
tstriven so long to bring the producer and
Icopsumer together for the sale OF farm
products, should now try to work out
better methods Of transportation.
Although the marketing Of farm prod
uce by parcel post is relatively new in
the United States. it is, in fact, only
special case of direct dealing between
producer and consumer. which was the
very earliest type of marketing. Only the
transportation medium is new in parcel
extent paralleled by express. which has
been availa BILE and has been utilized by
some farmers for many years. Even with
the older forms of direct dealing, In
| which sales are made from house to
| house or through farmers markets. par
cel-post marketing has points in common
in that the actual producer OF the goods
is known to the consumer OF them, and
the satisfaction or dissatisfaction Of the
latter has a direct and potent effect on
the success Of the formers business
Quite naturally. in spite of these general
lsimilaritfes many new problems in the
marketing Of farm produce were created
when the mail system was made available
for transportation Of relatively bulky
commodities, all post offices and rural
routes thereby being made shipping agen-
cies. This was in striking contrast to the
facilities furnished by older transporta-
ton systems, which the farmer could use
only by making a trip to railroad or
| express office. Many Of the problems,
great many of which still exist. have
| been attacked by the Office of markets OF
the department. which has made in its
| work hundreds of experimental shipments
of various commodities over varying dis
tances under different seasonal and other
conditions and has studied methods OF
grading and packing and of transacting
| business.
Success I'm parcel-post marketing. ex-
perts of the office have found during their
| studies. demands that the farmer con-
tinue to give thought to details after
proper preparation of his goods for ship
| ment. The mere placing of the packages
in the mails at any time is not sufficient.
they say Mail schedules should be care
| fully looked into and the commodities
should be started on their journey. II
possible, so that they will travel chiefly
at night and reach their destination early
the following day. Such methods. 1t Is
said. have been worked out by the farm
ers who are carrying on the most sue
cessful businesses with the city people
| Commodities travelling at night thus uttl-
iZe natural refrigeration, since the nights
are usually colder than the days. 1t Is
especially important. it is pointed out
that such precautions be taken in the
shipments of products like butter or lard.
which may be liauified by heat and
dressed fowls and other meats which may
spoil if they become warm
| The work In the office of the judge
advocate general of the navy is closely
interviewer with the ac-
Tho Noyy,, ttvities of every branch
of the naval personnel
Law Work. The office is officially
1 acquainted with every officer appointed
to the navy or Marine Corps. either
from civil life or from the enlisted per-
| sonnet.
| This acquaintance commences with
the officers examination for appoint
ment and follows him throughout his
career in the service. as he is examined
| for promotion from grade to grade; as
| questions arise concerning the emolu-
| ments to which he is entitled under the
| varying conditions OF his service as ne
encounters difficulties in the execution
| of his duties upon which he requires
legal assistance: as he is, perhaps,
brought to account before court-mar-
| tial or court of inquiry for his omcial
or private misconduct. and, finally. as
| he appears before retiring poaro upon
becoming physically incapacitated for the
arduous duties of his office: or, should he
die in service. the cause OF his death must
| be investigated by board OF inquest. FOL
lowed perhaps by the more formal court
| ~ ~ whether
his death was in the line OF duty or the
result of misconduct on the part OF MINI
self or any other person in the navy.
| This is necessary In order tna' the oe-
Ipartment's records in his case may be
closed and information obtained to de-
itermine whether his legal beneficiary may
be paid the death gratuity and pension
authorized by statutes, and whether dis,
ciplinary proceedings should be had
against any member Of the naval person.
mel for responsibility in connection with
any matter developed by the inquiry as
possibly contributing to the death
| The complete record OF every officer in
the navy and Marine Corps. covering his
entire career from his appointment to the
termination of his active service. must
be filed and preserved by the judge advo-
the officer's complete set Of eff
cheney reports relating to every duty
which he has performed in the service. the
letters of communication or reprfmand
/ which he has received, MS examinations
for appointment, promotion and retire.
| ment, his trials by court-martial.
! Similarly. In the case Of the enlisted
personnel, every question Of legal ma
ture extending from the recruiting to the
discharge, promotion. retirement. deser-
| ton or death Of an enlisted man. is I'M
der the cognizance Of the Judge advocate
general and must be submitted to him for
opinion.
| Likewise. all legislative matters relating
| to the naval personnel. from the drafting
of statutes for submission to Congress to
their Interpretation and application to
actual service conditions. are assigned to
| the Judge advocate general. as are also
all matters relating to naval courts and
boards, the custody and discharge Of
prisoners or their restoration to duty. ap-
plica tons for pardons the relations ex-
isting between the naval and civil authori-
ties. all matters of international law aris-
| ing in the administration Of the navy, and
| a variety of other subjects of interest and
| Importance to the service.
| X Z
| That the methods pursued by the Con-
gress for the past fifteen years OF pro-
| viding for the con-
D,,LI;o p,;1d;nr struction of federal
buildings through So