The Washington times., 1920-06-11

about the lack OF dyestuffs In this
country. They cut the appropriation
for the dyestuffs research more thsn
80 per cent When the world war De
gan this country was dependent upon
Germany and Austria for Its dye
stuffs. The color laboratory a few
years ago began investisations which
already have resulted In the granting
Of sixteen patents.
Pythaiie AsAySrsAe Prsdsee<.
Phthalic Anhydride. used In more
than 300 chemicals and of great com
mercial Importance is one OF the
products that the color laboratory has
succeeded in getting Manufactured
here. Not only are the wants of the
United States supplied by American
manufactures, but enough OF IL 10
made 10 supply other countries. Be-
fore the war Germany had q monopoly
on this product with the price on IL
as high as 81 a. pound. To-day Amer.
lean manufacturers are selling II At
10 cents a pound, and in direct COM
petition with Germany. In dividends
to investors manufacturers OF this
and the nfteen other new products
have paid hundreds OF times over the
entire appropriations for this labor
atory since II was started
Many other bureaus have done as
good work as either mentioned, and
they. too. will be hampered by the
failure OF Congress to appropriate
enough money.
sull To Distrfbute Seeds.
One OF the noticeable features of
the agriculture appropriation bill is
the retention OF an item OF 3239,000
for the distribution .pf seeds by mem
bers OF Congress. The department
recommended this distribution be
elininated and the money diverted to
some other work of the department.
The Senate dropped the item. but the
conferees put II back.
Another reduction affects miscella-
neous Insect Investigations. Under
this head comes the Investigations of
many insects that for years have been
scourge TO mankind. principally the
mosquito and housef1y. This bureau
also had the investigation OF many in
sects affecting domestic animals.
Some of the work will have to be
abandoned entirely and the rest cur
tailed. For years the Agriculture De-
partment has been nghting the house
ny and it's work has been of great
benefit to public health.
More Than 5000 Quit Last Year.
Working under full appropriation
conditions. the Agriculture Depart
ment- in years past has had hard
time keeping its stan up to stand
ard. This has been due to the fact
that commercial organizations have
ever been on the alert to obtain the
services OF experts, who have proven
in Government employ to be leaders in
their line. During last year, the turn
over in the department was more
than 5000. This means that more
than that number voluntarily severed
their connection with the depart
ment for employment elsewhere. In
the known cases they received in
creases in pay averaging $1.023 a
year.
In one case. an employe of the de-
partment, one of the bureau chiefs,
left for a salary of $4,000, an In
crease OF $4,000 a year over the
Government pay. Five persons ac-
cepted $4,000 year positions
while tbirty-three left to take jobs
paying from 5000 to $4,000 a year
Most OF the men who severed their
connect ion with the department went
with State agriculture ORGANIZATIONS
or agriculture schools. In one case
small county in Texas obtained
the services OF a highway engineer
by paying him $4,000 a year, which
| was twice the amount he received
from the Federal Government.