The Washington times., 1920-06-11

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900 less than the current approp
The officials OF the Department OF
Agriculture are In a ouandsry as 10
what to do. Some OF the scientists
can be transferred. but others. many
or whom have given the best years
or their lives TO the service, and VINO
have studied along one line so long
they are specialists In IL and are In
expert In anything except that par
ticuiar branch of science, cannot be
Transferred.
Dise~versl Chslsrs Serua-
One OF the principal bureaus affected
is that OF Animal Industry. In this
bureau are several scientists who are
regarded as authorities on animal
matters One of the men connected
with this bureau discovered the serum
for the eradiction OF hog cholera sew.
srsi years ago. He still is connected
with the bureau, drawing q munincent
salary OF $4,000 a year, while about
twenty nrms throughout the country
are engaged in manufacturing the
serum he discovered at = pront OF
many millions year. IL Is perhaps
not too much to say that the disease
eradication work OF this bureau Is
saving farmers OF the country &fo.-
100000 year.
This bureaus reduced appropria-
tion this year probably Will mean
many scientists will be dropped from
the rolls. It's appropriation was re-
duced more than 100000.
The anxiety OF the Department OF
Agriculture 10 not for the men who
will be dropped, but for the depart
ment. The men who will be dropped
can go out into the commercial world
and command salaries from double TO
ten times what the Government is
paying them, but the department can
not replace them
Products Increase HaApered.
Another line OF work in the depart
ment which will be seriously ham
pered by lack of funds is that which
is developing in this country prod
ucts which before the war were i'm
ported When the war began tho
supply of many essentials was cut
off and the department set about in
vestigating and experimenting for
their production here so the United
states would be-indpendent OF other
countries.
The amount OF money appropriated
this year for drug. poisonous. and
oil plant investigation will be $4,000
less than the current appropriation.
This means that the camphor expert
ments will be materially reduced. The
japanese have a monopoly OF cam
phor now and its use in medicine and
the manufacture OF celluloid in this
country in a. large measure, VIII re-
main dependent on the Japanese sup
ply.
The food and drug inspection appro-
priation has been reduced by $50 900,
which is looked upon by many as a
calamity. With the present appro-
priations the Department OF Agricul-
ture has been able to enforce the law
only with great difficulty and with
great economy. with the curtailed
funds the force will have to be re-
duced to such a point drugs and food
consumed by Americans cannot be
| safegua I'd ed with any measure OF
thoroughness.
TeantatIsn To Adulterate.
This situation arises at a time
when the greatest care Is needed IN
the inspection OF food and drugs. The
high price of raw materials today
is a great temptation to manufacture
ers to adulterate their products, many
officials say, and with the cutting
down of the inspection force. many
adulterated food products may hnd
their way to tables and homes.
Congress seems to have forgotten
the great hue and cry that went W
just after Germany began to war