The evening world., 1920-03-27
SENATE, AROUSED
TO ECONOMY NEED,
CUTS SEED GRAFT
Continued From First Page)

one OF the leaders in the fight against
the seed distribution in the Agricul-
tural Committee this year. and the
fight means a saving of considerably
more than OO,O00-providlng, Of
course, the action taken by the Senate
sticks
while the Senate Committee on
Agriculture was, It is understood.
unanimous in agreeing to cut out the
appropriation for seed scattering
among the constituents Of Congress-
men. the measure had its friends in
the Senate. Among them was Senator
Harrison Of Mississippi. who led the
contest for the retention OF the APP
preparation.
Secretary OF Agriculture Meredith
struck the knockout blow at the seed
graft by sending a letter to the Sen
ate Committee advocating refusal OF
the appropriation. He sald
an its inception this activity
was constructive and expert
mental. But for the last thirty
five or forty years we have been
distributing old, standard and
thoroughly tested varieties Of
seeds. The need for seed distrib-
ution has ceased"
Here are some Of the reasons ad-
Vanced by Senators why they are
against the continuation Of the free
seed graft:
THE seeds don't grow anyhow"
"The distribution holds Congress up
TO ridicule and contempt"
There Is no pretense that the dis
tribution aids the farmer, and IT is
recognized as a means utilized by
Congressman to keep their memories
green in the minds of their COnsti-
tuents."
"The farmers little daughter, car
rying a watering pot in one hand and
an American flag in the other, de-
votedly planting the seeds sent by
beneficent Government doesn't exist
and never did"
The Agricultural Appropriation Bill
was passed yesterday evening and
now goes to conference, and will be
called up later for final action. Sena-
tor Ashurst of Arizona threw a shock
in the assemblage late in the pro-
ceedings by moving an appropriation
Of 125,O00000 for land reclamation
projects, $1OOOO,0O to be spent next
year and 31,OOO,o0O each year here
after for fifteen years. He was sub
dued with difficulty but gave notice
that he will bring the matter up
again. II Is already before the Senate
in the form of a bill introduced by
Senator Jones of Washington and
Senator McNary OF Oregon, but they
are willing TO drop II until the coun-
try Is on its financial feet.
The value of propaganda in helping
along legislation was shown in the
disposition of a recommendation of
the committee to refuse an appropria-
ton of S17S,900 for the investigation OF
soils and the making of colored maps
showing what soils are adapted to
certain crops in the United States.
That propaganda was behind the ad-
Vocacy of the appropriation was
charged by Senator GrOnna of North
Dakota and Senator Norris of Ne
braska The total amount asked for
by the Bureau of Soils, by the way,
is S620,O95,
Senators Harrison Of Mississippi
and Overman of North Carolina ad-
vocated replacement of the appropria-
ton. Senator Overman pleaded for
out of work
"If we % not grant this approprlas
ton" said he, I've will drive these
young men who are making the maps
out OF work and they will go into
other business, and II we take up this
branch of activity again we will be
unable to get them"
These maps don't go TO farmers" "
declared Senator GTonna. "They go
TO real estate agents, who use them in
selling land. Farmers who farm know
what their land will produce, and they
don't go by maps. They can get their
land tested by their State agricultu-
raj bureas and colleges, II they want
to. 1t is the State agricultural col
leEes and the State farm bureaus
that are behind the agitation for this
appropriation. Almost every professor
in the country engaged in this branch
of agricultural science is bringing
pressure 10 bear for the appropriation
| This mon g. DOESN'T benefit the farm
er."
GanatOr Norris ~ Nabroeka alec