Evening star., 1920-03-19
HEAD
FEARS DAMAGE TO
FARM INTERESTS
Cut of Department Appropri-
ations Means CurtaiIing
of Work, He Says.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

~ OsSJS
BIZ DAVID LAWRENCE.
Edward T. Meredith, editor, adver-
tising man, promoter of large enter
prises-in q word q successful busi-
ness man-has just had the enthusi
asm with which he took hold Of the
Department Of Agriculture blanketed
with the cold hand of Congress.
Mr.. Meredith, who halls from Des
Moines, Iowa, and that part Of the
United States where candor is a re-
ligfon. thought that all he had to do
In dealing with Congress was to tell
the members Of the Senate and House
exactly what sums of money were,
actually needed to carry on the ex-
tensive work of the Department of
Agriculture, and that the interests of
the farmer would be sufficient to
stimulate members Of Congress-, IRE
spective Of politics.
mates of the Department Of Agricul-
ture and. while the Senate committee
undid some Of the damage by raising
the appropriations somewhat, the
Secretary feels that the net reduc-
tion is a severe blow to the agricul-
tural interests OF the country. He is
new on the job. intensely interested
in managing the Department of Agri-
culture on a businesslike basis and
is therefore disappointed. Here are
some of the things which he. regret
fully admits must now be discon-
rects the work Of it's agricultural
committee.
There must be a big cut in the
market service, one Of the activities
most appreciated by growers and
shippers.
Dairy Interests at Stake.
Dairy investigations, consisting Of
valuable aid being given the dairy
interests of the country in working
out better methods OF preparing and
utilizing dairy products and the de-
velopment of American manufacture
Of RoQuefort and Swiss cheese, must
be curtailed.
Appropriations for the investigation
Of cereals have been reduced. They
varieties OF cereals through breeding
and selection, the working out of
practical methods for the control of
important cereal diseases.
Experiments now conducted inde-
pendently or comparatively at eight
field stations will have to be dis
continued and the work at others, in
cluding those devoted wholly to rice
Investigations at Crowley, La. and
Riggs, Cal, considerably decreased.
Appropriations for the bureau Of
plant industry have been seriously re-
duced, exclusive of the item for con-
gressional seed distribution, which
has been eliminated from the bill
upon recommendation of the Depart
The fund for soil surveys has been
stricken from the bill
Funds for the bureau Of entomology
for combating insect pests which
have caused enormous losses every year
have been curtailed.
The efforts Of the market bureau to
aid in bringing about a more syste-
matte and orderly distribution of
farm products will be materially in
terfered with because the appropri-
alton has been cut by more than
| $3.50. 200.
been cut SO it will handicap the De-
partment Of Agriculture in the de-
velopment of the dye industry in this
country. which 1t had been hoped
would make America Independent of
Germany.
Crop Report Discontinuanee.
Important crop reports on apples.
peaches. potatoes and truck farming
will have es0t to be sun dioptinued nanu hee, nro
vided to tight the foot and mouth dis
ease, which kills cattle. If an epi-
demic breaks out while Congress Is
not in session the funds carried in
the bill would not be enough to cope
with the situation.
these things relate pretty closely to
production and the cost Of living. He
went through the estimates of his de-
partment with a fne-tooth comb and
cut them down himself by more than
SIS. 900. .000.. Although the Senate in
1T
there is still a net deficit of $2.s00.0 900
below what the department calculates
are rock bottom needs. In these days
Of billion-dollar expenditure that
looks like a trifiing, sum for Mr.
Meredith to be worrying about. but a
item here and a few thousand from
an item there can wreck the work Of
an entire bureau. and the best experts
in the department who have been
there for years are discouraged and
leaving to take up other jobs outside
the government.
Matter Of Good Faith.
Secretary Meredith went on record
opposing the appropriation Of $3.50. 200
but tho House wouldn't heed his sug-
gestion. The Senate committee did
and took IL from the bill If the
item goes back in conference, the
country, in the judgment of Mr.. Mere
dith. will have a splendid opportunf-
ty to determine the good faith of a
Congress that on the one hand chops
a quarter of a million dollars from
the most vital items which have to
do with production, such as the mar
ket service, fighting of plant and live
stock pests, research work, etc, and.
on the other hand. leaves in the bill
a quarter Of million dollars 'for seeds
to send free to prospective voters
in the fall elections"
The Secretary thinks that when the
work Of the Department Of Agricul-
ture is curtailed, it will seriously af-
feet farm production. He calls all
this poor business-being penny wise
and pound foolish. But Edward T.
Meredith is new at the game. He
credulously believed he could go be-
fore Congress. lay all the cards on
the table, keep every expenditure in
his department down to rock bottom,
and Congress would look at the whole
thing as q business proposition There
may be a good deal of agitation for
business man for President of the
United States, but il Mr.. Meredith's
experience is a criterion, a business
genius in the White House will be
helpless without some business sense
in Congress.
Copyright, 1S20.)