Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-02-25
Trimming Appropriation.

Congress has chopped down appropriations
20 that tho United States department Of aEri!
culture has left only $10.o0o,000 to expend in
the performance Of its main functions for the
coming year. This is less than has been re-
CURED during ordinary times. and certainly far
below the sum that is needed in an era Of high
prices. It costs government departments pro-
portionately as much more to transact their
business as it does private Individuals, and yet
congress is making no provision tor meeting
existing conditions and the public service is
bound to be seriously impaired.
Secretary Meredith, in an address at Chi
eago yesterday. called attention to the fact
that the department will not be able the COM
educate farmers on subjects OF vital interest
to them and keep them Informed - to the ex-
perimental work DONE Four-6fths Of the bull
letins printed, the secretary said, are gobbled
up by members Of congress-. so that when
farmer applies direct to the department for
them 1t is necessary to inform him that he can
get them only through the representative from
his district or state
The department Of agriculture is charged
with number OF grave responsibilities. among
the most important being protection OF agricul-
ture from plant pests and animal diseases.
Among the former We always have with us the
cotton boil weevil which ever threatens the
chief industry Of the south. OF equal impor-
lance in the north Ia the corn borer which re-
:: Gently invaded this country from Europe and
| is now being fought in the eastern states. If
| ~ o<a ~ Cd ", <ha Enlk
| it will introduce an element of hazard that
may make 1t Improbable to grow the grain
that fattens the hog that feeds the world. That
would mean the revoluuonizing OF agriculture
to its great disadvantage, and surely would
| vastly increase the cost Of food. Hands of the
department in combating both these pests. As
veil as . host Of others, have been pretty
thoroughly tied by the parsimony Of congress
Il va are to believe those who are in the best
OPPOSITION TO know the facts. What is true with
respect to the agricultural division of the gov
eminent holds good in other departments.
The excuse congress gives, Of course, is i'm
perative need Of economy" in view Of large
expenditures for government and resultin,
high taxes. That is not the only motive. how
ever. The country is up against the unfor
tunate situation Of having a congress con
trolled by one party to vote money for an ad
miuistraton Of different political complex
ion to spend Under such circumstances
always il the rule. especially on the eve OF
! presidential campaign for the Legislative
branch to chesFfully impose all possible hand
leaps upon the executive department, KNOWN
that vast number Of the voters never max
a habit Of going far enough back Of the re
turns to discover causes for poor government
} but swing the club upon heads OF officers VIII
are easiest to reach.
This pernicious custom always has bee
!. one Of the evils of the American form Of gov
eminent. 1t is embarrassing for those publ
; servants who are made the scapegoats, but {
: course the real sufferers are the people, who's
! government is impaired. Tho best avaiiabl
, remedy lies in budget system administers
by experts who are out of reach OF politics
, influence.