The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-11-09
Hl
Where Your
Taxes Go.
How Uncle Sam Spends
Your Money in Conduct.
ing Your Business
49,.
~ 80 ~ ~
By EDWARD Q. LOWRY
Asthoe "Waahinetsn Cioss-Ups," '.DanAn ~
Tnaneial eytsIns," ste. Csatsihstae HolltleAl
and Eeooomie Articles b Leading PsriodieaaD
end writsr Il Recognised Authesity - ~
Natianal 0ovsznmsnt's buslnsas Asthsds.
.H.r + 3 Z :. \ . \ r
By EDWARD Q. LOWRY
XIX
JUST KEPT GROWING

XIX.
JUST KEPT GROWING
The origins Of these antiquated, cum
bersome, costly, inefficient pieces ofths
national machinery that we call III
executive departments show, how any
establishment II well watered with
government money will expand and
hold together, no matter how CONFLICT
Ing and homogeneous Its funcuons.
Hardly one Of these great business -
Adjustments for that u what thay
are-was planned. AZ they are today
they Just happened.
Take the Department Of Agriculture.
for example, one OF the greatest and
most complex and wideepreading Of al
the departments. It Is in closer toaeh
and more directly affects the greatest
number Of people IN the United States
than any other branch Of the govern
lnent with the possible exception Of
the post Office. It began In 1880 with
an appropriation Of $1,000, taken from
the patent funds for the distribu-
.tion Of free seeds and the collection
Of agricultural statistics by the patent
Office, then a bureau in the State de-
partment. Now look at the darned
thing. 1t is all over the place.
The title OF the department indicates
it's most important field Of activities. but
It's functions have been extended to in
clude the whole range Of rural indus
try and some branches Of administra-
ton only very indirectly related to
agricultural interests. For about 60
years subsequent to the Revolution the
general interests Of agriculture were
left almost entirely to individual initia-
tive. Federal activity was confined to
relatively narrow limits and was mere
~ sporadic. Soon after the national
government was organized some at
tempts were made to establish board
Of agriculture; but neither the first
proposal In 1890 nor a second effort In
1917 was successful.
Shortly after the Revolution, follow
ing the example Of Benjamin Frank
lin while In England, as agent Of the
colony Of Pennsylvania during the
years 1894 to 1775, American consuls
and naval officers began the practice
Of sending home foreign seeds and cut
tlngs for new crops, and Of aiding in
the introduction into the United States
of new breeds Of domestic animals.
Even such small governmental partici-
patton was, in the beginning, rather
extra official.
In 1885 the commissioner Of pat
ents, one H. l.. Ellsworth, began the
distribution Of considerable quantities
Of seeds and plants received from gov
eminent representatives in foreign
countrfss; and three years later
through his influence an appropriation
Of $1,000 was made for the purpose Of
procuring and distributing seeds Of
new plants, carrying agricultural In
vestigations and collecting agricultural
statistics. This was the historic be-
ginning Of the much-talked-about free
seed distribution.
BY an act Of congress in May, 1862,
since generally called the organic act,
the activities Of the government affect
ing agriculture were placed under
separate and distinct organization
known as the Department Of Agricul-
ture, In charge Of a commissioner Of
agriculture. It did not rank, how
ever, with the other executive depart
ments, and the commissioner was not
entitled to q seat in the Presidents
cabinet. Isaac Newton. chief Of the
agricultural section in the patent Office,
was appointed the first commissioner
of agriculture. Other officers provided
by the organic act included Stats
tician, chemist, an entomologist and
a superintendent Of the propagating
garden and experimental farm.
The chrysalis was now ready to be
broken. IN 1889 the Department Of Ag-
riculture was elevated to the rank Of
the other executive departments and
Its commissioner was made secretary
Of agriculture with q seat IN the Presi-
dents cabinet This was; IN Grover
Clevelands administration. In honor
Of its new rank few more functions
were taken on.
But that's enough detail. It kept on
growing. Beginning with an appro-
priation Of 5000 and two or three
clerks, the department had In 1910,
employees to the number Of 1880. and
an appropriation Of $129950 86 Five
years later the appropriation had
grown to SIS. 1885, $50 and the en-
ployees to 1928. The employees in
May, 1920. numbered 1908 and the
given by congress for
the fiscal year 1921 was $31, All, 868.
The department has increased Ito
cost Of living in 81 years from a mere
81 ,OOO-that 10, S88.S3 month to
more than $31, 100000 year s., 622,-
D47.8S every month. That shows as
clearly and as sharply as It can be
shown how the high cost Of govern
ment living. affects your own cost Of
living.
T.. a