Evening star., 1924-10-29

There is speculation as to who will
be appointed Secretary of Agriculture
to fill the unexpired term Of the late
Secretary Henry c. Wallace. As
Sistant Secretary Gore. now acting
Secretary, is the Republican candidate
for Governor of West Virginia, and
if elected. would cease to serve in his
present Federal capacity.
What does the Department of Agri-
culture really accomplish? What are
it's aims and its functions? one of
the urgent recommendations of PreSi-
dent George Washington was that
Congress should make provision for
the encouragement of agriculture, but
nothing was done in that direction
until 1886. At that time an agricul-
tural division was established in the
Patent Office. which was under the
Department of the Interior. Three
years later Congress appropriated
81 900 with which to ''diStribute
seeds, make agricultural inveStiga-
tions and compile farm statistics"
thousand dollars, The only aC
tivity that really functioned was the
free distribution of seeds-30.O00
packets d year, reached by iS41. This
grew in political Importance until
three years ago, when 1t was dlscon-
tinued by order of Congress; the aver
>
100 900 per congressman. No Secre-
tary of Agriculture ever recommend
ed the free distribution of common
garden seed. No farm paper, nor real
farm organization ever supported 1t.
In 1862 Congress authorized COM
missioner of agriculture. Isaac New
ton. New Jersey farmer, was ap-
pointed and served until 1867. Con-
gress also established an experiment
tai farm on the land which now con-
stitutes the main grounds of the de-
partment buildings. Under the ad-
ministration of Commissioner New
ton scientific research began. with
the appointment of chemist and an
entomologist. Commissioners Capron,
Watts. LeDuc. Loring and Colman
covered the period up to 1889. when
the Department of Agriculture was
created, and C0mmi issioner Colman
was appointed Secretary Of Agricul-
ture by President Cleveland only six
weeks before the expiration of Mr..
Cleveland's term.
Secretary jeremiah Rusk GSS9-
1899 began the issuing of farmers
bulletins, to convey to farmers what
the department was hndlng out apou'
farming Secretary ]. Sterling Nor
ton GS93-1S9O who originated Ar
bor day, reorganized the work of
scientists and added new branches
of research.
Then came the administration of
lanes Wilson GS97-1913) the longest
term ever served by any cabinet OF
fetal. His administration began with
an appropriation of S2,Ooo'ooo ana
grew to an annual allowance OIL
20,o0o,oo0. A..
Secretary Houston (1913-1919), the
u.r-time incumbent, devoted special
attention to increasing yields OF 1000
for war needs, regardless of farmers
nrofits. In fact. the law put maxi
mum Limitations on food prices Sec
retarv Meredith eG919-192D followed
in similar lines encouraging produc-
tion.
The term of Secretary Wallace be-
gan March 4, 1921, with President
Hardings term. His outstanding
.cbievement has been the study OF
farm economics and practical coop
Grafton in farm marketing. No pred
ecessor surpassed him in farm ex-
nerience scientific training and ini-
tiative.
Under Secretary Wallace's admin
istration. while productive research
was continued it has been recognized
that netaprofits to the farmers were
of greater Importance in maintaining
a permanent agriculture, hence that
marketing, based on intelligent mar
ket conditions, was the foundatlon OF
success.
Under previous administrations in
formation had been sent out TO the
farmers by mail and, later. by radio,
from day to day. showing daily mar
ket prices. but Mr.. Wallace recog-
nized that that was too late TO guide