Evening star., 1932-09-04
BY REX COLLIER.

TINE depression has hit Uncle
Sans press agent business
Economy measures designed
i to effect reduction Of appro2-
mately so per cent in the an
nual cost of printed information bull
letins, technical pamphlets and hand
outs" have resulted in elimination OF
some publications, shrinkage OF others
and restriction of free circulation OF
great many documents.
II you would learn how not to start
a forest fire, you must turn to some
informant other than the Department
OF Agriculture, for that department
has discontinued publication OF an
interesting folder on the subject,
thereby saving $25,ooo, but not any
forests.
If you would care to know the color
of the painted stripes on steamship
smokestacks. and If you are sea.
faring person by profession you Will
have need for such information-you
will waste time consulting the Com
merce Departments booklet on Sea
going Vessels" because all the pretty
pictures of Smokestacks, as well as
Ships flags, have been removed.
Must Buy Some Leaflets.
II you would know How to Make
Cat Trap" or crave treatise on
Book Lice" Farmers Bulletins Nos.
so and 1104, respectively. issued by
the Department Of Agriculture you
must pay good money to satisfy your
thirst for such knowledge. These
leaflets, formerly distributed free Tor
the asking, are among 125 that nave
been crossed of the free list and may
be purchased for a nominal Zee, usu-
alIy cents, from the superintendent
of documents.
New publications are being cur
tailed drastically. Editorial boards in
the various departments are WELD
ing the blue pencil as never before
in their efforts to keep within reduced
appropriations for the ensuing year.
Even scientific articles once regarded
as "untouchable, are being eolteo,
much to the disgust OF the scientists.
Government officials resent strongly
any inference that any of the banned
publications or omitted sections are use
less and can be relegated permanently
to the category of such famous papers
as "The Love Life of the Frog"-it real
ly didn't bear that title-or An Essay
on Kissing" The documents just had TO
be cut somewhere and somehow, tney
point out, even though Uncle Sans
reading public suffers by reason thereof.
Title Was Gratuitous.
Capitol critics gave the Commerce De-
partment's frog pamphlet its intriguing
title. Actually 1t was technical discus,
sion on frog raising. published several
administrations ago at the request OF
frog farmers. of which there are said to
be quite a few.
The kissing essay frequently is credit
ed erroneously to the Department OF
Agriculture, but actually 1t was the
masterpiece of q State agricultural
agent in Maryland. who desired to get
the widest circulation possible for his
report on-of all things-hog cholera.
1t seems the agent, after experiencing
difficulty in interesting Maryland farm
ers in the dangers Of hog cholera, hit
upon the plan of using sex appeal to
advertise his printed warning. He re-
wrote his pamphlet 50 that the intro
duction touched on the hazards OF
promiscuous osculation, and then led on
into a discussion of the hazards OF hog
cholera. Changing the title to cover
only the Introductory remarks, he was
swamped with requests for the pamphlet.
Needless to say. he also was swampeo
with criticism.
The Department Of Agriculture Is the
Governments leading publisher. issuing
about three times as many publicatioSs
as anv other department. The farm1s'
bulletins and leaflets are the most popu-
lar of the departments releases, more
than $4,000, 900 of them having been
printed last year. which represented a
considerable reduction from the year be-
fore. This year the number will be
greatly diminished through an order
restricting the total allotted to members
of Congress for free distribution. In the
past each member has received 10000
Of these bulletins. but this year he will
! receive but 5000.
Serious Demand for All.
While a perusal Of the list OF titles OF
these leaflets reveals many that sound
silly. officials declare there Is a serious
demand for all Of them.
Take, for example. the leafiet entitled
How to Make a Cat Trap" the cover
! Of which bears a photograph of the
/ completed trap against background o1
decorative feline specimens in repose
! This was the work of two sedate
| biologists of the division Of predatory
animal and rodent control OF the
Biological Survey, who made a study OF
the art of trapping stray cats at tne
request of harassed farmers In Iexas
| and Oklahoma.
why should anyone wish to trap
| cat. ANYWAY? The pamphlet gives tht
! answer: "VaRrant cats are usually
hungry. NANCY and diseased. ane
! Quickly revert to their wild habits ane
characteristics. They are rapacious
cautious and unsocial. They mingi'
with valued cats and contaminate tnen
by transmitting disease and parasites
and have been known also TO dlssemi.
nate disease among human beings. SIra!
cats often become a nuisance py ninnl
.he night air with Sleep -preVentlnl
vowls They become skilled hunters
and Seriously menace song, insectivorou
and game birds, rabbits, squirrels ant
other small forms of beneficial wild lie
as well as poultry"
Contrivance Is Simple.
The trap described is simple pox
like contrivance, with door at tne en-
which may be raised ana nelo py
trigger. When the unwary cav, en'its tt
Soor his weight depresses false DOT
tom which releases the trigger an
Srors the door. How to ease the ca
and ali its nine lives into eternity ais
is explained. .,.,.s =, otbe
h,,iietins available for farmers: Fiea
and Their Control" "Vetches. rag Rag
doll Seed Testers" "The Bedbng, on
fermented Grape Juice" Value .
Skunks," "How to Control Guiiies'
.. .Why Potatoes Run Out, FlItin
Dresses and Blouses," "Protection rTo'
. 1iohtninr" and Warts on Cattle"
, Printing Of these pamphlets saves
vast sum In correspondence costs, &C
. cording to M. s. Eisenhower, directe
!. of Information Of the Department {
. Aoriculture. The department, he sai'
; received an average Of $4,000 letters
month asking for information OF Tn
!, type contained in the leafiets. 1nstea
: Of the red tape Of referring the mquirls
! ~ the individual scientists possessed
- ,forr,ation asked for q stah {