Comparative growth in the number of county extension agents, 1904-1924, and of State subjectmatter specialists, 1919-1924

C

POLICY AND RELATIONSHIPS

Duties of County Extension Agents

Statement of the Secretary of Agriculture Concerning the Relation of Federal Cooperative Extension Employees to Agricultural Organizations.-The act of Congress approved May 8, 1914, and supplemental acts thereto, established cooperative agricultural extension work between the Federal Department of Agriculture and State agricultural colleges. Section 2 of that act defines the work as follows: "SEC. 2. That cooperative agricultural extension work shall consist of the giving of instruction and practical demonstrations in agriculture and home economics to persons not attending or resident in said colleges in the several communities and imparting to such persons information on said subjects through field demonstrations, publications, and otherwise; and this work shall be carried on in such manner as may be mutually agreed upon by the Secretary of Agriculture and the State agricultural college or colleges receiving the benefits of this act."

It is thus made clear that the work of the cooperative extension employees, whether county agents, home demonstration agents, boys' and girls' club agents, or other cooperative extension workers, is educational. These extension workers are public teachers paid with money largely raised from all of the people by taxation and are charged with giving instruction and practical demonstrations in agriculture and home economics. Their work covers the entire rural field, which includes economic production, economic marketing, and the development of better home, community, and social conditions.

As they are public teachers, it is not a part of the official duties of extension agents to perform for individual farmers or for organizations the actual operations of production, marketing, or the various activities necessary to the proper conduct of business or social organizations. They may not properly act as organizers for farmers' associations; conduct membership campaigns; solicit membership; edit organization publications; manage cooperative business enterprises; engage in commercial activities; act as financial or business agents, nor take part in any of the work of farmers' organizations, or of an individual farmer, which is outside of their duties as defined by the law and by the approved projects governing their work. They are expected, however, to make available to organizations such information as will be helpful to them and contribute to the success of their work.

The various Federal laws provide that cooperative extension work shall be conducted in such manner as shall be mutually agreed upon by the Secretary of Agriculture and the State agricultural colleges. By an agreement between these agencies an extension director located in each State is the representative of both the college and the department. He submits projects for extension work to the Secretary for approval.

In carrying out these projects the law provides that no Federal Smith-Lever money, except $10,000 per State, shall be paid to the States for cooperative extension work until * * * an equal sum has been appropriated for that year by the legislature of such State, or provided by State, county, college, local authority, or individual U. S. D. A.-10-1-26

contributions from within the State, for the maintenance of the cooperative agricultural extension work provided for in this act.

Under a later act provision was made that

moneys contributed from such outside sources

shall be paid only through the Secretary of Agriculture or through State, county, or municipal agencies, or local farm bureaus or like organizations, cooperating for the purpose with the Secretary of Agriculture.

This makes it very clear that the law contemplates cooperation with farmers' organizations willing to cooperate in the work with which the cooperative extension agent is charged. It is the duty of the extension agent to render such assistance whenever possible in his teaching capacity to any agricultural organizations desiring it. Furthermore, the work of these extension agents can be the most effective where it is carried on with organized groups of rural people. It is entirely proper for any agricultural organization desiring to cooperate financially in the work of the extension agents to contribute funds for the support of such work, and these funds may be accepted legally by the extension service of the agricultural colleges and by the Federal Government for work on approved projects.

In short, it is the business of the extension agent to cooperate with all agricultural organizations which desire to cooperate on approved projects. If more than one organization exists in a county he must cooperate with all fairly and impartially in the educational work in which they are mutually interested.

The Department of Agriculture must necessarily consider in its administration of Federal cooperative extension funds the laws which have been passed by the various State legislatures in accepting these funds and under which agreements have been made with those States for conducting this work. If special provisions relating to the methods of cooperation with agricultural organizations or other agencies are contained in the States' laws, which do not conflict with the Federal laws, it is clearly the duty of the Secretary of Agriculture to accept such provisions in a cooperative project. HENRY C. WALLACE, Secretary of Agriculture.

AUGUST 25, 1922.

Scope of Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics (Resolution of Association of Land-Grant Colleges).-Extension work in agriculture and home economics in all the States is conducted under the provisions of the Smith-Lever Act. Section 2 of that act defines the work as follows:

"That cooperative agricultural extension work shall consist of the giving of instruction and practical demonstrations in agriculture and home economics to persons not attending or resident in said colleges in the several communities, and imparting to such persons information on said subjects through field demonstrations, publications, and otherwise; and this work shall be carried on in such manner as may be mutually agreed upon by the Secretary of Agriculture and the State agricultural college or colleges receiving the benefits of this act."

The wording and meaning of the above section are clear and definite. The work of county agents, home demonstration agents, boys' and girls' club agents, specialists, and other extension employees is strictly educational, since the act provides for the giving of instruction and practical demonstration. The Smith-Lever Act contemplated a broad and comprehensive work, which covers all

farm and home problems, including economic production, economic marketing, and the development of better home, community, and social conditions.

Duties of Extension Workers.-Extension workers, including county agents, home demonstration agents, boys' and girls' club agents, specialists, and other workers, are representatives of the State agricultural colleges and United States Department of Agriculture and should use their time and efforts in giving helpful information to the people of the various communities. These field agents are expected to carry the work of research departments to the people on the farm and in the home. They are expected to give information on cooperative enterprises and are within their field when they give information on methods of organizing to carry out the desired projects. On the other hand, the extension agents are not authorized and should not perform for individual farmers or for organizations the actual operations of production, marketing, or the various activities necessary to the proper conduct of business or social organizations. They should not act as organizers of farmers' associations, conduct membership campaigns, solicit membership, edit organization publications, manage cooperative business enterprises, engage in commercial activities, act as financial or business agents, nor take part in any of the work of farmers' organizations or of an individual farmer, which is outside their duties as defined by the law and by the approved projects governing the work.

Relation of Extension Workers to Organizations.-In order that extension workers may reach and assist the largest number of people, it is necessary for them to cooperate with organized groups of farmers and home makers. Lack of funds and workers makes it impossible to carry on projects with individuals. It is necessary, therefore, in the counties and communities, to have strong interested organizations with which to work effectively. In some States more than one agricultural organization exist. Where these organizations are interested in extension projects and are in a position to assist in the work, extension workers should give all possible cooperation and render impartial service. It is recognized that extension workers are public officials paid from public funds and should use their efforts in work of benefit to all. The best extension work is done where all active and interested agencies are enlisted in the extension program.

Political Activities of Federal Employees

Competitive employees, while retaining the right to vote and to express privately their opinions on political subjects, are forbidden to take an active part in political management or in political campaigns. This also applies to temporary employees, employees on leave of absence with or without pay, substitutes, and laborers. Political activity in city, county, State, or national elections, whether primary or regular, or in behalf of any party or candidate, or any measure to be voted upon, is prohibited.

Employees are accountable for political activity by persons other than themselves, including wives or husbands, if, in fact, the employees are thus accomplishing by collusion and indirection what they may not lawfully do directly and openly. Political activity, in fact, regardless of the methods or means used by the employee, constitutes the violation.

Political Assessments, Solicitations, and Discrimination by Federal Employees.-Sections 118, 119, 120, and 121 of the U. S. D. A.-10-1-26

Criminal Code (see 35 Stat. 1110) provide that no legislative, executive, or judicial officer or employee shall solicit or be concerned in soliciting or receiving any money or contribution for political purposes from any other officer or employee of the Government; that no solicitation or receipt of political assessments shall be made by any person in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties by any officer or employee of the United States; that no officer or employee shall be discharged or demoted for refusing to make any contribution for political purposes; and that no officer or employee of the Government shall directly or indirectly give or hand over to any other officer or employee in the service of the United States or to any Member or Delegate to Congress any money or other valuable thing for the promotion of any political object whatever.

Section 122 of the Criminal Code provides that whoever shall violate any provision of the four sections shall be fined not more than $5,000, or imprisoned not more than three years or both.

Presidential Officers.-Presidential appointees are forbidden by statute to use their official authority or influence to coerce the political action of any person or body, to make any contribution for a political object to any other officer of the United States, or to solicit or receive contributions for political purposes from other Federal officers or employees, or to discriminate among their employees or applicants for political reasons.

Otherwise, a presidential appointee will be allowed to take such a part in political campaigns as is taken by any private citizen, except that under departmental regulations issued by the State, Treasury, War, Navy, Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce Departments, and by the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and the Public Printer, he will not be permitted

(1) To hold a position as a member or officer of any political committee that solicits funds.

(2) To display such obtrusive partisanship as to cause public scandal.

(4) To attempt to manipulate party primaries or conventions.

(4) To use his position to bring about his selection as a delegate to conventions.

(5) To act as chairman of a political convention.

(6) To assume the active conduct of a political campaign.

(7) To use his position to interfere with an election or to affect the result thereof.

(8) To neglect his public duties.

It is the duty of any person having knowledge of the violation of any of the foregoing provisions of the civilservice rules or Criminal Code to submit the facts to the United States Civil Service Commission, Washington, D. C.

UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.

At the request of the Civil Service Commission the above is published for the information and guidance of all employees of the Department of Agriculture.

APRIL 15, 1925.

W. M. JARDINE, Secretary of Agriculture.

Use of Federal Penalty Envelopes

The following information concerning the use of the penalty privilege of cooperative extension employees of the United States Department of Agriculture was pre