plans for the expenditure of this fund. After very careful consideration of all the various items, the bill herewith presented represents the judgment of the committee as to the provision that should be made for the emergency activities of the department during the next fiscal year. It carries an appropriation of $11,712,283 and also contains a provision making available as a revolving fund during the period of the war the $2,500,000 appropriated by the food production act for the purchase and sale of seed to farmers for cash at cost, as well as the $4,000,000 for the same purpose appropriated by the urgent deficiency act of March 28, 1918, Therefore, the total funds. available for emergency activities during the fiscal year 1919 will be $18,212,283, an increase of $2,865,883 over the amount available during the present fiscal year. It should be borne in mind that the food production act was not approved until August 10, 1917, and that even then considerable time necessarily elapsed in many instances in developing the requisite organization, securing competent assistants, and in getting the work contemplated fully under way. The additional amounts recommended are needed in large measure in order to provide for the continuation of the emergency work during 1919 on a full year basis, with such extensions in certain directions as experience during the present year and existing conditions seem to warrant. The increases and decreases for the various lines of work are indicated in the following table: Stimulating agriculture and facilitating the distribution of agricultural products. 1. For the prevention, control, and 3. For the prevention, control, and Included in urgent deficiency appropriation act approved Mar. 28, 1918. -100,000 + 370,30 2 In lieu of estimate submitted by department, a provision has been substituted by committee making appropriations for the purchase and sale of seed during the fiscal year 1918 aggregating $6,500,000, available as a revolving fund for the duration of the war. Stimulating agriculture and facilitating the distribution of agricultural products-Con 4. For increasing food production and 6. For miscellaneous items, including culture to provide for and secure * In lieu of estimate submitted by department, a provision has been substituted by committee making appropriations for the purchase and sale of seed during the fiscal year eggregating $6,500,000, available as a revolving jund for the duration of the war. 1. There is an increase in item No. 1 of $173,975, which will provide for the continuation of the work on a full year basis, for the extension of the activities in connection with the eradication of abortion, influenza, strangles, etc., stimulation of the production of swine, and sheep, and beef cattle, and the greater development of live stock in the Great Plains region. 2. Item No. 2 merely makes available as a revolving fund during the period of the war the $2,500,000 appropriated by the food production act for the purchase and sale of seed to farmers for cash at cost, as well as the $4,000,000 for the same purpose appropriated by the urgent deficiency act of March 28, 1918. 3. There is an increase in item No. 3 of $370,300, which will provide for the continuation of the work on a full year basis and for the further development of the activities looking to the control of cereal smut eradication, the conservation and utilization of peanuts, the control of cotton, truck, and forage crop diseases, the farm storage of sweet potatoes, the location of Irish potato seed stocks, the plant disease survey, the production and utilization of the castor bean, the maintenance of the field bean seed supply, the systematic planning of war-garden work, the production of cereals and grain sorghums, the control of the sugar-beet nematode, the pathological inspection of fruits during processes of marketing, the control of a new sugarcane disease in Porto Rico, the development of rice production in Porto Rico and in certain sections of the United States, and the control of destructive insect pests affecting cereal and forage crops, stored products, vegetable and truck crops, deciduous fruits, citrus fruits, and live stock. In addition, the work of preventing plant dust explosions and fires, in cooperation with the Bureau of Mines and the Food Administration, and the fruit and vegetable utilization activities will be continued and developed. 4. There is an increase in item No. 4 of $1,751,600, which will provide for the continuation of the work on a full year basis and for the further development of the cooperative agricultural extension work along the lines contemplated by the food production act. 5. There is a decrease in item No. 5 of $385;972. 6. There is an increase in item No. 6 of $455,980, which will provide for the continuation of the work on a full year basis and for the further development of the activities of the Bureau of Chemistry relating to poultry and egg demonstrations, the preparation of sweet sirups, the handling, transportation, and storage of fish, the waterproofing of leather for Government and farm use, tests of leather and leather substitutes, and the utilization of wool scouring wastes; and the work of the Bureau of Biological Survey relating to the control of noxious rodents and the destruction of predatory animals, as well as for special work on crop estimating and for making exhibits along agricultural lines at important fairs and expositions. Authority is given to expend not to exceed $25,000 for rent in the District of Columbia and a proviso has been inserted authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture for the official purposes of the Department of Agriculture and within the limits of the appropriations made for rent by this or any other act making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture, to requisition the use of, and take possession of any building or any space in any building, and the appurtenances thereof in the District of Columbia other than a dwelling house occupied as such or a building occupied by any other branch of the United States Government, and to ascertain and pay just compensation for such use. 7. No. 7 is a new item and carries $500,000, to be immediately available. It authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to secure the voluntary mobilization and distribution of farm labor for the production and harvesting of agricultural crops, and to advance railroad fares and other actual traveling expenses for the transportation of such labor, upon such terms and conditions and subject to such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe. It should be emphasized that the primary purposes of the activities provided for in the accompanying bill are to stimulate the production of food, feedstuffs, and live stock, to promote the fuller conservation of farm products and of foods, and to facilitate the distribution of agricultural products generally, and that the bill is strictly a waremergency measure. It is unnecessary for the committee to call attention to the urgent need of doing everything possible in these directions. The farmers of the Nation last year, following the suggestions of the Department of Agriculture and of State agricultural agencies with which it is closely cooperating, and inspired by patriotic motives as well as by economic interest, succeeded in overcoming difficulties and in enlarging their operations. They planted the largest acreages in the history of the Nation, produced record crops of most products, and increased the number of all classes of live stock. With effective organization and application and with such assistance as the Department of Agriculture and the State agricultural agencies, with their increased personnel and facilities, can render, it is believed that they can better the record of last year and again produce large quantities of foods, feedstuffs, and live stock, not only to meet the needs of this country but of the nations of Europe with which we are associated in this great struggle. The committee urgently recommends that the appropriations suggested in the accompanying bill be made available to the Department of Agriculture in order that it may continue to foster in every feasible way the great agricultural industry of the Nation. |