--- ■ :ir,r
Uncle Samuel Is Unbusinesslike and
Needs a National Budget System
By G. B. CORTELYOU, Fortner Secretary of the Treasury
The government of the United States for more
than one hundred years has been conducted upon finan
cial principles which would have bankrupted a private
corporation within a few months.
No public officer has been directly responsible for
the adjustment of expenditures to receipts. No public !
officer has direct control over the estimates of the dif
ferent departments.
A distinguished gentleman in 1909 was credited |
with the statement that 30 per cent of the government’s j
entire revenue—a sum totaling $300,000,000—was
wasted annually. I cannot attempt with any degree of accuracy to name '
the exact amount of money spent needlessly during any one fiscal year, j
It is no exaggeration, however, to say that the figures will run into mil
lions of dollars. This same condition holds today.
I desire to point out that the distribution of immense sums raised
mainly by taxation should he subjected to the closest scrutiny, classifica
tion and co-ordination. The present method of dealing with money mat
ters is entirely lacking in system.
There is probably no other civilized government—certainly no gov
ernment which is truly representative—where there has been euc-li a com
plete lack of supervision of the budget as in the United States.
With a war debt of $25,000,000,000 hanging over us it is no longer
practicable to meet an annual deficit by an assessment upon the nation's
stockholders—its citizens.
Even the United States, with a total estimated wealth of more than
two hundred billion dollars, is not so rich or so powerful that it can afford
to disregard the principles of business efficiency or fail to provide itself
with a carefully mapped out budgetary plan.
At the conclusion of hostilities our president appointed himself,
selected four associates, and proceeded to the conference in Paris. These
five men spoke for the United Slates of America, and from the first meet
ing until the treaty was signed theirs was the voice of the United States.
Whether the commission truly interpreted or failed to interpret the
wishes of the American people they were placed in the unfortunate posi
tion of not knowing positively what our people wanted. They guessed
that it favored a certain policy, which was their policy, and it may be
they guessed correctly. To this day they do not know. If they had known
there would be no discussion in the senate.
George of England, Clcmenceau of France and Orlando of Italy
knew that if at any time they failed to properly interpret the wishes of
their countries the legislative branches of their governments had in their
possession the power of recall. No king, monarch, president or ruler of
a single nation in Europe is permitted to exercise the same unrestricted
right as our laws give to a president.
The president must not be blamed because he exercised these unusual,
extraordinary powers. It is not his fault; it is the omission of our law.
Will the Democratic party, the Republican party, or a new party
secure for the people of the United States a right that is possessed even
by the people living under the monarchies of Europe, or shall our execu
tive retain and exercise a power more unrestricted, unrestrained and auto
cratic than that of any European ruler?
This is a problem for the future and i3 independent of the question
of the ratification or approval of the peace treaty or the league of Nations.
iii ■■■■»'— " ....
Future of the Women of Britain Lies
Wholly in the Hands of Labor
By BEATRICE FORBES-ROBERTSON HALE
There are two alternatives before the women of Britain. There are
2,000,000 women who can never marry. If labor speeds up and the people
woik to throw off the national debt, as the French did after the Franco
Prussian war, then these superfluous women will have a chance in indus
try. But if the extreme labor agitators have their way everyone will be
at loggerheads, the output will diminish and women will be the victims,
for they will be unable to get employment. In this event there will be
nothing for those 2,000,000 women to do but sink into misery or go to the
colonies. Their future lies virtually in the hands of labor.
I wrote in 1014: “Feminism, if it is a live thing, cannot mean the
elimination of children from women's lives; one can afford to trust not
only life but women for that. The time has already rome when women
arc achieving success in their work and in the upbringing of their chil
dren as well. But complete freedom, both to work and to bear children,
involves almost unimaginable changes in social conditions, in housing |
nursing, education, cooking, cleaning and in industry and the professions, j
It is the biggest job of the feminist movement, and on its success or fail- 1
nre the whole thing hangs.”
These “unimaginable changes” are already coming about in England
as a result of the war, and home life, community life, education and indus
try are being put on a new basis.
The reconstruction program of the British government is so far
reaching that ten years ago most of us would have called it socialistic, but ;
people have moved forward to meet it.
Frau Clara Mende, German National Assembly—The emigration
question particularly concerns the women at this time. Women must im
press on the government that no consuls or no foreign representatives be
selected who are unmarried in order that each place where we are repre
sented the families of our representatives may become centers of German
colonies.
Secretary of the Interior Lane—We must stop the concentration of
our work in the big cities if we are to solve for long the problem of soar
ing food prices.
ADVANTAGES OF GOOD ROADS
Public Improvements Will Effect Mate
rial Reduction in High Cost
of Living.
"Food products were never higher
priced or more needed than they were
this past year, and yet the food ad
ministration states that one-half of our
perishable produce rotted on the
ground for lack of transportation fa
cilities,” said George C. Ilubbs, sales
manager for a large automobile con
cern. “Such a waste would be un
heard of in Europe. It would spell na
tional disaster. And nt first thought
It seems remarkable that it should be
true of the country which has 229,951
miles of railroad as against 349,991
miles for all the rest of the world put
together, and 6,000,000 motor vehicles
as against approximately 440,000 for
the rest of the world.
“But we must remember that all
this great network of railroads and
waterways might as well not exist, .so
far as the farmer located five miles
- _ . , L .•-aj
Motor Trucks Help Farmer to Get His
Produce to Market Cheaply and
Quickly.
back in the country is concerned, un
less lie is able to advantageously haul
his produce over that five miles to the
nearest shipping point. As Secretary
Redfield recently put it, ‘You might
build the railroads up until they are
ten tracks wide, but you do not fully
help the farmer ten miles away to get
his produce to market. And you might
till the rivers with steamers, und he
may still be isolated.’
"Motor cars and motor trucks are a
partial solution. But they are not
enough. To use them advantageously
requires good roads as well, over
which the farmer can haul his prod
uce in motor vehicles directly to the
consumer, where possible, or else to
the nearest shipping point. There
never was a sounder investment in
the world than money expended in
the building of good roads. The
Homans had learned that H.onit years
ago, and they built their roads so well
that some of them are used yet.
"Certainly one of the surest ways to
reduce the high cost of living is to
build more good roads. And the ‘build
now' campaign which Mr. Wilson, sec
retary of labor, has recently started
should receive the hearty support of
everybody.”
WILL TEACH HIGHWAY WORK
University of Michigan Announces
Course in Road Transport to
Its Students.
One of the most far-reaching devel
opments to place our national high
way system on a sound, uniform and
economical basis is the recent an
nouncement by President II. B. Hutch
ins that the University of Michigan
will offer a course in highway trans
port to its students, says the 15. F.
Goodrich Rubber company.
The significance of highway freight
transportation was vividly brought to
light by the war and is now recognized
as much a part of our shipping nnd
communication scheme as are the rail
roads and the steamship lines.
INVESTMENT IN GOOD ROADS
Does Not Become Real Economy Until
Provision Is Made for Proper
Maintenance.
(Prepared by the T'nited States Depart
ment of Agriculture.)
Investment of money in new roads |
does not become real economy until |
provision is made for keeping these !
new roads in condition after they are
built. If a new road Is built and then
allowed to fall Into disrepair, much of
the original investment is simply
wasted.
To Secure Permanency.
It would seem advisable that In the
construction of all roads, some good,
durable material should be applied as
a top covering In order that perma
nency may be secured.
Drag Troublesome Road.
If you and your neighbor are hav
ing trouble over your road, don't drag
It into court. Just drag it.
Anybody Can Bu:ld Road.
Anybody can build a good road—If
tou give him enough money.
LIVE STOCK CONSTANTLY SUBJECT TO _
POISONING BY DIFFERENT LOCO WEEDa
LV
An mal in Last Throes of Loco Poisoning.
(Prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.)
Range live stock in large areas of
the western states is constantly sub
ject to poisoning by loco weeds whit h.
if eaten freely, cause symptoms of
madness or insanity, and, eventually,
death. The danger is especially great
when green grass is short and the ani
mals are obliged to rely on weeds and
bushes for food. To assist stockmen
in preventing losses from loco poison
ing, investigations have been made to
combat the danger and numerous facts
of value have been obtained.
There are three poisonous locoes—
purple loco, white loco and the blue
loco or “rattleweed” of Arizona and
New Mexico.
Different Loco Weeds.
The purple loco weed is a perennial
which grows in patches on adobe soils,
attaining a height of two feet, and gen
erally occupying a space of about two
feet in diameter. Its flowers are rather
inconspicuous, being deep purple in
color. It is sometimes called “woolly"
loco, because its leaflets are densely
covered with hairs. It occurs as far
north as South Dakota, as far south
as Mexico, as far west as Arizona,
while its eastern limit is central Kan
sas sind Nebraska.
The white loco, familiar in Wyoming,
Montana and Colorado, is called the
“stemless loco,” because it has i. « true
stem. Its habitat is from Alaska to
Mexico, as far east as cent nil Minne
sota, and as far west ns central Utah
and Arizona. It grows abundantly on
sandy soils, and in parts of (' So-adn.
Wyoming and Montana at this weed’s
blossoming time large areas are as
white as though covered with snow.
The blue loco of Arizona, New Mexi
co, and parts of Colorado, Utah, and
California, grows abundantly, appear
ing in some localities early in Febru
ary and maturing and drying up early
in the summer. This pilant is poison
ous to cattle and sheep, but is espe
cially injurious to horses. Misconcep
tion has confused with the locoes sev
eral leguminous plants which are
either harmless or valuable as f -
crops. However, there are only three
true loco varieties.
Purple Loco Kills Horses.
The purple loco weed is rarely in
jurious to cattle, but it Is very harm
ful to horses. However, the home*
will not eat this weed unless forced to
it. to prevent starvation. On the other
hand, horses, cattle* and sheep will eat
white loco weed readily, particularly
when grass is scarce. During the j
spring before the grass starts w here'
tiie white loco weed is abundant, prac
tically all animals eat some of it. When
grass is plentiful later on mo t animals
taboo the loco, but some of them have
acquired a taste for the wy.-d and
gradually eat more and more of it.
Finally they become confirmed addict
to the loco habit, which ultimately re
sults in their death. Sheep, also, are
poisoned in much the same w , as
horses and cattle, the effect of the drug
being particularly noticeable on lambs,
as frequently they die within two
weeks after they begin to eat the !
weed, and without any marked ]<> of
flesh. Under similar conditions of j
short feed the blue loco weed is eaten i
late in the winter. Hecause of its great !
poisonous effect on horses great dam
age may ho done in a very short ti no. j
more quickly than in the case of the
other loco plants.
As a rule the “native breeds’* of live
stock are much less likely to be locoed
than imported animals not familiar
with the plants, and which in many
cases do not have the habit of
“rustling,” so that they are inclined to
ear the feed which is most easily ob
tained. (Laterally speaking, the finer
breeds of cattle and horses tire more
likely to be locoed than the poorer
breeds. The same thing applies to
sheep, it being particularly noticeable
that the black faces are much more
susceptible than are the Merinos.
Symptoms of Loco Poisoning.
Loco poisoning in horses is first in
dicated by a change in the general
condition of the animal, a high-spirited
horse becoming dull, and later on de
veloping irregularity in its gait and
mode of eating. The horse drags its
feet and shows signs of loss of nor
mal muscular control. As the disease
progresses the animal shuns the com
pany of its mates and seems to lose
very largely its nervous sensibility. It
is dangerous to ride or drive such a
horse as the animal shies at imagin
ary objects and is not sure on its feet.
In the later stages of the disease the
animal loses flesh, its coat becomes
rough, and eventually it ceases to eat
and dies.
Similar symptoms obtain in the case of
locoed cattle, the same lack of muscu
lar control being evidenced, the animal
shaking and trembling and perhaps
rearing and jumping backward when
suddenly alarmed. A badly locoed
steer shows a violently shaking head,
particularly after it has become heat
ed, and sometimes becomes frantic and
runs into obstructions in an utterly un
reasonable way. Locoed cattle grad
ually lose flesh, have staring eyes,
rough coats, go to water less and less
frequently, and eventually die of star
vation.
The symptoms of sheep poisoning are
not so marked as those in horses and
! cattle, the lack of muscular control not
being so noticeable. However, locoed
sheep soon develop weakness and stum
ble and fall about and rise again only
with great difficulty. There is some
confusion between this condition and
| “grub in the head." and at times it is
I difficult to distinguish between sheep
! affected by the grub of the sheep gad
| fly and those poisoned by loco weeds.
Can Cure Valuable Animals.
Most locoed animals can be cured,
but they should be worth enough to
warrant a somewhat extended course
uf treatment. The tirst and most im
i portant need is to supply them with
plenty of nutritious feed, such as al
falfa, grain or meal, and proper pas
turage, so that they will not be oblig
i d to resort to loco weed for food.
Medical treatment, such as is outlined
fully in Farmers' Huiletin 1054, recent
ly issued by the United States depart
ment of agriculture, should bo follow
ed. Rapid recoveries can hardly be
expected, as the condition existing in
a case of chronic loco poisoning has
been developed by weeks or months
of loco feeding, which means that the
rate of recovery must necessarily be
slow. However, where 'the animals
are treated carefully and conscien
tiously along lines suggested by tlie
United States department of agricul
ture, much valuable range stock may
be saved.
Loco poisoning can be largely pre
vented by proper handling of live
■toek. As the ttock commonly
tract the habit of loco feeding in times
of short feed, stockmen should provide
plenty of good bay at such period-;. On
some ranges the loco weeds have a def
initely limited distribution and in -m b
cases, if animals are kept away from
the infested areas until the grass is
started, few become locoed.
Kill Out Loco Weeds.
It is relatively simple to clear out
the loco plant by cutting the roots for
two to three inches below the surface.
However, as the seeds of loco plants
live for years and do not germinate
in the season following their growth,
it is necessary to continue the exter
mination work for several seasons af
ter the original plants have been killed.
Many stockmen believe it is necessary
to remove all of the loco roots in order
to control the pest, but this is erro
neous. Radiy infested tracts of land
have ho. n cleared under the direction
of tbc> United States department of ag
riculture, and in many of these pas
tures kepi under observation for ten
years very few loco plants have ap
peared. One ranchman In New Mex
ico reports the cleaning up of an 80
aere pasture and later on a pasture of
eight sections where previously the
weed had covered one-fourth of the
total area. Although this work cost
8H an acre, it has been money well
spent, as practically no trouble from
loco weed litis since developed.
Live Stock
TZ3&Z3 NOTE'S
If the horses slobber examine their
teeth.
* * *
IWt forget the detail of detailing
the lambs.
* * *
One of the greatest enemies of hogs
Is lice. This is especially true of the
growing pig.
• * *
A little more diligence and a littla
more care should be given the ani
mals this year.
• * *
The best types of draft horses are
’.vanted, but the less desirable ones are
accepted at a discount in price.
* * *
I he hogpen should ho kept clean,
well bedded and, in fact, he maintain
ed in a sanitary condition at all times.
* * »
Changing from sweet to sour mill:
is apt to produce scours in the sow as
well as in her pigs. Then, again, cold
rains may bring about bowel disorders
that result la scours.
STOCK MAINTENANCE RATION
Si lane. Corn Stover, Straw and Un
marketable Hay Should Be Given
Cattle to Be Grazed.
(Prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.)
The greatest obstacle in developing
the grazing industry in many eastern
and ci ntral sections is the cost of
wintering the stock. It is Impossible
to buy young cattle or sheep In the
spring in sulllcient quantities and at
•; price to yield a satisfactory profit
from the summer grazing.
One of two plans must be followed.
A breeding herd may be kept to pro
duce' the1 stock, as is practiced on the
ranges of the West, or young stock
may he purchased in the fall—the plan
followed by tin* grazers in the blue
grass region of the Virginias and Ken
tucky. Either method necessitates the
I wintering of animals.
Right here should be laid down a
hard-and-fast rule. Cattle which are
to be grazed the following summer
Cattle Feeding on Pasture.
should be carried through the winter
on a strictly maintenance ration. Si*
I lage, corn stover, straw, ami unmar
Uetidilc lif;% should form its basis.
The silo i- almost indispensable for
economical feeding of sijcli stock. No
grain should lie fed If it can lie avoid
ed. It has been the experience of grar*
ers In tli** tduegrnss region that ntts-m
which have lost uU pounds in weight
during tlie winter finish the grazing
period weighing the same ns those
which made a gain of that amount.
_
KEEP LARGEP SHEEP FLOCKS
HiC'i Pric.s c‘ Wool and fdutton In
dues Western Growers to Increaas
Number of Animals.
(Prepared by th' United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.)
As n r< ult of high prices of wool
and mutton ami the value of sheep as
weed and wn-tc utilizers, western irrl*
pati<>n farmer* itn* looping more and
larger floi . a- a rule these farm
flocks are of l'oo i breeding, many con
sisting of purebred animals, their own
ers ma1 :: -I elalty of selling pure
bred ran- •- to range-country stock
men, who do not reserve breeding
stock feta year to year. Several
projet ‘ - a- i m operating wool pools,
tin- me!.". fi;r.i-t Son id w llicll is to eotl
centrid ■ wool iti large quantities
and develop ’ teener competition among
buyers. <'oinliination also favors grad
Ing and classifying of wool and
allows a -mall producer to realize
"router i" tits from libs sheep-farming
operations.
CALCULATIONS G,: HOG FEEDS
Light Thrown on Proper Combination*
for D fferent Purposes—Dig
Aid to Grower.
T1h> < ihuln'I'in of rations with i'v’
aid of foi l iro- Ktoi-idnrds and table's
will prmo l i • 5i Inti'rostlnc and profit
nbl(>, for i: v ill tiirow much light on
tbo pr<ip r e-onibir.Mtlons of food for
different pH,’io .1. .\t the smiio time
it protnotos of impiiry and
dose oh orvii'i in on the’ part of the
farmer, which is (.nr of the first re*
rpiisile- of a successful feeder.
* LIVE STOCK NOTES 1
*
V
Lambs feeding in corn should never
; be short on roughage.
* * *
Salt placed where 1 lie sheep may
have it when they want it is essen
; tial.
For wintering cows or stock steers,
stover silage seems to ho of decided
value.
* * *
| Stock hogs can he kept thrifty
largely on pastures; however, they
| will grow slowly without some grain.
w * *
When It Is necessary to have the
| ciare do harvert work the ce lt should
I be \vi aned, even if he is not more than
t three months old.
1