UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS, 



WASHINGTON, D. C. 



June 29, 1897. 

 Dear Sir: — 



The experiment stations in 15 States now make the annual 

 reports of their operations as well as their financial reports cover 

 the fiscal year ending June 30. Now that this Department is 

 required to make a report to Congress on the work and ex- 

 penditures of the Stations for each fiscal year, it would be better 

 as far as we are concerned if it was the uniform practice of the 

 Stations to make their annual reports for the fiscal year. There 

 is nothing in the Hatch act to forbid this. That act simply 

 calls for an annual report without defining exactly the period 

 to be covered. 



If we could receive the report of the work and expenditures 

 of all the Stations by September i, it wo.uld enable us to make 

 our report to Congress at the opening of the session in Decem- 

 ber. It would then receive proper consideration by the com- 

 mittees in connection with the appropriation bill. As it is now, 

 the information available for these committees is a year old 

 when the report is considered and may unfairly represent the 

 condition of affairs at a number of the Stations at that time. 



Very truly yours, 



A. C. True, Director. 



