GO ANXIAL KKroirrS of DKI-AIII'MKNT of ACIMCl'LTUKK. 



are confronted to-day with serious problems of the most i)ressin<j; 

 nature about which we know rehatively little. No one acquainted 

 with the situation will deny that it would be the part of wisdom to 

 concentrate the best brains of the country on these problems and to 

 provide adequate facilities for carrying on the work in the most com- 

 prehensive manner. 



Since 1914 there has been no increase in the limitation on the 

 maximum amount that may be paid to scientific and technical work- 

 ers. It has been impossible, therefore, for the department to ad- 

 just their compensation to accord Avith the great change in 

 economic conditions which has taken place during the past six years. 

 This situation should be corrected without delay, and I have there- 

 fore recommended in the estimates to the Congress that the ex- 

 isting limitation be increased to $6,500, I have also recommended 

 that provision be made for increasing the salaries of the chiefs of 

 bureaus and divisions, all of whom have large and difficult tasks to 

 perform and are decidedly underpaid. Their present compensation 

 is considerably less than that received by officers of similar rank in 

 other agricultural institutions and in other branches of the Govern- 

 ment service, to say nothing of salaries paid by commercial concerns. 

 I can not too strongly urge that these recommendations be adopted. 



The personnel difficulties which the department has experienced 

 are not confined to the scientific and technical workers. They have 

 extended also to the clerical and mechanical employees who, in large 

 part, are carried on statutory rolls, which means that promotions 

 can be made only as vacancies occur. This has resulted in a serious 

 situation. I have suggested in the estimates some changes in the 

 statutor}^ rolls which, while they will not solve the problem, will 

 afford temporary relief until such time as the Congress acts in the 

 matter of reclassification of the salaries of Government employees 

 generally. 



DIRECTORS OF SCIENTIFIC AND REGULATORY W'ORK. 



With the growth and development of the work of the department 

 along research and regulatory lines, it is highlj^ essential that definite 

 provision be made for the closer coordination of these activities 

 through a central agency. Only in this way can the most effecti\»e 

 results be obtained. Every effort also should be made to bring about 

 a further correlation of the research and regulatory activities with 

 those of the appropriate State agencies. The department has no 

 adequate machinery at this time for accomplishing these purposes. 

 I am suggesting in the estimates, therefore, that the Secretary of 

 Agriculture be authorized to appoint a director of scientific work 

 and a director of regulatory work, at $7,500 per annum each, who will 

 devote their attention not only to the development and coordination 

 of the research and regulatory activities of the various branches of 

 the department but will also work out and put into execution plans 



