60 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



act passed late in the year, only a short time remained in which to 

 plan for the expenditure of this fund, and this period was mate- 

 rially lessened by events following the passage of the act, the history 

 of which is necessary to an understanding of the use made of the 

 funds in 1906. 



HISTORY OF FIRST YEAR'S APPROPRIATION. 



Immediately upon the signature of the bill by the President tele- 

 grams were sent to all the stations notifying them of this fact, and 

 the following circular letter was then mailed : 



March 20. 190G. 



Dear Sir : You are doubtless informed of the passage of the Adams bill and 

 its signature by the President, making it a law. The funds of this year will 

 become available to the several States and Territories upon the assent of the 

 legislature to the provisions of the act, or of the governor in case the legis- 

 lature is not in session. This assent should be forwarded to the Secretary of 

 the Treasury, and should designate the beneficiary of the fund and the rate of 

 division in States where it is to be divided. The treasurer or officer of the 

 board designated to receive the fund should qualify by furnishing the usual 

 credentials. As payment of the fund is to be made upon the warrant of the 

 Secretary of Agriculture, a copy of the assent sent to the Secretary of the 

 Treasury should be forwarded to this Office in order that the initial steps may 

 be taken. 



I inclose a copy of a circular letter from the Secretary of Agriculture, re- 

 lating to the Adams Act and its administration. [See beyond.] Copies of the 

 act will be mailed as soon as printed, aud the new financial schedules will fol- 

 low a little lattT. These will necessitate a separate account being kept of the 

 Adams fund, but the classification of expenditures will remain unchanged. 

 Very truly, yours, 



E. W. Allen, 

 Acting Director. 



Some weeks later it was learned that the Secretar}' of the Treasury 

 had called upon "the Comptroller for a decision as to whether the 

 initial appropriation under the act became available in the fiscal 

 year 1900, and that the Comptroller had indicated an adverse opin- 

 ion. This fact was communicated to the stations in the following 

 circular letter, which had the effect of suspending plans for using the 

 fund : 



April 21. inOC. 

 To the Directors of the Agricultural Experiment Stations : 



Doubt has arisen as to whether the stations will receive any portion of the 

 Adams fund this fiscal year. The Comptroller has under consideration the 

 question whothor the act apiilies to the present fiscal year, and has indicated an 

 adverse opinion. In view of the present uncertainty, stations are warned 

 against incnrriii.t: expense under this new tiiiid nntil the matter has been 

 settled. 



Very truly, yours, . A. C. True, Director. 



