56 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



reported, he shall " ascertain whether the expenditures under the 

 appropriation * * =i= a^.p jj^ accordance with the provisions of 

 the said act" (the Hatch Act), and shall make a report upon these 

 matters to Congress. 



The determination of the legality of the expenditures involves a 

 consideration of the whole business and work of the stations, their 

 efficiency, relations, and general influence, for no fixed rules can be 

 laid down as to the kinds of supplies which may be purchased, the 

 amounts which may be spent for salaries, for administration, for 

 labor, for heat and light, and other expenses of maintenance. These 

 are all incidental to the carrying out of the purposes of the act, and 

 hence the determination of whether these purposes are being realized 

 requires the general consideration of the administration, the work, 

 and the influence of the stations in each individual case. A station 

 might comply with the letter of the law so far as its expenditures 

 were concerned, and its work still be of a negative value, and hence 

 the kind and amount of work in progress, the methods of procedure, 

 and the results which are being obtained are gone over in considerable 

 detail on the occasion of the annual visits to the stations. 



The relation of the stations to the colleges of agriculture with 

 which they are connected also receives careful attention, especially 

 the division of salaries of station men who are also instructors in 

 the college, the purchase of equipment, maintenance of buildings, 

 live stock, farms, orchards, etc. The prime functions of the colleges 

 and the stations are distinct, and each have appropriations espe- 

 cially for their l)enefit. Although the operations of these institutions 

 necessarily run into each other and overlap to a considerable extent, 

 it is found feasible and practicable to separate the legitimate expenses 

 of each class so that the P^ederal funds of the stations will be used 

 exclusively for station work', and not in ihi' general maintenance of 

 facilities for teaching. (Jreat progress has been made in this dif- 

 .ferentiation and tlie attitude of the colleges is very generally liberal. 



There arc numerous adjustmt'nts between the colleges and the sta- 

 tions whicli could not l)e insisted upon under the law, but have to 

 be brought about by an api)eal to good policy and the interests 

 involved; and these things are ob\ iously Ijcst accomplished through 

 personal conferences. A very material change of attitude has been 

 effected in mnncrous instances, which is working to the advantage of 

 the stations in greater liberality or a more favorable arrangement 

 of teaching duties or in other ways. 



Another point of inquii-y is as to the inspection work of various 

 kinds which is assigned to the stations by State laws. This inspec- 

 tion includes a great varietv of materials such as foods, feedino- 

 stuffs, fertilizers, insecticides. i)aints, nursery stock, seeds, etc. It has 

 a rather intimate relation to the general functions of the stations. 



