INTRODUCTORY 23 



ture, primarily because it was in this year that the so-called 

 Hatch Act, providing for the establishment of agricultural 

 experiment stations, was passed by Congress. This was the 

 beginning of a much more comprehensive application of ex- 

 perimental science in the field of agriculture than had been 

 heretofore attempted. 



Although the work of the Department thus continued to 

 grow and expand, and correspondingly increased amounts 

 of public funds were appropriated from year to year, the 

 more ardent and enthusiastic leaders and representatives of 

 agricultural associations and interests were not satisfied. 

 At least as early as 1881,^^ agitation was renewed in Con- 

 gress for the placing of the Department of Agriculture on 

 a plane of equality with the other executive departments, 

 with a secretary entitled to a place in the President's 

 Cabinet. 



Numerous petitions and memorials poured into Congress. 

 The agitation was greatly accentuated by the granger and 

 populist movements of this period. Much hope seemed to 

 center in having a representative of the farming class in the 

 immediate council of the President. 



Attention has already been directed to the apprehension 

 on the part of some members of Congress of the danger of 

 establishing the precedent of giving to any special interest 

 a place in the President's Cabinet. " Class legislation " the 

 proposal was called by some. This argument was re- 

 peatedly brought forward during the years 1881 to 1889. 

 Despite this and other objections. Congress finally yielded, 

 and a bill raising the Department of Agriculture to the grade 

 of an executive department with a Secretary of cabinet rank 

 was passed, and approved by the President, February 9, 

 1889. All existing laws pertaining to the Department re- 

 mained substantially as before. Two days later President 

 Cleveland nominated Norman J. Colman, the Commissioner 

 of Agriculture, as the first Secretary of Agriculture. The 

 nomination was confirmed by the Senate on February 13. 



*8 Congressional Record, vol. xix, 4479. 



