PART IX

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

363*

THORPE DEPT.PRAO.

1. Mission

CHAPTER 35

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

The Department of Agriculture is charged with the promotion of agriculture in the United States in its broadest sense.

2. History1

"2

An agricultural section was established in the Patent Office in 1839, when $1,000 was appropriated from the patent fund to be expended by the Commissioner of Patents to collect agricultural statistics and "for other agricultural purposes.' This affiliation was continued until 1862, when a separate department was created for agriculture under the administration of a Commissioner of Agriculture. A Bureau of Animal Industry was created in 1884.4 The department of Agriculture was not made an executive department until 1889. The secretary was directed in 1890 to perform all the duties assigned prior to February 8, 1889, to the Commissioner of Agriculture.

In 1902, the Bureaus of Soils, Forestry, Chemistry, and Plant Industry were reorganized from various divisions. The Bureau of Crop Estimates grew out of the Bureau of Statistics in 1914, which was superseded in 1921, by the Bureau of Markets and Crop Estimates, which, in turn, was superseded in 1922, by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics,10 which included, also, the offices of Farm Management and Farm Economics. A Solicitor was assigned. the legal work of the department in 1910.11 A chief of the Division of Accounts and Disbursements was formed, and disbursing clerk was made administrative officer of fiscal affairs of the department.12

3. Distribution of Duties

(A) The Office Proper of the Secretary of Agriculture.

(1) The Secretary has general supervision and control of affairs of department and formulation and establishment of general policies.3 5 6

(2) The Assistant Secretary assists in general supervision of work of department; acts for Secretary in his absence.5 13

1 For historical sketch, see Agriculture Department Bulletin No. 3.

2 Act March 3, 1839, § 9 (5 Stat. 354)..

3 Act May 15, 1862, c. 72 (12 Stat. 387).

4 Act May 29, 1884 (23 Stat. 31).

5 Act Feb. 9, 1889, c. 122 (25 Stat. 659 [Comp. St. §§ 789, 790, 791, 792]).

6 Act July 14, 1890, c. 707 (26 Stat. 288 [Comp. St. § 819]).

7 Act June 3, 1902, c. 985 (32 Stat. 303 [Comp. St. § 795]).

8 Act June 30, 1914, c. 131 (38 Stat. 436 [Comp. St. § 795a]).

Act March 3, 1921, c. 127 (41 Stat. 1343 [Comp. St. Ann. Supp. 1923, § 795a(1)]).

10 Act May 11, 1922, c. 185 (42 Stat. 532 [Comp. St. Ann. Supp. 1923, § 795aa(2)]).

11 Act May 26, 1910, c. 256 (36 Stat. 416).

12 Act March 4, 1911, c. 238 (36 Stat. 1258). 13 Act June 30, 1906 (34 Stat. 670).

(B) Administrative Work.

(1) Director of Scientific Work supervises all research work of department; general supervision of work of Office of Experiment Stations.

(a) Office of Experimental Stations administers the Agricultural Experimental Station Acts.14

(a1) State Experiment Stations.

(a2) Insular Experiment Stations in Alaska, Hawaii, Porto Rico, Guam, and Virgin Islands.

(a3) Experiment Station Record.

(2) Director of Regulatory Work supervises all regulatory work of department.

(3) Office of Personnel and Business Administration.15

(a) Personnel Branch.

(1) Personnel Office.-Prepares papers and maintains records relating to appointments, promotions, transfers, and other personnel matters.

(2) Personnel Classification Office.-Supervises and co-ordinates work under the Classification Act of 1923.16

(3) Inspection.-Handles personnel matters requiring disciplinary action; assists in fiscal operations of bureaus.

(3a) Personnel Section.

(3b) Fiscal Section.

(b) Chief Clerk.-Responsible for enforcement of general regulations of department; is custodian of buildings; per

forms other assigned functions.17

(b1) Mail and Files.

(b2) Telegraph and Telephones.

(b3) Mechanical Shops.

(b4) Business Section, Secretary's Office.

(b5) Watch Service.

(b6) Labor and Char Force.

(b7) Space Assignments and Maintenance of Buildings.

(b8) Post Office.

(c) Office of Purchase and Supplies.-Co-ordinates the purchase and sales functions of department.

(d) Division of Accounts.-Conducts the accounting work of al! units of Office of the Secretary and the Bureau of Home Economics.18

14 Act March 2, 1887 (24 Stat. 440); Act March 16, 1906 (34 Stat. 64); Act Feb. 26, 1923 (42 Stat. 1292).

15 Created by memorandum letter of the Secretary No. 530, of April 17, 1925.

16 Act March 4, 1923 (42 Stat. 1488).

17 R. S. §§ 522, 523 (Comp. St. §§ 793, 794).

18 R. S. § 522 (Comp. St. § 793) and Act March 4, 1911 (36 Stat. 1258).