Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-03-09
A Proposed legislative out, age. I

A Proposed legislative Outrage.
In the proceedings of the House Of Repre-.
sentatives, few days ago. We observe that .
resolution was adopted insructing the Com
mittee on Agriculture to inquire into the
expediency Of Revolving the duties of the
Secretary of The State Agricultural Society
upon the Secretary of the Farmers College,
We have toe much confidence in the good
sense of the members of the House to think
such measure will pass; yet, in the confusion
and hurry always incident to the closing
scenes of a session, a thousand things are
smugglsd through without an examination or
inquiry, especially when private ends are to
be subServed.
We cannot understand why this movement
to legislate Mr.. Wallace out of Office has been
set on foot, unless it is to secure the place for
some other person. He has been reelected
to his present position four or five years, by
a large and intelligent body of agriculturists
from all parts of the State, and each year, we
are informed, the choice has been nearly
unanimous. His ability and efficiency have
thus been endorsed and re-endorsed, and even
his personal enemies acknowledge his peculiar
fitness and qualifications for the position.
What would be the effect upon both insti-
buttons, if the Legislature should thus force
the Secretary of the College, Mr.. Wilson,
upon the Society," Every officer, member
and friend of the Society will become an enemy
to the College. The Society is crippled al
once, and the College, by such an array Of
enemies, will eventually be overpowered and
wiped out. The position into which it is thus
proposed to thrust Mr.. Wilson would certainly
be very unpleasant one for him, if he is
possessed of any sensitiveness whatever
especially in view Of the fact Of his having
been a standing candidate for this same
position for several years, and his votes
decreasing just as his acquaintance was
extended. svgr .....,.. ,g..a.
The law creating the College Board provided
for eleven Directors or Trustees every SECOND
| year. This Board chooses Secretary at q
salary of one thousand dollars per annum
which should secure the best man in the State
for the position; but this choice is not open
to the State, but confined to their own humble,
- that is, this officer must be chosen from the
elecen Trustees. As the Board was frs,
constituted, no one Of the eleven could leave
his home and business to take this office bu
one man-Mr. Wilson. In order to have thu
seed department 90 into immediate effect, thu
Governor was authorized 20 appoint Secre
tary for the first year; and here, mark you
again, he is confined in his choice to one o
these same elesen-and, consequently, Mr.
Wilson is the man.
Now, suppose the Secretaryship of the Stat
Society is tackled on to this Office of the College
then Mr.. Wilson remains Secretary, Gin spit
of fate" until the law is changed. 1t is
position not open to the State, but only opel
to eleven men in the State. The Trustees o
the College, therefore, for all time to come
under the law, choose the Secretary for tn
Society, without that Society having wor
to say, or candidate to offer-except he
one of the chosen elepen. We are ready
give Mr.. Wilson credit for more shrewdnes
than we supposed he possessed, for the onl
thing he ever succeeded in, during an eventfu
life, was securing the passage of this Colleg
bill in this restrictive and unjust shape.
may be asked, if this gentleman is so NIGEL
fixed in his present Office, why does he see
anothers The public generally, and perhap
our legislators, also, know that the presen
Office is sinecure, and, so far as this count
has been favored ~ with seeds from .thi
source, it has unanimously been pronounce
an unmitigated humbug Hence, there
danger of this feature IN the College bill bein
repealed, unless it can be bolstered up in som
way, and, if the restrictive feature can b
; retained, so much the better for Mr.. Wilson
, We are clearly of the opinion that these tw
offices should be united, and we are just a
clearly of the opinion that, if it had not bee
for the restriction in the College Board, the
would have been united moi than year ago
or, if that restriction be now removed, the
will be united next January, by the voluntar
action of the two Boards.
If the Legislature is unwilling to leave thi
matter in any uncertainty, let it be provide
and made obligatory on the two Boards t
elect Secretary jointly at their next Januar
meeting. We do not undertake to say VIII
the man shall be, but we do say that tn
choice should be unrestricted and open to tn
whole State. e. -F-