The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-09-11
The Commissioner VS.. The Board o.
Agriculture

The Daily Neus, in a we'll written article
which We should be pleased to quote entire
but for lack of space, differs with us In re-
spect to the constitution of the Department
of Agriculture. 1t prefers the Board, as at
present constituted, ard deprecates the sug-
gestion to place full powers in a single Head
-to-wit, the Commissioner We reproduce
the gist of the Neus' article, with only this
further remark that we could agree with the
Ne,cs in theory but for our knowledge OF the
defective working of the theory when re-
duced to practice. No man would De SO Sill
ly as to cast any reflections upon the person
ellie of the present Board, whether IN respect
to ability or integrity; yet the fact stands out
that after three years of trial the machinery
of Department. is not working SO smooth
ly, nor SO efficiently, as it might. \ few
months will complete the third gear OF the
Department. work, and if we may judge any
thing from letters and remarks that come to
us almost daily, there is decided desire for
practical fruits in return for the heavy ex-
pense. Says the Necs.:
"Our conviction is clear that no one man
should be invested with absolute power over
the great sums paid yearly into the treasury
for the Agricultural Department, nor should
he have it in his power to direct the policy
of an institution that reaches by a net work
of correspondents over every township IN
North Carolina, and is capable of being
transformed into one of the most powerful
engines of political ambition ever conceived.
On this we are sure that the people are
firm.
The Experiment Station of Connecticut is
managed most creditably by a Board, aCiM a
Secretary rs the erecuttre officer, in the place
the original intention Of the trainers of the
act creating or Department Of agriculture.
In that case the public would, from the be-
ginning, have placed the responsibility for
the direction Of the Department upon the
Board, as was really intended. But instead
of that, we are of opinion that much credit
acds giren IN the inception and organization
of the Department to the Commissioner
achtch acds due IN q large measure to the
Board, and now that some of its develop
ments prove to be unpopular there is appa-
rently a disposition to discover that the
blame is due to the Board.
The Georgia plan, as it is called, provides
for a Commissioner with full control, but as
the Agricultural Department in that State
is at this time the subject of heated contro-
versy in regard to it's management, it would
be well to wait before hastily advocating a
departure from our old ways in this State to
initiate her in this respect.
AS to the personnel OF the present Board,
it seems to us to be eminently we'll constitu-
ted, for the most part. Who are these?
The President of the State Agriculture Col
lege (for it must be remembered that the
University is not represented In this Board
per Sc, but only as it is in law the College of
Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, for
which the State pays interest on the forfeit
ed scrip, who is at the head of agricultural
instruction in our borders, and under whose
eye lives the Director of the Experimental
Station, with his attaches; the President
Of the State Agricultural Society, one of the
largest and most experienced practical farm
ers and manufacturers in the State, and
whose position brings him in contact with
the advanced agriculturists Of North Caro-
lima the Master of the State Grange. who
is at the head OF an organization with afilia-
ted branches IN every section of the State
devoted to the improvement Of the farmers
condition; the State Geologist. who is or
ought to be familiar with the capacities and
resources OF every, part OF North Carolina,
and whose scientific advice must be invalua-
BILE to such a Board, and the Governor, who
at least, by virtue of the prominence that
has elevated him into position, is presumed
to know and guage the men fit to be officers
and employees OF the department. To these
the law adds two farmers chosen for their
devotion to and knowledge Of agriculture
as 1t Is practiced among us.
We do not say that there are not defects
in the law. We think there should be a
fixed term of Office for the Commissioner.
with a regular limitation, and for Others
likewise, SO that the election of another
would not imply absolute extension from Of.
flee; This should apply to the two members
OF the Board, also chosen from the citizens.
We are not sure that the LAWYERS could not
pick a hole in the constitutionality of the
choice of an officer of a secret society as q
constituent member of a State Board. We
wish to express our views in perfect candor.
ion that the golden sands of truth Will ho