Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-21
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
Annual NATURALIZATION Of Officers
Warm Debate.

Annual NATURALIZATION Of Officers
A Warm Debate.
The annual meeting of the State Agricul
tural Society was held at Central Hall yester
day afternoon. The purpose of the meeting
was to elect President and three Directors
The Directors whose terms expired were L.
U. Shippee, San joaquin; w. p Coleman
Sacramento, and Dana Perkins, Placer. The
retiring President, H. NJ. Larue, pre-
sided, 1t being generally understood thai
there was little contest for any of the posi-
tons to be filed, the meeting was not SC
large as that of last year. The representa-
! ton from abroad was, however. quite full
President Larue called to order and stated
the objects of the meeting. and said the
Directors to be elected would serve thret
years and the President one year. Mr. La
rue briefly reviewed his administration dur
ing the past year, in which he had discharged
the duties incumbent upon him 10 the utmost
OF his ability, and believed that in the face OF
the obstacles which the Society had to over.
come the late fair was success, and in proof
OF it he referred TO the records of the organ
izatiOn. The reading of the minutes of the
last annual meeting was, on motion prevail
ing, dispensed with. The Secretary, l. n
Hoag, then read the annual report of the
Board of Directors in part, when, on motion
of g. w. Hancock, a portion of the report
was passed, and the reading confined to the
financial showiEgs, and to that part referring
to the relation of the Society to the State
under the Constitution. The report was
| adopted
L. j. Rose, of Los Angeles, addressed the
/ +ba xuo,,lI H..
the next fair some $4,000 old debt 1t had
been hoped the State might aid in paying
that debt, but counsel advises that it cannot
do so without taking control of the Society.
The debt must be cleared, and unless it is the
Society will be greatly hampered and Grip
| pied. The debt was contracted for improve
ments made two years ago. Ii the debt is
paid he believed the Society fairs can be car
ried on successfully and made self-supporting
He believed it a matter calling for the aid of
the citizens of Sacramento. The Board had
canvassed the matter and could not see what
could be done unless Sacramento came to the
relief of the Society. He moved that three
members of the legal profession and five mem
bers of the Society act with the Board and
devise, consider and report to the Board ways
and means and generally to investigate the
whole matter.
Mr.. Chase, of San Francisco, said an
equally large debt of the Society had been
once cleared off by selling life-memberships
in Sacramento, and in the State. He be-
heved the debt could be cleared off and the
Society secured prosperous future.
Coleman Younger, of Santa Clara, knew
the worth and value of the Society to the
State. Sacramento had always responded
to the calls of the Society. He believed she
would do so again. She received benefits
by reason of the Society's location, and the
improvements made had been made in Sacra-
mento Unless Sacramento helped the So
ciety, where could it look for help. He be-
lieved this gallant people would main
tain their own interests; they had
right to keep the fair here.
He believed this the proper place
for the Society. Place it under State control
and the Society would. be put on wheels
As a Santa Clara representative he wanted
Sacramento county to keep the State Fair
here where it belongs,
Mr.. Simmons believed that Sacramento
would do her share without doubt.
a drunken man who before opposed the
motion here created disagreeable scene, was
ruled to his seat, and the motion of Mr.. Rose
prevailed unanimously.
The Chair appointed as such committee S.
G. benson, Albert Gallatin, F. A. Horn
blower, Christopher Green, w. H. Mills, J.
H. McKune, Creed Raymond and a. P.
Catlin.
The financial statement of the Board was
presented and referred to committee of ex-
animation, consisting of Messrs. Dray, Bas-
sett and Frost.
E. l. Robinson asked if the Board had
voted its members or employees life member
ship certificates?
The Chair replied that the Board had voted
Robert Beck, ex-Secretary, and VIII H.
Beatty, life memberships, for services rem
dered, and also to the retiring Directors, and
that under the resolution of the Board all
subsequent retiring Directors are to receive
such certificates.
Mr.. Robinson said he did not believe it
right, and he offered resolution declaring
the act of the Board illegal and asking the
Board to reconsider it.
l.. J. Rose said the Directors had nothing
to conceal-they had acted as they deemed
wise
T. r. Dray said he had heard that the res
olution to grant the life memberships was an
old one, to give Director serving three full
years life membership He had heard one
Of the certificates was to a clerk who had
claim for $50, but was willing to take life
membership. He believed if Director came
here and gave his time and worked faithfully
as q Director for three years. and without
compensation, it was right to give him such
a membership. If not prohibited by the by
laws, he favored the act of the Board.
7. J.. Chamberlain, of Placer, said he had
served ten years Director, and never
knew of a Director receiving plate or pay for
services as such.
The Chair said reports had been circulated
to the effect that they had, but he knew of
no such case.
G.. &. Blanchard, of Ell Dorado, said life
memberships are sold at $50, and many had
been sold. To vote membership certificate
to any Director is unjust to those who
have paid $50 and served as Directors be-
sides. 1t was unjust to the men who, for
years past, have served, giving time and
money freely, and without return, except the
consciousness of benefting the public. He
protested against free grants of life member
ships. Men who accept Directorships do it
to do good to the public and advance agricult-
ure.
Ch1istoph Green had served several years
as a Director, and never received or knew of
any Director receiving compensation. On his
part, he had'given money besides service.
William Johnston, of Richland, said such
grants to retiring Directors are not new.
They have been given before. Directors have
hard work to do, and after three years service
he thought it but right to recognize their SER
wees by such grants.
George Cone held that the Directors can
not grant life membership under the by
laws except on the payment of $50.
Mr.. Robinson said Mr.. Johnston was in
error as to the custom, and that the late is
sue of memberships was the fist act of the
kind.
+. R. Dray said that no Director could be
| injured by the grant of life memberships
now. He believed that all Directors who
hereafter serve three years should be compli-
mented by such recognition of their services.
believed that three-ye Director should
not be thus compensated. Directolships
should not be confined to the rich.
q. W. Hancock said it had been in his
power by "a vote to have prevented all the de-
bate He was himself life member, and
had been for some ten years.
Mr.. Hancock began to explain, when Mr..
Robinson interrupted with nigh words. and
said the statement was false. To preserve
order, the meeting resolved that the Chair
| should name Sergeant-at-Arms. The Chair
named L. j. Cluuie, and he accepted. Mr..
Hancock then explained that he referred to
his vote in the Board, and not to any power
he Hancock had over RObinson's res LUTON.
MIR. Robinson explained that he had misun-
derstood and asked pardon Of Dir. Hancock.
Mr.. Hancock stated that Directors often
expend much money. He named cases
where, years ago, life memberships had been
gran ted in recognition of past services, also
| mementoes
jerome c. Davis, Sacramento. said nothing