The state journal., 1885-01-10

There ought to be some notifications
made IN the existing laws relating to that
branch OF government having in charge
agricultural matters. The law recog1i.
yes the State Agriculture Society as in
some way connected with the public ad-
ministration of this subject, by approprI.
ating TO it annually ~, 250, should be re.
pealed. Hereafter there should be but
one head of the agricultural
interest, to wit: The State
Board Of Agriculture to which
all appropriations for this interest should
be made, and which should have the en-
tire charge of all matters pertaining to
this branch of the public affairs Notably
should the Agricultural Board have the
exclusive control of the publication OF
the agricultural reports. These chan es
should be made for the obvious reason
that the Agricultural Society is private
corporation conducted with view to
the private profit OF its stockholders, most
or many of whom are capitalists and
farmers OF large wealth, who
are principally concerned in the
refnements of agriculture, fancy
stock raising, and the development
OF fleet horses, rather than the practical
concerns of every day farming. Such
| an institution is well enough in its sphere
and to be commended as a private enter.
prise; but as the State has department
OF its own devoted to this subject, what
ever public money is spent for this pur-
| pose should be spent through the recog-
nized public channel. By dividing the
resources intended for this interest, the
| State Board is deprived of part of the
means which should legitimately 60 to its
| support and the development of its use
| fulness.
The MerchantiIe Appraisers should Go.
| l can see no reason for the continuance
| of the office OF Mercantile Appraiser, and
| recommend its abolition. The Mercantile
| licenses can be assessed, and appeals taken
in the same manner and by the same Off
Gals that assess the tax on watches,
horses, carriages, and money at interest.
The various county ass essOrs could
and should at the same time
that they perform their other
duties discharge the business now trans-
acted by the mercantile appraisers. Par
ticularly ought this to be done if the
Legislature should adopt the suggestion
that these licenses be paid into the treas
uries of the various counties. By this
1
would be dispensed with, their salaries
saved to the State or counties, and the
uniformity, simplicity and convenience
be promoted by having all taxes levied
by one set of officers and paid at one time
to the county treasurer. This plan seems
to be perfectly feasible, and its adoption
would be a practical concession to the
universal demand among the people for
| the abolition nf ofNOaa and
complex governmental machinery.
The Senate Librarian a MisnOmer and the
| Resident Clerk an ExCrescence.
AS movement in the same direction.
| it is recommended that the commissioners
fpublic buildings and grounds be given
the absolute and entire charge and con-
troll of the public buildings inside and out
Under existing laws the Senate Librarian
and resident clerk Of the House
| are vested with, or assume to have.
certain authority in the custody. control.
and furnishing of the interior of the halls
of the two houses. This is an unneces.
sary division of authority and RESPONSE
bility. 1t can serve no useful purpose,
and may only give excuse for the contin
uance of offices which might very we'll
be abolished. There is no good reason
! OOulLllSSlOutTS
ings and Grounds should not have
the whole charge of all the buildings
This was the purpose of the creation OF
the Board, and am strongly in favor of
such change of existing laws as will, In
all the affairs of the Government, give to
the proper officers the entire control OF
the subject matter of their departments.
This will fix responsibility, abolish need
! nfHn nd hai
with much of that intricate official una
chinery which eccomplishes little else
than provide patronage, and multiply the
hands that spend the public money to Its
consequent waste and loss.
With a further view to the abrogatlon
of this evil 1t is also recommended that a
change of existing laws be made so that
the Superintendent of State Printing
shall be charged with the duty Of secur-
ing and forwarding direct from the State
Printer to the Members of the General
Assembly and the Heads of Departments
the proportion of reports and public doc
uments to which they may be sew
orally entitled. There is no reason
why these books should not be shipped
directly from TIE State Printer. The
shipping of them first to the Senate Ii
reshipped to the members and others, Is
purely eXtravagant and indefensible
routine, without reason In accuracy,
prOmptness, efficiency or economy.
On the other hand, it seems an
entirely natural and orderly proceed
ing for the volumes to be packed, marked
and shipped in the first instance to those
entitled to them, under the direction of
| tAn nf
and State Printer. II this system should
be adopted, it will make very consider
able saving to the State in the handling
of the books alone, and will also
leave very little excuse for the
further existence of the officers of
Senate Librarian and Resident
Clerk of the House. If there be any
further duties pertaining to the business
of the two houses devolving upon these
officials it is inconsiderable, and can and
ought to be performed by the chief clerks
of the respective houses. AS to the con.
troll of the supplies for the departments
now given to the Senate Librarian, that
matter can be transferred to the Secretary
of the Commonwealth, or some one
of the other responsible and fixed
heads of departments. The office of
Oeudle LlDIdIIdn Is SIdTlnS lHSCduC6 VI d
purely needless and costly Office. It
seems to have been called into being sim.
ply for the purpose of creating place to
be flied by some one at the public ex-
pense Its title is a misnomer and de.
ceptive. The Senate has no library re-
curing the charge of librarian, and this
officer has less to do with a library, and
more to do with the spending of the pub.
lie money in various affairs far from
literary, than any other librarian in the
history of any enlightened government
that has come down to us. His office
under the misleading title with which it