Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-07-07
BOGGs AND THE BUS AGAIN.
The Ex-Inspector of Pests Trying to
Poster The New Pest Inspector.

said about Mr. Boggs to bis credit, he is
undoubtedly honest. From the time the
majority of the members appointed upon
/ the Board concluded TO make the organ
| izaiion one for Democratic preferment, with
out reference to horticultural interests, and
when Mr.. Boggs made up his mind thathe
| didn't know of any Democrat who wanted
an Office any worse than he did, and that
the particular Office he could fill with the
most soothing effect upon himself was to
be officially authorized to inspect bugs
with the honorable title of State In
spector attached TO his name and transac-
tions-he never for moment assumed, or
| claimed to know anything about these
pestiterous insects, nor that he could tell a
bug from bull. In fact, he distinctly, and
with credit to his honesty, said when first
appealing to his Democratic compeers to
elect him to officially associate with and
reign over the festive bugs as Pest In
spector, that he did not profess to
know anything about the insect
world. but inasmuch as the State
law required that the Inspector
should be an expert in such triiiing mat
tiers, he could read books upon the subject
and learn, the same as others had to. This
statement was regarded as conclusively
convincing to his Democratic co-laborers
on the Board, who had concluded an alli-
ance to use the machinery of the Board
for securing offices to Democrats, regardless
of the determination of bugs, for which
the Board was created by law.
Mr.. Boggs' unfortunate lack of informa-
ton concerning the insect kingdom, and
getting scale insects sadly mixed up with
woodpeekers and "high-holes," in his
learned discussions of diseases of cherry
trees, as he went about attending to his of
fetal duties OF inspection, caused waning
Of confidence upon the part of the people,
and the press of the State also failed TO ap-
preciate and help on his efforts, and to ex-
ercise the necessary degree of patience
while he read up" and bt came expert in
bugology, and as consequence he had to
step down-but he did not step out. In
stead he kept his place comfortably warm
as q member CT the Board-"laid low for
ducks so to speak-and in the process of
time was eToluted by his faithful Demo-
cratic compeerS again into the office of In
spector of Fruit Pests, at $3.50 per month,
aud at which roaring farce, every bug in
the State ceased his depredations for mo-
ment and enjoyed hearty laugh.
This election-upon the retiracy of Dr.
Chapin-occurred last November at Los
Angeles. Boggs tried to turn out Colonel
Webb. the Secretary of the Board, and to
place In this Mr. Boggs, the again-elected
Inspector, showed his earnest desire 30
learn the trade of classifying bugs, for as
Mr.. Lelong is quite an accomplished gen.
tleman in that direction, Mr.. Boggs could
ascertain from him-if Secretary of the
Board and handy to apply to-the differ
ence between cottony cushion scale and
an elephant, and thus have learned such
elementary facts without the public know
ing that he was asking questions. Unfor-
tunately, however, the scheme to replace
Webb with Lelong failed, and Inspector
Boggs was again left to his own absence of
resources and information, concerning the
pestiferous kingdom.
To add to his unfortunate dilemma. the
State Horticultural Society took earnest ac-
ton to have Mr.. Boggs succeeded by some
competent person, and appealed to the
State authorities to withhold his pay as In
spector, on the ground that he was totally
lacking in the requirements pointed out by
law for a person who should hold the office
of State Inspector of Pests. The kicks,
protests and resolutions of condemnation
finally came so thick and fast from all parts
of the State for Mr.. Boggs' removal that
the innocent political inspector of bugs
at last recognized the fact that he was
unanimously regarded by the horticulture
lists of the State as greater pest and harder
to get rid of than all the scale mites and
injecting bugs of the orchards and vine
yards, and under the blaze of this knowl-
edge he finally, in April last, rendered his
resignatian, to take effect on the LIST of
June. The resignation was accepted, and
w. G. Klee, who had charge of the expert
mental farming at the State University.
Berkeley. was elected TO fill the place
81 "a !, i,
Board, and appeared before it and accepted
the position. Afterwards the question was
raised by Mr.. Boggs whether Mr.. Klee
could fill the Office Of Inspector, and at the
same time continue his relations at Berlle-
ley, where a portion of his time was also
that of experimenting for determination of
phylloxera, and other injurious insects.
The question, upon the solicitation of Mr..
Boggs, was referred to the Adyi-
sorry Committee of the Board of
Horticultural Directors for consideration
and report. The committee consists of
Elwood Cooper, DR.. Kimball and the in
evitable MIR. Boggs Mr.. Klee Immediately
resigned his position at Berkeley, and no.
titled the members of the committee of the
fact This obstacle removed. Mr.. Boggs at
once set up the plea that Mr. Klees health
was poor. and that he would not therefore
be able to attend to the duties of Inspector.
and as Nh Klee denied that he was in bad
health, but, on the contrary, was quite the
opposite, Mr.. Boggs found other reasons
and promulgated them, why the newly
chosen Inspector would not be able to
serve
These shifting statements and devious
efforts clearly revealed the real purpose of
Mr. Boggs TO be- 10 dispose of Mr.. KIee
| and force his own continuance in Office. Mr..
Klee, however, assumed the duties of In
spector on June LIST, and has been engaged
in the work devolying upon the Office since
( that day. Mr.. Boggs during the same time
| has been diligent, in season and out of
! season, III his efforts to annul the appoint
ment of Mr.. Klee. The latter paid no at
tention to it, but continued at his
work until few days since
when the fact came to light that Boggs. as
last resort, had filed protest with Con-
troller Dunn against his issuing the usual
warrant for pay of Mr.. Klee's salary. This
he based upon the statement that Klee was
not elected, because the question of whether
he could hold the former Office at Berkeley
had been referred to the Advisory COM
mittee, and that committee has not since
had a meeting and reported.
This action and subterfuge on the part
of Boggs. after Mr.. Klee had been elected
ana accepted by the Boarui had resigned
his position at Berkeley, and has served
the State since June LIST, makes it so glar-
ingly and badly the purpose of Boggs to
hold on to the Office and pay of Inspector
so long as he can keep particle
of life in his body, between the
continuous kicks and unanimous protests
of the horiiculturists of the State against
his insuilerable ignorance, and hold to the
office, that if there is not power enough in
the State TO effectually set down upon this
politically constituted and self-perpetuated
bugologist, the Governor owes it to the peo-
pie torevoke the appointments of all the Di-
rectors of the State Board of Horticulture
and relieve the State from the present dis
graceful farce