The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1886-02-10

anime the books, records, vouchers,
etc, which he did and gave the re-
suits of his Investigations, through
his columns. We will do the Chron1-
Gle the Justice to say, that it's state
ments were generally accepted as at
least fair, di~spassionate and impair
tial. But. it is not u purpose at
present, to comment on the revela-
tons made by the Chronicle, as to
the details of expenditures and the
general management of the various
sub-departments of the institution.
Whatever the manner in which n
money has been expended, whether
properly or improperly-whether
wisely and economically, or waste
fully and extravagantly-the officers
of the various sub-departments can
not. under the rules and regulations
of the Department, be held respon-
sible for it. The money derived from
a tax on fertilizers is deposited with
the State Treasurer, who is er ottclo
Treasurer of the Department and
not one dollar of it can be drawn by
any of the officers, except by the au-
thority or sanction Of the Board.
Again, if this rule of the Board did
not exist, these officers T protected
to the fullest extent against the
charge of extravaganza by a report
from the Finance Committee of the
Board, made at it's last quarterly
meeting. That Committee examined
the same papers, vouchers, etc. which
the Chronicle did. The Chronicle gives
the items and characteriZes many of
them as extravagant and wasteful.
The Committee does not give the
items-does not deny their correct
ness as stated in the Chronicle, but
the Committee does say, that the
vouchers are all found to be correct
and that the expenditures, with per-
haps an insignificant exception, were
"proper," "wise" and ".judicious."
SO, that the officers referred to are
relieved, as far as the assumption of
responsibility by the Board al re-
lieve them. And now, it is purely a
question of Judgment between the
people and the Board as to whether
these expenditures we're "wise" and
"proper." Whatever THE PROGRESS
I'VE FARMER may say now or here
after, shall be prompted by no dis
position to grumble, nor in the spirit
of carping criticism, but it will be
free, frank and fearless in the dis
charge Of its high duty to the farm
ers of the State. This Department
belongs to the agriculturists Of the
State. It was originated and brought
into being by them. 1t was estab-
lished chiefly for their benefit and
they must be made to realize that
their wishes, their views and their
interests are respected in its conduct
and management, or there will be
dissatisfaction. 1t has been repeat
eddy asserted that the farmers alone
are taxed to support it. Whether it
be true or not, they assumed the
chances when they came to the Leg
islature and asked hat the Depart
ment be established, and it is there
fore their own business. If it be
true, so much the stronger is their
claim that it shall be so conducted
as to best subserve their interest. If
it be not true, they have the same
and moral right to this claim,
because the law has set apart the
money for their benefit. Certain it
is, that no other class of our people
are taxed to support it. They, above
all others are interested in the man
ner of it's expenditure, and have not
only the right to know how it is ex-
pended, but to direct how it shall be
done. For the information of those
who may not have had access to the
reports, we quote from them
IN presenting the following:
The report of the Finance Com
of the Board and submitted
to- the Legislature January %, 1885,
that the receipts from Jan'y
1888 to Oct. 80, 1884, including a
balance on hand Dec. LIST, 1888, were
800, 189.4a- Disbursements from
Dec. LIST, 1882, to Nov. 30, 1886, $780,
31.39-from Dec. LIST, 1883, to Nov.
Both, 1884, $40, 5000. In the Month
ly Bulletin, Jan'y, 1886, issued by the
Board, we find the following: Total
receipts for year ending Nov. 3Oth,
1885, 81, 500-total disbursements.
s4O,62S. The Bulletin promises to
print a full account of the expendi-
lures OF the Department. for 1885,