Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-15

mad been offered to and declined BY
another on account OF the salary. When
employed at FIRST the duties were very
light, Under the board they have been
doubled, aud Che correspondence mas oeen
quadrupled by the Immigration movement
and plan. He is clerk, book-keeper,, cor
responding secretary, and chemical CLERK;
The committee voluntarily recommended
the allowance after they ascertsined that
the department could not keep once
hours.
AZ TO THE CHEMIST.
The chemist reported that be had *
pected to be permitted to do as his prede-
cessor had done--have leave to do private
work for manufacturers of fertilizers after
Office hours. / refused TO permit this. and
when he was near the end Of tho year offer
ed larger salary / recommended that his
salary be 81 500 and the Finance Commit
tee approved it and the board allowedit 1t.
AS TO THE INSPECTOR AND AGENT.
Under the old law there was no fee-no
penalty for certain requirements. There
was simply O sampler, who took what be
could find. He made no examination
or report of brands unregistered. | had
no sampler. / found that S465 had been
the cost Of few months work. | needed
a confidential agent TO find out who was
obeying the law and paying the fee, as
was responsible for any money that might
be paid and for any difficulties that might
arise. selected my son, and agreed to pay
him SIS month for six months, and he
to pay his own expenses. He gave
full satisfaction, and the board ap--
proved his work. The inspection Of
fertilizers under the new law was
disagreeable and laborious and the exami-
nation for unregistered brands disagreeable
and travelling expenses considerable, and
he gave il up and went to other business,
getting his brother to take his place. He
has done full work, as his report in the
yearly report shows. aud gave satisfaction
to the board. He discovered thIrty-eight
brands on the market unregistered and re-
ported them. and thus secured the payment
of $3.50 into the Treasury. The report OF
the board. though its chairman. President
Koiner, commends all the employees for
zeal in advancing the interests of the de-
partment. When not engaged on the
road he has been engaged under the orders
of the board in arranging and collecting the
cabinets of minerals, woods. etc. Colonel
Harrison's sampler was paid S75 per month
and all expenses.
AS TO THE PORTER.
The porter, William Baker. colored
man, was found engaged by Colonel Harri-
son, and he was recommended By Colonel
Harrison as valuable and trusty, and con-
tinued him at the price he was then get
ting. $50 per month. added the require
ment that he should stay in the Office TIL [
dismissed him. In July. 1888. tho office was
moved and his work greatly increased. lie
now has three floors instead of one and two
water-closets instead of one. and the board
increased his wages to S25, which is less
than most good porters get.
SUMMING UP.
All tho facts here stated were in SUBJ
stance stated ut the first meeting of the
committee and then said If there was any
doubt or the committee wanted any evil
dence the board was prepared TO furnish
it. ! filed written statement of cost and
work of the department under the board
and under former administrations. The
Chairman had the records of the board
and reports. and in the report made
by the committee all these facts and
figures have been wholly ignored. The
members of the committee, other than
the chairman. appear to have taken
little interest i'll the matter There
were several absentees from each of the
two meetings, the last being a cursory
look through the department building. This
board of actual influential farmers without
regarding the Commissioned have not had
fair and impartial report of their admin.
istration. They are not salaried, and the
board is non-partisan, and submit to @
Just and honorable public whether when
they are criticised, ridiculed, and charged
with extravaganza and waste of public
money by q senator on the floor of the Sen.
ate, an investigation conducted by him
managed by him. and report written by
him, and voted upon by him, can be con.
sidered such an investigation and report
as these representatives Of the agricultu
raj interests of the State should be given.
THOMAS WHITEHEAD,
Commissioner Of Agriculture.