Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-09
TALK ABOUT FUNDS.
THIS SUBJECT DISCUSSED BY Ihe
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
To Confer with State Oficiais Concerning
Fees Under the Fertilizer Act
Signal Service.


/ upon the recently-enacted ferthizer-ia"
! by certain State officials, if adhered 70
as the proper one, will have the effect OF
materially lessening the money available
/ for the uses Of this department.
! The act referred 10 requires an ANALYSIS
J 10 be made of samples OF all fertilizers SOU
I in Virginia. and il is held In some quarters
/ that the expense thus incurred must c9!ue
1 out of the fees received from the IerVlllz'r IelI.
companies. which IS practically the Same
thing as 10 deduct the amount from the
$4,000 allowed tho board annnally',
This matter was the groundwork ior
discussion that consumed nearly tne Wnole
OF last nights session Of the board, Whlch
lasted exactly two hours.
THE MEETING.
This is the semi-annual meeting OF the
STATE Board Of Agriculture, and the body
viii probably remain in session Tor Two
days. Its meetings ere held on the second
floor of the building on Main street be-
tween Thirteenth and Fourteenth occu-
pied by the Department OF Agriculture.
When the roll was called at 8 O'Clock the
following members responded to their
names: Hon. Absalom KOiner, of Augusta
: president): Il. V. Gaines. Of Charlotte;
Major w. T. Sutherlin, of Pittsylvania; ;.
Wexford Corbin. Of King George; Captain
. ~. a.
VI. Mallory, of Brunswick; Judge Il. l.;
Henley, of James City; Colonel Normand
Smith, of HenricO; Commissioner Thomas
Whitehead and Judge Charles Grattan, II
StauntOn, Commissioner Of Immigration.
ELECTION OF PRESIDENT.
/ Mr.. Koiner stated that as this meeting
was the commencement Of new term tho
first business was the election of presi-
dent.
Major Sutherlin nominated for reelection
the incumbent Of the office. who he said
had served very efficiently and was emi-
nently fitted for the position. both on
account If his vast information and MS IN
teGrity and impartiahty.
Major Gaines seconded the nomination,
and the election was unanimous.
Major KoInor was escorted TO the chair
by Major Sutherlin. who was appointed
a committee Of one for that purpose. and
said:
a unanimous reelection to the position
which YOU have rendered me is q compl-
mcnt of which am not insenslble. But as
! said two years ago, | take the position
with the same distrust that did then, be-
ing conscious OF my own ImpertectiOn and
the expectations Of the people. Too much
I is expected Of Us with the means at our
command: but we have done some good
and viii try again this term TO do even
more"
THE COMMISSIONERS DUTIES.
The chairman of the Committee on
T ORGANIZATION, Major Gaines. stated that
owing to the failure of the committee 70
get access 10 manv laws which they were
to take action upon, they We're not yet
prepared to report and asked iOr further
time.
Major Gaines made a partial verbal re-
port stating that owing to the existence OF
n great number Of acts and parts OF acts
I defining the duties of the Commissioner OF
Agriculture the committee had adopted
resolution giving the board full power IN
defining the duties Of the Commissioner.
The committee was allowed further time
IN which 10 complete their report.
MAJOR sCoTT's orINIoN.
Colonel Whitehead read TO the board
letter received from AttOuey-Gencral
/ R. Tavlor Scott in response 20 one from
4 the Commissioner asking Major ScottS
construction OF the act Ito protect ana
advance agriculture by regulating the sale
and purity of commercial fertilizers and
+ the guarantee and conditions upon which
they ore TO be sold. and fixing the penal
ties incurred for violations of the same.
The Acknowledgement. after quoting
several provisions Of the law, says:
' / think It is PLAN the money 10 carry this law
into eject comes from end depends upon ths
registration fees, fines, &C, and that the law Is
auxiliary 10 and In ed OF tho existing laws
I Further, tnat tho funds for ihcse purposes are
distinct aud separate, and should not be COM
mingled by the board. consider The now law
the exercise Of "policc pONer,n legislative
mower upon which there are very few resiric-
ions II regulates internal commerce within
tho state ia commercial fertilizers and has
also an inspection feature Chlef-lustice Mar
shall discussing this subject IN the case OF
' Gfbbon rs. ogden said they such laws form
I a portion of that immense mass ot legislation
which controls everything within the territory
oi a state not surrendered 30 the General Cow
ernment, and which can te mos! advantageous
ly administered by the states themselves. In
specion-aws, Quaraniine-laws. leaiih-laws OF
every description. AZ wen as laws Tor regulating
tho internal commerce of q state and those
which respect turnpike roafs, ferries, &c, arc
c0np0neut parts. No direct general power over
thcsc objects Is granted 10 Congress and coLse-
queuay they remain subject 20 state ieslsia-
uon."
WHAT THE AUDITOR SAYS.
Colonel Whitehead said a committee had
seen Major Scott and the views expires ed
bv the latter were satisfactory and 70 the
effect that the expense Of analysis should
not be paid out of the money charged 10
the account Of the board. Continuing,
Colonel Whitehead said Auditor Maryc
c0netrues the law to mean that all money
spent out OF the fund created under tho
fertilizer act shall be charged 20 the board
% part of the $4,000 appropriated TO 1t.
lfANY VIEWS ADVANCED.
Major Sutherlin SAID he was of tho
opinion that the State officers were gov
cTned bv the opinion of the Attorney-Gen-
eral. and he felt sure that the Auditor
would look at the matter III the rignt
light.
Major Gaines SAID if the views expressed
by the Auditor were adhered % and the
opinion of the Acknowledgment was not
recocnZed the board would not be able
to do ANYTHING like what II had hoped 10
accomplish this year. In fact, he did not
think the board and Commissioned could
even carry out the work which had been
planned.
Nj. Corbiu thought the Attorney Gene
rails letter was nOn-cOmmittal and might
be construed either way. MAJOR scott, he
said. advanced views entirely satisfactory
To the board, but he on the other hand
quoted a section al the bill which appeared
10 sustain the position taken by the Audi
tor. He advised that the Attorney-Neue-
raj should be requested 70 write another
opinion giving his direct legal views on
the question which IS OF 80 much I'M
portance to the board and the agricultu-
rists of the State.
Judge Henley said in his judgment only
such money as IS left after deiraylng the
expense OF analysis shall be considered q
part of the agricultural fund. Several
others endorsed this position. and SAID TINS
was identically what the Attorney-General
Lad said in his interview with the COM
mlttee.
TO SIZE THE OFFICIALS.
Major Sutherlin made a motion, which
was adopted, directing the Commissioner
of Agriculture TO ascertain at what time
TO-DAY it will be convenient for the audi
tor. treasurer. and other State officers
with whom this body has to deal, 10 meet
the board and discuss this matter VITA q
view to definitely settling all doubtiui
questions about the funds of the depart
mcnt, whence derived. and how TO be USED.
All of the speeches were characteriIea oy
the best of feeling. and the unanimous
sentiment was TO ascertain positively wIa1
the resources Of the department will be- so
that it's work may be mapped out accord
insly.
ABOUT THE CLERK.
Judge Mallory read a letter which Presl-
dent Koiner had received from Attorney
General Scott in response to request Tor
his opinion as TO the right Of the board
under the eighth section of the fertilizer
act to allowable Commissioner OF Agrl-
culture an additional clerk. Major Scott