Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-09
DEBATE0N SALARIES.
ARE THE AGRlCULT TURAL DEPART
mENT PEOPLE PAID TOO MUCH?
The Question Propounded and Answered
at the Board Meeting Last
Night.

AJ INC morning SESSION tncY adopted
resolution (Which appears in the report Of
the Senate) requesting the appointment Of
Joint legislative committee to investigate
the expenditures of the board rs well as
the usefulness of the department.
WANT 10 REDUCE SALARIES.
At the session last night Mr.. Corbin
offered the following:
Whereas the depressed condition Of agri-
culture. which is due largely to unfriendly
and unjust Federal and State legislation.
makes economy on the part OF the farmers
imperatiyeiy necessary; and whereas their
hOnOredreprescn and officials should
appreciate and sympathiZe witbthis condi-
ton: therefore be it
ResOired That the action of tho Virginia
State Board Of Agriculture in increasing
the legally-defned salaries of the officers
of the Agricultural Department Is hereby
Tcsc.nded.
WHY DESIRED 1T DONE.
Mr Corbin said the Treasury Of the State
is very much depleted and the farmers
should try TO economic as much as pOssi-
BILE The Code fixes stated salaries for tho
Commissioner and his clerk. but they have
been supplemented by the board. Mr..
Corhin was not sure they had a right 10 do
this. In order that the department might
be free from any suspicion or that any
ground might be given Tor charges against
the board he asked the adoption Of his
resolution.
Major Gaines suggested that if it was
thought best to reduce the salaries this was
an inopportune time 20 do so. He was not
willing u desert an excellent official Ike
Colonel Whitehead at the time when
charges are preferred against him.
Mr.. Corbin paid Colonel Whitehead a
high compliment az a faithful and diligeut
officer. and declared his resolution was not
offered with any intention Of deserting the
Colonel lie thought his paper right and
proper and hoped to see it passed.
DON'r SURRENDER n THE FACE OF FIRE.
President Koiner said he had opposed
the election of Colonel Whitehead 10 his
present position. He was not in favor Of
turning ont Colonel Harrison. who was q
practical farmer, for the present iucum-
bent, who was n practical lawyer and had
been farmer. But Colonel Whitehead
las proved himself the man for the place.
The department has been improved, and -
beng put upon q firm aud solid basis.
Much good has been accomplished. and
the seed sown VIII bear fruit next year.
Alr KOIner said he voted 10 allow the
supplemented selaries because he believed
the Commissioner and hls assistant de-
served II. The great awakening Of the
people in the North 10 the advantages Of
Virginia which has been done by the Com
missioner Will pay more than one hundred
fold for tic few hundred dollars of increase
il salaries. He was not IN favor now Of
reducing the salaries. He had done what
he thought right and Just ard he would
adhere to that position. Even ii he
thought II necessary TO decrease the sall-
ries ne would not do so under the fire.
which has been opened upon the board
and Commissioner.
Mr.. Koiner spoke plainly about the
thgnklcss positions which the members of
the board occupy. They get 10 pay, ho
said, but arc the victims Of abuse and
siurs. Sometimes II requires q great deal
more Christian virtue than some men Dos
sess TO stand al that IS said about the men
vino are trying 10 serve the agricultural
people. Air. kOiner said hi. resignation ~
ready for those who delight IN abusing tine
Agricultural Board. bul he will still feel an
interest for the poor, struggling people on
the farms who need help. encouragement,
and protection. and when they learn OF all
the department has done for them the ac-
ton OF the board Will be justified.
SHOW rs THE LEGISLATION.
In concluding his remarks Mr.. Koiner
wanted to know of Mr.. Corbin what was
the legislation. Federal and State, which is
uliust TO farmers.
The tarif-laws Of the United States are
unjust - them.n replied Mr.. Corbin.
Sir. Koincr replied that the tariff had
nothing 10 do with the salaries OF the Off
GERS OF the department and added that no
MslatiOn daring h.s long term IN the Cen
cral Assembly had been enacted which ls
not good for the agricultural people.
well. - replied Alr. CorOiu, 80 the sins Of
omission are as great as those OF cOmIuis-
siou.n
THE COMMISSIONER TALKS.
Colonel Whitehead offered 20 relieve tho
board from their emil arrae5mcnt 10y To-
Cucsting they should reduce his salary 10
what il originally was. But es TO those
employed in his office he Thought If true
merit was 20 bc rewarded II Ought 10 bo
done in this case. There are no working
hours IN NV Department. said the Colonel.
" Nv assistants don't 20 TO the Office az 3
A. NJ. and leave at =. u. They arc there
from the time they eat thor breakfast
until night. and often far INTO the night. and
they earn what Is paid them" Concluding
his remarks the Colonel said Il have ira
yelled this State all over, and ! know tho
farmers endorse the workings Of this
board. no matter what opinion some lesIs-
lators may hold respecting it,
RESOLUTION LOST.
After Mr. Lyman had spoken and dweit
upon the GOOD work done by the depart
Ineut and Of its importance to the farmers,
end after paying Colonel Whitehead and
ms force q high tribute. he begged Mr.. Cor
h.a to withdraw the paper, which the lat
ter refused 20 do.
The vote vas now taken and the rcsolu-
ton was lost-only Mr. Corbln voting for
il.
The board refused to act upon Colonel
request to reduce his salary.
The Commissioner by PROVISIONS OF the
Code gets ~ 500 per year. The amount
by the board IS $500 Tho
Code provides that his clerk be paid 5000.
This is supplemented $500 10y the board.
TABMEGs' INSTITUTES.
The board yesterday afternoon consid-
cred the bill providing for holding farmers
Institutes. and 10 WAS recommended 10 the
Legislature for adoption.
ABOUT FERTILIZERS.
At the morning session Mr.. Lyman Of
fcred the following resolution, which WAS
referred 10 the Committee on Fertilizers:
Whereas dissolved South Carolina rock
j. Is much cheaper source of phOsDhOric
acid than dissolved bone; ana whereas tho
value of the first TO the crop subsequent TO
that to which it is applied IS questloned:
H,solced, That the State Board Of Agri-
culture respectfully request our Expert
lnent Station to carry out such expert
meuts as viii decide the relative agricul-
tural value of phosphoric acid from dis
solved rock and from dissolved bone.
llr. Lyman also offered q resolution,
which was referred, looking TO the appoint
ment of a committee TO devise plans for
hlllfur farpersi iu-fItIffps
ANALYSIS OF SOILS.
Mr.. LYMAN also offered this resolution,
which was referred:
Whereas much interest Is felt in the me-
chanical analysis of soils and whereas
much unnecessary laber can be avoided by
this want:
ReSo ced. That the Commissioner Of Agrl-
culture cause to be obtained samples or
the various typical soils of the several
grand divisions OF the State, which shall
be analyzed by the chemist Of the depart
Ment.
Resolred, That the Commissioner afford
q suitable place for the same in the display
ot the department.
TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS.
4 resolution was also offered by Mr..
LYMAN and adopted providing that the
members Of the board be assigned to spe-
al subjects for discussion at the meet
.ngs. the topics for discussion 20 include
the following: County roads. stoc k-teed-
ng, homemade manures, farm mechanics,
ilrm-b buildings, horses. cattle. sheep
swine, trucking. small fruits, winter fruits,