Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-15
THE OTHER SIDE.
REPLY OF COMMISSIONER WHITE
HEAD TO SENATE COMMITTEE.
Facts and Figures Regarding the Manage
ment Of virginia's Agricultural
Department.
co,NoswrArrn or vInonrA,

COMMONWEALTH or VIRGINIA.,
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
RICHMOND. Va. February Is, 1890.
To The Editor of the Dispdtch:
As You have published the full text of
the report OF the committee to investigate
expenditures, &C., in the Department of
Agriculture. ask space to submit for the
Board Of Agriculture some facts and fig-
ures which the report OF the committee
wholly ignores, although they We're before
such Of them az ~ere present at the two
committee meetings.
The State Board OF Agriculture. under
the act of March 5. 1888. took charge of
the department the 18th day of April. 1888,
and organized with Absalom koiner, Esq.
of Augusta. az president. TWAS composed
OF Mr. KoiDer, Major r. '. Gaines, of
Charlotte; Major William T. Sutherlin, Of
Danyille; Colonel S. Wexford Corbin. of
King George; Captain Orris A. Browne, OF
Accomac; Colonel George ". Palmer, of
Washington Oemocrats): and Colonel
Normand Smith. of Henrico: James |.
Beale, ESQ.,, of Isle of Wight: Henry l..
Lyman. Esq. of Albemarle, and Judge r.
Nj. Mallory, of Brunswick (Republicsns)-
intended as 1t was by law to be non-parti-
san board.
FINANCIAL.
From the 18th day of May. 1888. the
financial transactions of the board were by
warrants drawn by the Commissioner of Ag-
riculture and countersigned BIZ the Presi-
dent. Everything is matter of record open
TO daily inspection and the meetings OF the
board are attended by press reporters.
The accounts ana transactions of the Com
missioner are submitted quarterly to a
finance committee and the board and
Commissioner annually make full report
accompanied bv an itemized account of
expenditures, which is published. The re-
port Of the investigating committee criti-
cises the action of the board and reports
that its allowances to employees and its adj
dition to salaries of the Commissioner as
secretary and treasurer of the board and OF
the clerk are extravagant and unnecessary
and their expenditures westeful and the
committee processes TO make comparison
between the administration of the board
and that of the former Commissioner of
Agriculture. Colonel Randolph Harrison.
THE DEFENCE.
Now for the board: As their executive
officer, acquainted with all the facts and
figures. which / exhibited to the commit
tee, | offer for these gentlemen as full JUS
tification of their action the following
statement: Two important changes had
been made in the law. The agricultural
bill Of March 5. 1888. had created the
board. largely increased the duties and
labors of the department, especially in re-
quiring IL TO take charge of the subject of
immigration, and had increased by this its
necessary expenses rs well rs by commit
ting to it the execution of the new ferti-
liZer act to produce revenue for the State
and requiring additional force and cost.
A COMPARISON.
For the purpose of rebutting the COM
harrison of the committee in their report,
make the following from the record OF both
administrations. which will be sustained by
the Auditors office: