Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-02-14
PAssKD TO BE ExAcrKp.

Of the city csarter Of Rockland.
Bill. m set to promote the efficiency Of
the hre Departments Of shs City Of Lewiston.
Bill. an set 70 incorporate the Merchants
Bank and Trust Company.
Bill. an act to extend an act to iueorpor-
ate the isle al Hsut Water Company.
Bill, al act 70 amend chapter So Of the
Private and Special Laws Of 1857. entitled
An act to supply the town Of Buckrport
With water.
Bill, An act to authorize the Lewiston
ard Auburn Horse Railroad Company to
make loan.
SPECIAL AssisSMkNfs.
Senate Document No. le. bill, an act to
anead chapter lis Of the Revised Statutes
entitled. salaries Of public officers and
compensation of members Of the govern
ment.
Mr.. Ri ~ Penobscot-I simply VA 1t =.
ed g. snstioA in regard to this matter
from the eya la'ttee ss to why il is neces-
sary to incresss tLe sslsry of the secretary
Of the board of agriculture from $500 10
$500.
Mr.. Warren Of York-Mr. President ana
gentlemen Of the Senate Upon its face
this seems 70 he large increase, but l
think ii We will scqusint ourselves with the
duties Of this ofics ard compare his sslssy
with that o. lake officers in other New Eag-
lard States we may come 10 the conclusion
this is none too large. You are aware .
bill hiss just passed the Legislature ard
been signed, increasing the appropriation
for agricultural interests from SlioO to
5000. Under the old appropriation the
nSavy 10 hn1l
institute in each county. He has not only
done this, but has held from q to % Un-
der the new bill spp,opristing $4,000 he is
directed 10 hold at least two institutes in
each county, and i; il probable that ho will
hola twice as many under this bill - under
the other, making about so during the
year. He will consume an average OF three
days at each or about six months of his time
in that matter alone. Ii is also proposed
that he shall hold An open office in this
Capitol, where all interested in agriculture
in the SAts can confer with him.
My experience satisfies me that
nothing has been done which has
resulted in greater good than the
holding Of these institutes. have attended
quite number of them, and the interest
has been very great. The farmers attend
ing these institutes in the winisr and re-
membefirg what they have there learned.
bsve practiced what has been told them in
the summer, watched and compared re.
suits. and have seen much good come from
them. The salary is confessedly not high
as compared W til that of like officers ia
other states, in view of the duties attached
Massachusetts pays Its secretary of board
of agriculture $4,000 and expenses; New
Hampshire, $500; Connecticut, 500
(Which holds but one meeting a year, :;
Vermont. $1,000. (and he holds besides a
position in one Of the universities, receiv-
ing salary there); Rhode Island has
no organized department as yet. but
is about to have one. These matters have
been petitioned by thousands OF farmers in
Maine, and If the petitions could have had
wider circulation. have no doubt the
whole G0,0G0 names would have been
signed. IL is within the province Of the
Board Of Agriculture to prescribe the duties
of this officer, and wish TO read resolve
passed at their last meeting: "Whereas,
II is provided by law that this board shall
prescribe the outies of the secretary Of the
Board of Agriculture; therefore resolved,
That it is the sense Of this board that the
secretary give his entire time TO the duties
ard labors of his Office; and that the Ii gis-
la,ure be requested TO 90 increase his com.
pensation therefor as will enable
him to comply with these requirements.
have been asked of you. And now Mr.
President and gentlemen in view Of the
very grea. and extended interests of agri-
culture in this State / appeal to you tc
grant this amount. ] can see nothing but
justice in il; and hope you will conclude
to do so.
Mr.. Walton Of Sumerset-I would like
to inquire with reference to Senate Docu-
ment No. 20.
Mr.. Ryder--It was in regard 10 that
matter that l WAS Induced to table Senate
Document No. l6. Under No. 20 the
amount appropriated was changed from
81 400 to 5000. and the duties Of the de-
paftment were doubled. have been
informed by the state treasurer that al
though that amount had been appropriated
for the pas. two years, but $500 had
been drawn to discharge the duties
of the department That is very good
shoxiug for the department; aud hardly
zee the necessity, if it has not required
more than 500 10 pay the expenses Of the
department, why $4,000 should be required
to pay expenses, while the duties are only
doubled. | uDderstand ell expenses for
attending these institutes are paid in ad-
di,ion to the $500 salary. | am perfectly
willing tha. the State should appropriate
all that is necessary TO carry on this WORK
ia the interests Of the farmers, bu. it does
rot seem necessary TO appropriate more
than they need.
Mr.. Nutting Of Aroostook-I think some
mistake must have been made by the
Treasurer of State in his statement to the
gentleman from Pcnobscot, for l do not
think the Board of Agriculture have held
from 20 TO 25 meetings for 500. But if
il hiss, it shows we have good secretary
and good fnaHcia! management. thick
no other department Of the State can show
as good.
Mr.. Haipes CT Kennebec--This matter
has been under consideration for a number
Of years. The board Of agriculture have
requested thst the executive officer of that
department. be paid = reasonable salary,
but for une cause and another it has never
been accomplished. This industry is st!iv-
ing to keep pace with other industries and
seeks advanced methods ior teaching sgri-
culture. and it seems strange that any yone
should oppose paying to that officer salary
equal to o,her officers OF the S,a'e
department. Comparing that industry
with insurance: You pay the insut-
ance commissioner ~ 200 or 81 90.
and he has charges of few
puny compsnies in the State Labor COM
missioner $1,000 or $3.50; liquor agency,
SlJ00--s man who has the business Of pur-
chasing and selling rum TO the different
towns ard eiiies of the State, besiies which
hs receives all the profits that could be
made out Of the business, which are sup
posed to be very large-You pay your rail-
road commissioners 10 ride over the rail
roads of the State and see that they are
we'll constructed, $1,000 apiece. This is
proper | am saying nothing against taese
salaries; but compAring the work Of the
three railroad commissioners with that OF
the secretary cf the Board Of Agriculture,
cannot see how any man can reasonably
object to the establishing for the sec.
re,ary reasonable salsry. II take,
all his time the interests and
works are various. There are no person.
ali,ies involved, and hope the Ssnste viii
give the measure a passage. Mf. Mating
moved for yea and nay vote which pre-.
vailed.
Mr.. Swan,on of s,sgsdahoc--I Do no
know much about this question Of salaries
but ! gathsr from the remarks OF the Sens
tor from kennebec that the State salaries
of these officers mentioned are all too high
from his di.cription Of the duties. A yel
and nsy vote being taken UPON the pssssg'
Of the bill to he engrosstd resulted A. fol
lows: Yea, Messrs Adams. Chaplin, Giles
Gilmore. Hsines, Harper, Hunt, Libby (oi
Anfrosc1ggin) Mailet, Mayo, Nshsp
Nash. Moore, NuteiDs. Pst.iuaiil, Poor