The news & observer., 1897-03-27
STATE CHEMIST MUST GO
THE HUNGRY OFFICE HUNTERS
HOWL FOR HASH.
cHAMsERLAln SEEKS REVENGE
Turned Out FOR Incompetence RE NC"
Wants the State 10 Pay SOU
600 to Help Him Ges
Revenge.

ing Popuists Nothing can or must
stand in their way where a good paying
place is at stake. Technical knowledge
counts for nothing, efficiency is not allow
ed TO enter into the matter and the
amount of the salary Is the only consid-
Grafton.
This is the spirit that has up to this
time been displayed by the new Board of
Agriculture The best Commissioner of
Agriculture that the State has ever had
has been unceremoniously turned out
not even the courtesy of an invitation
to attend the meetings of the Board
while he is still an officer. being rx-
tended him.
A secretary of eleven years experience
has been displaced by man of no ex-
perience and totally untitled for the
place. The retiring officer, Mr.. Bruner,
was elected secretary eleven years ago,
succeeding Mr.. l.. NJ. Wilson He be-
gan at a salary of $1,000 gear But
so invaluable to the Department has he
become during these years that the
Board has from time to time increased
his salary until it is now 81, 800 Mr..
Ramsey, totally inexperienced, and unac-
quainted with the work and resources of
the State comes in at the salary attained
ny Mr.. Bruner, after eight years Of hard
work and experience.
At the head of the Fertilizer depart
ment is placed IA negro. and under him
five white men, all inexperienced men
but all getting the same salary that is
new paid men trained for the work.
Heretofore it has been Tie custom to re-
quire new men to work at a nominal sal
airy until they have become expert in the
duties Of an Inspector then put them on
full pay.
1t is to be regretted that a negro has
been put in charge of this department,
which requires so much care and pains
taking labor. There is no Office any.
where conducted with more earnestness.
fidelity and thoroughness than has been
that Of which Jim Young is now given
control
Not satisfied with this clean sweep of
everything in sight, it is now proposed to
abolish the office of State Chemist, or
rather separate the duties OF State
Shemist and Director of the Experiment
Station, in order TO get rid Of Dr. Battle
and his corps of assistants.
The Board caucussed on the proposition
for three long hours Thursday night.
and finally decided to appoint a committee
o confer with a like committee to be
appointed by the Board of Trustees of
he A. and M. College in regard to the
natter. and report at the June meeting.
The executive committee. of which MI
]. c. l. Harris is chairman, was ap-
pointed.
1t will be remembered that the Expert
nent Station is supported by the Unit
I'd States government, through the A.
md NJ. College, and the State Chemist
,y fbx. tot nf "a uel,
ne Board OF Agriculture.
The basis of the Experiment Station,
with its director. DR.. Battle. is the Hatch
lc, which appropriates $4,000 to the
.eleges to be used for an Experiment
Station where the State has an Agricur
u-al college supported by the State APP
Dropriation. This must be under the
same contrcl as the college, and must
De used for original scientific investiga-
isn.
Then the State Chemist was appointed
by the Agricultural Board for the Apur-
bose of analyzing the fertilizers, waters
esting minerals and identifying plants.
Cor the analysis of fertilizers the Board
pas heretofore made an appropriation of
10000. And the duties OF the two posi-
ions have. for purposes of economy and
nsreased efficiency been vested in one
,Tson, DIR. III. Il. Battle. as State Chem
stand Director ef. the Experiments Sta
ida
sow since the A. and NJ College and
hi agricultural Department have been
bud under separate control. by the late
.fyislature. the question was raised in
hi caucus Thursday day night, whether
III laboratory and chemicals now used
ldnat belong 30 thp college. ;Ind whether
ir department has ANY apparatus for
lfanalysis required 10 be mads. by the
SITE Chemist.
As may readily be seen and was openly
vowed in the Caucus this new mose was
@ ret rid of the present officers and APP
roilt a new set.
With this view, Mr.. Chamberlain in
rOiuced in the caucus resolution de-
laing that the State is now paying too
luh for the analysis of fertilizers, that
heoffices Of Director of the Experiment
taion and State Chemist ought to be
pirate and independent, and that the
pbratory now in the Agricultural build
z belonged, under the Hatch act, to the
and NJ. College, and ought 10 DE
ovd there. At least this was the sub
ace and effect Of the resolution.
II was strongly opposed by Mr.. J. G.
Harris and others who showed that to
pirate these two offices would mean
a DR.. Battle and his corps would have
% out to the college with the chemical
ait now in the Agricultural building. \
n this new building, costing at least
OOOO would have to be built A new
ae Chemist would have to be elected
I'll corps OF assistants and a new
enical outfit purchased The change
,ld mean cost of $4,000 or more,
he State the first year with no gain
my direction. This was the position
IN by the opponents to Chamberlain's
ent pie-incrcasing plan
finally. as a compromise Mr. Harris
reduced a resolution leaving the mat
Entirely in the hands Of committees
BE- appointed by the Agricultural and
College Boards.
i understood that Chamberlain is
king this fight on DR.. Battle on per
al as well as political grounds. He
never forgotten that he was turned
Of the professorship at the A. and M. |
l.