Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-11
10 KEEP THE BOARD.
SENATOR FLOOD sANcurNr TT WILL
NOT ne ABOLISHED.
THE SENATE COMMITTEE RECONSIDERS
biii TO DO Away with the Depnyt-
mcnt May Not lie reported After
Aii-The Board I'm Session Here
Yesterday.

Inc Department OF Agriculture will
not be abolished" said Senator Flood
TO a Dispatch reporter yesterday, ana
he spoke with the utmost emphasis.
He has been the strongest opponent OF
tho movement TO abolish the department
ever since ii first began early I'm the ses-
sion, and he regarded the decision OF the
Senate Committee on Agriculture yes
terday TO reconsider its action OF We'd
nesday afternoon. when IL voted to re-
port favorably the bill abolishing the
Office of Commissioner and the Board OF
Agriculture, as making the retention OF
the two a practical certainty.
THE department may have to get along
on an appropriation considerably re-
duced." he said. but / would like the
farmers of the state TO feel assured that
| It Will not be abolished"
The suggestion in the Dispatch Of yes
terday that the officials Of the depart
ment would be willing TO try to do the
work now required OF them for the total
amount of the tax on fertilizers seems
TO meet with general approval, and it is
! probable that it will be recommended by
| ''N N'iiiihiANtt. Aht proposition 10 dDDDSn
/ the department has met with confirmed
opposition In this city AZ a meeting of
the Chamber Of Commerce yesterday
! afternoon the report of the Committee on
| Manufactures and immigration, dsap-
| proving Of the proposition, and recon-
mendifg that the Richmond members OF
/ the Legislature be urged to oppose 1t,
was adopted.
/ Meeting of Board of Agriculture.
The quarterly meeting of the State
Board of Agriculture was held in the
| state Library building at noon yester-
/ day. Besides President A. S. Buford,
who occupied the chair. there were pres
ent at the meeting Messrs. A. j. Nc
Math, A. II. Lindsay. John l.. Hurt j.
| X. Mccain. O. e. Hine, J. r.. Kemper.
and Commissioner Whitehead.
Mr.. w. w. Bland, of the Sixth District.
wrote greatly regretting his inability TO
be present through sickness, as the ex
istence Of the board was threatened, and
! the farming interest of the State must
inevitably suffer Mr.. Bland ventured
the further assertion that the farmers in
! his district would be heard from in the
| future. IF this, the only recognition they
! have ever had. is taken away from them
now"
THE PRESIDENTS REPORT.
President Buford submitted a report
setting forth the benefits which have ac-
/ crued TO the agriculturists through
the voluntary and energetic efforts or
members who have served without COM
pensation. The report further commends
/ the efforts Of Commissioner Whitehead
and other members OF the board in fur
| thering the interests of the new sugar
/ beet enterprise.
Mr. Hurt offered the suggestion that
an allusion should be made in the report
TO the effort to abolish the board which,
he asserted, had done more than any
other power on earth to relieve the farm
ers from constant litigation caused by
reason of impure fertilizers being sold 10
/ them by dealers and manufacturers.
Mr. Hine spoke of the practical good
that had been done by the board In bring
ing the sugar-beet interest to the atten-
ton of the farmers, and was followed by
Mr.. Whitehead along the same line.
THE PRESIDENTS RESOLUTION.
President Buford introduced the fol-
lowing resolution:
"Whereas. a discussion has recently
arisen and an apparent disposition mani
tested in the General Assembly now in
session to change or wholly dispense with
the work of the board as organized and
of law constituting the Department Oh
Agriculture. connected with which the
hoard deems il proper, with reference
10 a correct knowledge and apprehension
Of the interests involved. that commit
tee of this board shall be appointed 10
prepare and present to the proper com
mittees of the General Assembly having
this matter under consideration SUIT
able representation of the facts and mat
ters so involved, so far as the same are
connected with the present work and
duties Of the board:
"Resolved That a committee of three
he appointed by the president for such
nurpose TO act as the opportunities there
for will allow on behalf Of the board
In support Of this motion Commissioners
Whitehead stated that upon recent
visit 10 Lynchburg he had met we'll
known citizens from Campbell, Amherst
and other counties. and had not heard
any one express his views about the pro-
posed abolition Of the board who was
not emphatically opposed to such ac-
ton He knew that the farmers Of the
state were thoroughly in sympathy Win
the work Of the board.
The resolution was adopted and Presi-
dent Buford appointed Messrs. Hurt
Hine. and McMath as the special COM
mittee
4 SUGGESTION AS TO EXPENSES.
II was suggested by Mr.. Hine that the
hoard would be- willing to have their APP
p,iation cut off, and would meet it's regu-
lar expenses by a tax of 10 cents per ton
imposed upon the fertilizer manufactu-
rere This would be sufficient TO meet
the expenses of the board.
Commissioner Whitehead added that
no thought this would meet with the APP
nroval of most OF the fertilizer manu-
focturers Of any prominence. as the prom
inent Virginia manufacturers had always
-, T.; fsvor of paying enough to keep
-, ,hc recruitment of Agriculture.
,rbe hoard adjourned sine die.