The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-06-06
Especial to The Messenger.)

fSdIelSn, N. u, June line event
of today at the meeting of the board Of
agriculture was when the finance COM
mittee made a full report, in which 1t
says it finds that the fusion board had
been guilty of distributing its patron
age among it's own members; in other
words, employing it's own members to
perform the delicate and accurate work
required in protection of the rme
against fraud in the purchase OF COM
mercial fertilizers. By employing them
selves as clerks and inspectors they
hampered and hindered the officers in
the discharge Of public duty and rem
dered it impossible to make effective
the machinery which would otherwise
obtain in g. perfectly regulated and dis
ciplined working force, as it presents
the anomoly of members of the board
passing judgment upon their own work.
This applies with equal force to the
employment of an attorney who per-
forms his legal duties while receiving
his per diem and expense as a men,
Der of the board, a tendency in such
cases having to unnecessarily multiply
fees or find preteXt for doing so. Since
he made his report of the board of ag-
1 (N1Id1C " Ill 4NS
sums lave been drawn from the treas
ury on this account, n $3.50 used in
paying MI. Harris for preparing the re-
port of the board to the legislature,
heretofore performed by he secretary
of the board without extra compensa-
tion.
INTERESTING ITEMS.
Two items are of $12 each, paid j.. C. L.
Harris and Hill E. King, each contain
ing 81, for allowance for board, which
is unwarranted and in violation of the
resolution adopted March 9th.
Attention is also called by the COM
mittee to extraordinary accounts of
charges Of committee on electric lights,
carpets and insurance. The work of
these committees was Of the slightest
significance and such as is usually done
by the commissioner, secretary and Gu
rator. Several residents are on these
COMMITTEES and they charged 81 per day
and 81 allowance as board. Here is a
sample: agricultural department to j.
NJ. Allen. On special committee 1898,
June 30; second selection of carpets,
per diem 81, expenses 50; July 9TH, Sc
= lecting material for toilet rooms ana
spittoons, per diem 81, expenses 81; July
18th, receiving and inspecting carpets
after laid 81, expenses 81. Total $lS.'
j.. c.. L. Harris and Hill E. King were
paid the same amounts for the same
work.
HARRIS MULTIPLICITY OF OF
FICES.
Another interesting exhibit is made
of j. c. L. Harris account as chairman,
member of the board, attorney, ETC., in
all, tWenty-eight payments in TWO
wears. a~ggregating SO, 1855 Two fees
are for 81 900.
Following is the list of members OF
the board who were also employees: j.
M. Allen, waiting clerk; Hill +. KING,
I'LL. Cn1rrn u LNnyv Tnhr
Brady, j. c.. Ray, Howard Browning,
inspectors of fertilizers; j.. c. L.. Har-
ris, attorney.
PAID AFTER TIME EXPIRED.
During the trouble between the dem
ocratic and the fusion boards last
April members of the board whose time
had expired were called in and paid i'm
lawfully, these being John Brady $4|.So,
r. B. Lineberry $27, and fuSionist mem
bers also paid themselves at their April
meeting at the old rate Of 81 per day
and 81 per day expenses, this also being
unlawful and unWarranted. The com
mittee found that $40, 1887 had been
drawn, but with no itemized state
ments accompanying the items. 1t Is
ostensibly for inspections and m
instructions, he largest item being
81, 900 to J. M. Mewborne.
The committee reports that the ac-
counts presented by Secretary Ramsey
for payment are not at all satisfactory
because of failure to insert itemized
receipts for money drawn. One in
spector, a son of Hill E. King, drew
$75 for each of two months as inspec-
tor and So one mont and $40 for an
other for expenses.
HARRIS SAYS, YES, HE DIDN'T.
J. C. l.. Harris made an address tt
the board, in which he said he hat
no explanations or apologies to make
that he had received the money legally
and by direction of the board.
The committee rebukes COMMISSIONS
John R.. Smith, fertilizer Inspector, a n
Secretary Ramsey for unbusinesslik
carelessness in their accounts in no
having itemized receipts. Ramsey say
he has itemized receipts for most o
these warrants.
John Grady and r. B. L~ineberry, VIII
were illegally and ~wrongfully paid, t
he notified of the fact and given op
portunity to refund the money wrong
fully drawn from the funds of the de
partment, or if they fail to do so, sug
gest to the fusion members the pro
priety of their replacing the sum
thus ~wrongfully withdrawn from tn
treasury.
The fusionists, who on April oath, re
fused to the democrats entrance to tn
agricultural building, not only usurpe
the functions of the whole Dody, gu
paid themselves at a rate not recognlZ
ed in the act of 1899, and in excess .
the rate in the act of 1897. 1t appear
hat they began this way of paymen
in June, 1897, and as a result, nearl
$1,000 was thus illegally drawn. The
really drew Sc a day instead of 81.
The committee report is signed b
the finance committee-J. G. Coftlelc
w. r. Capehart, w. A. Dills, A. T. Nc
Callum? J. A. Stevens. The report wa
adopted.
OTHER PROCEEDINGS.
Other proceedings at the a~fternoo
session were as follows:
A committee composed of Chairma
Cunningham COMMISSIONS Patterso
and State Chemist Holmes was az
pointed to prepare rules and regulation
ito put in effect the pure food law, t
go into effect August next.
1t was decided that h members {
the board be paid per diem from tn