The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-26
A HOT TIME EXPECTED
THE NOTICE SERVED on THE
NEW BOARD.
RAMSEY IS RE [LecTtD SECRETARY
Old Board VIII Be Isyied 10 Meet With New
One Whether They Accept The
Invitation NJ skes No
Difference.

DltltleICe.
The Fusion Board of Agriculture cont
pletcd its new board-cxcluslon act yes
terday and rang down the curtain TO
await developments.
1t was n screaming comedy. With
its doubelocked doors. barred windows
and baggy -kneed pile-caters it could be
nothing else.
To-Day the curtain will he rung up on
the second act. and tl,at'l be story
OF another sort or I'm no kipling
The Board of Agriculture is called,
by virtue of resolution passed Il the
last meeting, TO meet here this afternoon.
This resolution was passed i'll meet
ing of both the old and the new boards.
This meeting will be held. 1t will prob
ably he held in the Agricultural building,
too If the old board does not pa:flcl-
pate in this meeting it will be is own
fault.
At caucus of the new board last
night it was decided to meet today.
The members of it, those whose terms
have not expired, will be invited Wheth-
or or not they accept the invitation will
make no difference.
Most of the members of the new baatd
are already here. The others viii arrne
today. AS they came in yesterday they
were each handed the following commu-
nication embodying the action of the
Fusion board during its session Monday
afternoon:
.'Raleigh y c.. April "a. 1899.
My Dear Sir: The Board of Commits
sicners nominated to the Senate by
Governor Russell in March. 1897, and
confirmed by that body, are advised ny
lawyers eminent in their profession, that
the election of yourself and others as
Commissioners of Agriculture by the
General Assembly in March last, was il
legal and void, and therefore you are
not entitled to exercise the power and
duties of this position. There cannot
be any question as TO our legality ana
right to exercise the powers and duties
OF Commissioners of Agriculture and
accepting the advice of our attorneys in
this behalf, it would be exceedingly
wrong in us to admit YOU to further par
ticipation in the administration of the
Agricultural department. We have,
therefore to inform you that we have
resumed possession and control of the
i1tIdllhltHl VI iSHtipStN
find copies of Resolutions adopted April
9th and submitted for your Informal
ton.
Yours truly,
j. ID. MAUITSBY,
. "President Board of Commissioners.
The resolutions above referred to We're
as follows:
..Whereas. the members of the Board
"a. h.
of 1897 by Governor Russell and were
confirmed by that body, have been adj
vised by lawyers eminent in their pro-
fession, that the persons who were elect
ed Commissioners Of Agriculture by the
General Assembly in March last are no,
lawfully Commissioners of Agriculture,
therefore be it
Resolved, by the commissioners who
were appointed to their position in 1897,
as aforesaid. that they do now assume
possession and control of the Agricui-
tural Department.
.Resolved, That the Commissioners Of
Agriculture appointed i'll 1897, as afore
said, do refuse to recognize any other
persons than themselves as the legal and
lawful Commissioners of the Agricul-
tural Department.
Resolved. That the proceedings of the
persons claiming to be the Board Of Ag-
riculture, held in this city on March
9th and 10th last, are repudiated be-.
ing null and void. and they are cancell-
ed and are ordered eXpunged from the
records of the Department.
Resolved. That the Board of Commits
s1oners of Agriculture are moved to the
action expressed by the foregoing resoIu-
tons by the fact that we are charged as
trustees of the public with the admins
tration of an important Department of
the Government, and with uures which
affect the property interests of the
State. and as such, desire only to divide
the responsibilities of our administration
with such as are clearly entitled to parti-
cipate therein.
1T is not with any disposition to make
a factious opposition that the course is
taken. and we will cheerfully abide the
result of any legal determination that
may be had in consequence of our action
as expressed by the foregoing resolu-
tons"
Add to this communication the olec.
ton of j. l.. Ramsey as secretary TO Tie
Board for IL term of two years from
June 10Th, and you have all that this
wonderful old board has done during It's
TWO udAS SlttInS on h0HgOOSc eggs.
The resolutions were passed at The
meeting Monday afternoon. The letter
accompanying was formulated Monday
at yesterday mornings meeting. Yes
terday afternoons meeting was not held.
Today the old board will meet again.
well be here" said MIR J. G. l.. Har-
ris, as long as the new board is in the
city. If they've got any communication
ia mike we'll no i'm session to racafv,,
it. Also we will meet for the purpose
of tranSacting' some routine business
know of no other elections at this session: