The Portland daily press., 1901-02-28

Agriculture and was not paid for four
years. He called Mr.. McKeens 8 atten-
tIon TO the matter in the fall OF 1899.
Later MIR. MoKeen said he found no ac-
count OF tue matter. but would attend
to it, Nothing more was heard by the
witness until last Dscembsr when Mr..
Mokeen settled the bill. The matter
was msntioned to several members Of
the board.
Charles T.. whssler OF Chesterville, who
was treasurer OF the Pomological society
In 1895, testified that he had correspond
ed with Mr.. McKeen about ths stipend
In that year. Mr.. MoKeen wrote that
ne would attend to the matter as soon as
convenient and sent 500 on acoount
MIR. McKesn's letter was shown to the
secretary. Mr.. McKeen wrote from time
to time giving excuses for not attend
ing to the matters On cross-examina-
tion Mr.. Wheeler said the letters were
destroyed and that hs was testifying
from recollection. He had destroyed
the letters with the exception of one
which went into this hands Of MIR knowl-
ton Mr.. Wheeler said he destroyed the
letters a few months ago, but ne then
did not know that this matter was to
be Investigated. lie could not say
whether he had destroyed the letters be-
fore or after be had read the letters Of
Mr.. Gilbert attacking MIR. MoKeen.
"That's all, said MIR. Spar, counsel
for MIR. Mckeen.
At this point, MIR, MoKeen was asked
by Mr. Hsseltine II he kept a letter
book. He said that he did, but he could
not say that all letters were copied In
It. Letters which ne wrote personally
might not be copied.
Mr.. Frank 5. Adams OF Bowdoinham
testified that he was a member Of the
Board of Agriculture during the first
two years OF Mr.. MoKeen's admins
tration. Mr.. Adams is now one OF the
cattle commissioners He said he had
worked for the Board of Agriculture
and there had been delay in pIying him,
At one time he was sick and wrote to
Mr. MoKeen that he needed the money.
IL was two or three months before b 9
was paid. At the time Mr.. Adams was
candidate for cattle commissioner, he
was supported by MIR. McKeen. On
cross-examination, Mr.. Adams said that
all the members Of the Board OF A0ri-
culture supported him and there was a
desirs on the part of the Board for a
change In the commission Mr. Adams
thought Mr.. MoKeen's institute work had
been excellent and satisfactory. lie
thought that the state had got more than
value received under Mir. Mokeen's ad.
ministration. When he was on the
Board, it must decidedly approve of what
Mr.. Mckeen did outside of his runpiug
Of his books. When Mr.. Adams was on
the executive COMMITTEES, Mr.. Mckeen
always consulted it.
"What do you say as to Mr.. Mckeen's
competency as secretary to the BoardT
"rhere Is no question about IL among
the farmers Of the stats.''
MIR. Adams said that he had paen
ast6nished at the amount of WORK Mr..
Mckeen could do
Mr.. Heseitine asked the witness II at
ter sitting through the testimony yester-
az could say to the committee and the
people OF the state that he regarded MIR.
Mckeens management OF the finances
of the office as successful The witness
said that he did not understand that
MIR. McKeen claimed it to be. he denied
that MIR. Mckeen was nothing more
than an advance agent In the arrange
ment OF institute work. When MIR.
Adams was on the executive COMMITTEES,
Mr.. McKeen did not make detailed
financial exhibits. He did not rem amber
that in 1893 Mir. Mekeen had oyerdrawn
his account over 81, 900 lie did not wish
to be understood as speaking OF Mr..
MoKeen's financial management. lie
was speaking in his direct testimony OF
Mr. MoKeen's institute work. lie did not
know OF any antagonism between the
Board and the cattle commission, but
he thought the farmers all over the
state had demanded a change in the cat
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