The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-01-10
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Augusta, January 1.-TWO years ago.
during the session OF the Legislature,
the conduct of the business OF the Board
of Agriculture was made the subject of
legislative action. Secretary Mokeen
was called upon to furnish an itemized
financial exhibit, and did SO. Some OF
the uses 20 which the money appropriated
by the state had been applied, were not
viewed with favor by many membsrs,
especially the expense incurred in hiring
bands and vocalists TO perform at farm
ers meetings. A bill was introduced in
the House to change the manner OF elect
ing the secretary, SO that he would be
chosen by the legislature, and not by the
Board OF Agriculture. This bin was de-
featsd, but it came within tive votes OF
. passage. Now, the attack on the
manner IN which the affairs Of the Board
OF Agriculture was conducted has bsen
renewed. although not in the Legislature.
This time tfie matter is brought 90 public
notice through the columns OF the Maine
Farmer. The Farmer, in the number
which was issued this evening, contains
a long communication signed by Hon.
q A. Gilbert, who is himself an ex-sec-
retary OF the Board OF Agriculture. Mr..
Gilbert, in his communication, speaks of
the bands and other features of farmers
work which were discussed two years
ago, but MIR. Gilbert goes farther and
takes up other matters. His letter comes
Just on the eve OF tine annual meeting
of the Board, and Is calculated to make
stir. Mi. Gilbert says;
At this time, when the Board of Aeri-
culture is about to ask for enlarged
duties, IL is not out OF place to look into
some of the business responsibilities OF
the Board.
The Board appoints ite secretary as its
chief executive, and "may prescribe his
duties in part Hence the Board as
sumes responsibility for that officer in all
or his transactions
Section OF the laws creating the
Board and defining It's duties, provides
for holding institutes and employing ex-
d srts, lecturers, reporter, etc., to en-
hanne their usefulness. The sum OF
s.. 500 is authorized to meet their ex-
penses. In the report OF the secretary to
che Board for 1899, there is NO statement
made OF the disposit tion OF this sum OF
money farther than TO state that "the
expenses OF the institutes were paid from
this appropriation. In 1898 the report
of the secretary TO the Board states that
the cost of the Institutes for the year was
81, ,O6S. IS, and that the cost OF the dairy
WAS S773 81. Presumably,
though not so statsd, the expenses OF the
dairy convention vera in addition 60 the
institutes, making a total outlay author
ICED In the provisions OF the law OF ST.
842 rs. or q tritie more than half Of the
monay furnished by the state TO bs used
for this and for no other purposes 10
would seem from this presentation that
the institute service contemplated In the
law was being defaulted of about one
half of its rightful share. what has been
done with tine other half Is nowhere
stated in the report, though the law re-
quires that the secretary shall annually
present to the governor and counc1 "a
report OF the doings OF the Board, etc
with what show OF reason can the Board
no before the Legislature for an increase
Of money for farmers institutes when
nearly one half of that now provided is
peryerted from it's lawful use and gone,
there is nothing to show where.
Furthermore. in the report made by the
secretary OF the Board to the legislature
of 1889. on cali of that body for detailed
list OF expenditures, there are many Items
that cannot meet the endorsement OF
eighteen good and true memhers OF the
Board, commissioned with the Important
trust OF laying out public monsy for
specific purpose. without attemnting 70
10 through the list, we call attention
only TO few entries. CeciliaD Quar-
tette and their board, $51; piano and
singing, $86.25; music state Fair even.
ing meeting, S46; band, S53; service male
ouartette, $50; expenses of showing fancy
display OF butter at New York, $Ss 20;
and still others of the same kind. It Is
hardly to be believed that the Board
of Agriculture can successfully claim that
such expenditure OF money appropriated
for institute work Is wise and iudicious
use of the money.
There are also charges Of q. NJ. Gowsil
for testing milk at state and New Eng
land fairs, $al. 10, 5000, and SO 26. by
what sort OF Iegeruenatn does the appro-
priation OF the state for farmers insti-
tntes become holden To any individuaf