Mexico Missouri message., 1904-06-23
UNABLE TO FIND
SOClETYS FUND
Missouri Horticulturalists Appoint a
Committee to Trace 1t.

st. Louis: The closing session Of
the Missouri Horticultural Society was
stormy one. The approval of the
treasurers report started the row, and
II was a warm one, that adjournment
did not end. A legislative investiga-
ton will probably be asked as a re-
suit of the disclosures. AS the society
Is a ward of the State, conducted at
its expense and its present source OF
income is the appropriation by the
State Legislature and membership
fees.
The society has been holding ses-
sions in the Horticultural building,
Worlds Fair grounds, each forenoon
during last week. During the row
some pointed questions were asked,
and It was alleged that the books OF
the society had been kept in a loose
manner. At times five or six mem
bcrs were on their feet at once, clam
oring for recognition.
1t was disclosed that there was a
fund OF over $1,000 belonging to the
society which was not in the treas
urer's hands and for which neither he
nor anyone else had made report TO
the society, although the constitution
and bylaws of the society require that
the treasurer alone handle all funis,
no matter from what source obtained.
INQUIRIES failed to develop from what
source this fund was obtained nor was
the present custodian and disburser
of IT,
Resolutions were adopted expressing
the confidence of the society in the
integrity of l.. A. Goodman, secretary,
and w. G. Gano, treasurer
A motion prevailed that the presi-
dent appoint a committee of three
to fully investigate concerning the
fund in question, ascertain the source
from which it was obtained what al
ditions had been made TO II, what dis
bursements made and by whom, trac'
ing it from its incipiency down to the
present date. This committee having
the power to take possession OF the
fund in question, at once turning II
over to the treasurer as the proper
custodian.
Another motion prevailed that the
system of bookkeeping be changed at
once. and the records kept in bust
ness-like manner.
Saturdays session was the last one
OF the meeting. Among the papers on
the programme was one by the presi-
dent, Doctor J. c. Written, of the
University OF Missouri, who recon-
mended more extensive planting of
shrubbery native to Missouri
Otto Widman told of the destruction
of nsect-eating birds and the effect
of their destruction upon the fruit cul-
ture. In the course Of his remarks he
said it was estimated that the agriCul.
tural and horticultural crops of Mis-
souri, were worth $160,000,0O0 annual
ly and that insects destroyed about
one-tenth of this sum each year. The
protection of insect-eating birds would
save a great proportion of this sum to
Missouri farmers.
Mr.. Widman was followed by w. ].
Blakely, president Missouri Audubon
Society, who told the needs of the
legislation for the protection of birds.
The following received special pre-
miums for prize strawberries, the to-
tai amount of the prizes being $3.50:
w. F. Bower, Monet, Mo-; A. T. Mel
son, Lebanon; H. w. Jenkins, Boon
Vile; F. S. Katherman, Warrensburg;
Charles Steinman, Dalton; Henry
Schnell, Glasgow; J. r. Hall, War
rensburg; Henry Crecelius, MELVILLE,
and A. ]. Russell, Butterfeld. The
largest single prize, amounting to S12,
was given to J. F. Hall of Warrens-
burg, for the best collection of ten
varieties of strawberries.