The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-26
BEVERLEY HITS
At COMMISSIONER

| Troubles In the State Department of
Agriculture apparently Will never
cease, some new disturbing element
! arising between the board and the com-
missioner nearly every week.
/ The latest development IL practically
| a charge by Mr.. 5. II. c. Beverley.
Ivice-prcsident OF the board. that Com-
missioner Koiner deceived the mem
| bcrB In the matter OF his retirement
from the position OF Statistican for tho
! United States Department Of Agricul-
/ ture on tho part OF Virginia to the en-
/ tent that he read to the board an ac-
ceptaEcc OF HIS resignation contained
| In q telegram. OF the scnding OF which
/ the records at Washington show no
trace.
j Mr.. Koiner fatty denies this state
] ment, and declares that the telegram
| he read to the board was received by
him from the United States Department
OF Agriculture. and that he has on flo
| In his Office letter of the same dato
from Secretary James Wilson. of the
department. formally accepting his
| resignation.
| Goes Into ID -tnils.
Just what IS the occasion for bring
ling the matter to public notice at this
time cannot be explained. unless it is
i owing to the fact that the Adams
/ Churchman bill restoring the original
powers OF tho commissioner appears
on fair way to adoption; but how-
! ever this may be. Mr.. Beverley was
/ not aversc TO discussing the subject
! freely when seen at Murphy's last
night, He declared that at meeting
OF tho board held here on January 10.
1907, II was decided that Mr.. Koiner
had vacated the Office OF commissioner
/ by accepting and holding place aa
Statistician for the United States De-
apartment OF Agriculture. and that upon
Ian opinion General Ander-
son lie had agreed to wire his resigna-
| tion OF the latter position to the Agrt-
cultural Department.
He stated further that Mr.. Koiner
sent the telegram, and that later during
| the meeting Of the board telegraph
messenger boy appeared IN the room
4 and the commissioner read a message
handed him, and placing 1t in his
pocket, declared st is all right; the
department has wired the acceptance
offmy resignation.
Continuing, Mr.. Beverley asserted
4 that In the following August he and
! Messrs. Heater and Eggborn, compos-
ling the executive committee of tho
4 board, went to Washington and called
A upon the statistician OF the Agricul-
l tural De partment for copies OF all tele-
grams passed between himself and tho
4 commissioner on the occasion named
Only three We're produced One was
/ the resignation Of Mr.. IIoiner; another
was from Mr.. Koiner, asking the statis-
! tician if The would see the commits
4 sioner in his office In Washington tho
following day, and the third a reply
saying that the statistician would be
i there, and would be glad to receive
the commissioner.
4 No Record of II.
Mr. Beverley claims that Chairman
lHcater has copies of these kilograms,
and that he was unable to find that
j one had been sent accepting Mi. Koin-
i ers resignation.
1t Is further alleged that Mr.. koincr
went to Washington on the following
day, and that though the records there
show that his resignation was accepted
4 as of January 18th, the day OH which
the board was in session here no record
S|of the telegram of acceptance read by
4 him could be found.
4 & The ylce-president of the board says
4 that Il. M. I<oiner was appointed statis-
tician to succeed the commissioner.
i III discussing the matter, he did not
|display any personal animoslty toward
Mr.. Koiner, though lie did appear TO
Il feel, rs do some other members OF tho
board, that5they had not had a fair
4 Showing with references5to what Is
known as the Adams Churchman bill
4 lnathe meantime, however, he is pre-
!. pairing a new measure to define the
powers and duties of tho board and
!. the commissioner which will be pre-.
! senteJ to- tho two houses of the Gem
ernl Assembly In a few days.
4 There may BIO a Legislative inquiry
! into the whole affair before the pres
!. lent session adJourns, though there has.
beell no direct resolution offered from.
, the floor OF either house on the sub
jcct, a memorial or resolution from
1.-THE Board of Agriculture Is in the
Hands OF the presiding officers of tile
two branches, asking that tho present
troubles DO adjusted and that the
!, Legislature clearly define tho respec-1
\ tive powers and duties OF the board
J, and the commissioner.
: Messrs. Churchman and Adams claim
\ That their bill win do all this, but 1t Is
/ |known that it4does not meet tho ap-=
4 proyal OF a majority OF the hoard, 4
. liz likely that tho Beverley bill wi be-
!, offered as Il substitute for the ono al
q ready reported TO the House, and that
$lthis will bring he contest sharply
J before tho twohranches,