Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-06-28
KoINER ANSWERS BROWN.

Commissioner Koiner, OF the depart
ment of agriculture, has prepared a re-
ply to the charges Of ]. Thompson
Brown, of Bedford, in opening his cam
psign for the place now held by Mr..
Koiuer, Mr.. Koiner says:
What Mr.. Brown knows about pract-
cal agriculture l cannot say, but he
seems to base his chief objection to me
on the fact that l am not . bookkeeper
or an expert accountant. Having been
a practical farmer sll my life and con-
ceiviug that the Office of commissioner
of agriculture embraced other and eveu
more important duties, / frankly con-
Tess devoted myself chiefly to what |
regarded as the broad needs of the
farmers of the State and the methods
and means by which those needs could
be best Supplied.
The books of this department showed
all the transactions Of the department
and were examined and approved every
three months by the auditing committee
of the board, of which committee Mr..
Beverley, who is now opposing me, was
continuous member during the past
nine years. At every meeting OF the
board this auditing committee submitted
their reports, which are on file in this
office. The system of bookkeeping used
in the department WAS satisfactory to
the auditing committee aud to the boari
and had no reason to suppose that the
system was not satisfactory until the
Investigation and report of the expert
accountants employed by the legislative
committee to examine the accounts OF
the different State departments. These
pointed out the defects of the system and
the committee criticised it holding both
the board and myselfresponsible These
sxpert accountants recommended a new
system for keeping the accounts OF this
department, which Immediately adopt
ed. The legislature gave me authority
to employ al expert bookkeeper, which
| promptly did.
This legislative committee in its re-
port to the legislature stated that there
was no uniformity in the systems of
bookkeeping of the diff rent departments
of the state government, which they ex'
smined, but stated House document No.
6, page a.: "It is a source of peculiar
pride to this committee to he able to
point to the honesty of the States Off
cials and the integrity and fidelity with
which they have managed the financial
affairs of their Offices. 1t is believed that
few, if any, of the States of the Union
can exhibit such uniformly honest ad-
ministration as Virginia. When 1t is re-
membered that under the sntiquated sys-
tenn of accounting practiced in the State
offices that defalcations might occur and
the evidence thereof be successfully hid
den for long periods of time it but empbs-
sizes the honesty Of purpose and integrity
OF our officials"
This committee further states In re-
fering to the examination of the depart
ment OF agriculture House Document,
page G): # is pleasure to note that
80 far as books reveal, there have been
no shortage in this department, snd they
futher stated "Undtr the advice OF our
accountants, this department has adopted
a greatly improved system OF account
ing"
The report of this legislative commit
tee was adopted by the legislature and
that body unanimously passed q bill
which gave me authority to carry on the
work OF the department IS 1t should be
done, and the passage of this bill by II.
last legislature was the stamp of let
lative approval upon my work as &C d.
missioner of agriculture and full v:i
dication of my course.
It would have been more in keeping
with fair play in Mr.. Brown to have
stated all the facts in the case, both prC
and con, and not to have selected whs
| he thinks will serve his purposes ant
| left the balance quoted heretofore anC
commendatory to myself unsaid.
| Mr.. Brown refers to the lack OF hSv
mony between myself and the board o
Horticulture. It is true that at on
| time there was lack of harmony witt
some of its members, but it is also tru'
and a significant fact that the inhar
monious members of the board, who ar,
now opposing my reelection, failed o
re-sppointmeut and have been succeeded
BY progressive, broadminded gentlemen
eho are in harmony with myself, 81
that the board, as now constituted, ant
myself are in strict accord in all tn
workings of the department of sgricul
ture and are using our best efforts to pro
mote the cause OF agriculture In to
state.
Ibave done my best to serve the goo
people of Virginis during the past TEL
J years in Office. / feel that with the e1
perience of the past, AN better quail
fed now than ever to serve them sccepl
ably in the future. The people of Vii
ginia are familiar with my work, and
leave my cause 10 their hands.