River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-01-13
REPORT ON THE FAIR.
CRITICISM OF STATE EXHIBITION
is GENERAL-LEGiSI
ARE NOT MENTIONED.
BARRED AT ELECTIONS
Attorney General Gives DECISION
On important Questions
Senator Hall Declared
Ineligible.

st. Paul.-Entirely too much money
is spent by the state fair managers
for special amusement features and
not enough for procuring and encour-
aging agricultural exhibits, according
to the report of the special state fair
board of audit, submitted to Governor
A. o. Eberhart. The committee ap-
pointed by Governor Eberhart on leg
islative authority, is made up OF f. M.
Stacy, deputy state public examiner,
J. o. A. Preus. the governors execu-
tive clerk, and E. II. Erickson, OF the
state treasurers Office.
In addition to criticism of the fair
managers for not sufficiently encour'
aging the agricultural interests at the
fair the report calls attention to the
pass system and recommends that no
passes be issued to others than en-
ployes, exhibitors and newspaper men
on fair assignment.
Furlong Not Mentioned.
No mention was made of the special
salary paid John J. Furlong, mem.
Der of the board of managers, for lob
bying work during the last legislative
session, or of payments to legislators
for work during fair week, but the
managers are criticized for paying
Earl G.. May, press agent, $50 week
for period after the fair was ended,
and for paying $3.50 to w. G. He'll
bron, deputy public examiner, who
was paid for his work in installing
a set of books in the fair office. The
board says the books should have
been installed as a part of the public
examiners duty.
The board finds the financial ac-
counts of the fair in excellent cond1-
ton. An inventory of the value of the
property of the association, compiled
by Secretary G. N. Cosgrove, is given.
The value is given as $1,278, 126.4O.
Attention is called to the fact that
the entire premium list at the last
fair amounted to $30,763, of which
$2,1O0 was paid by Independent asso-
Citations, and that the disbursements
for amusement features, not including
$4,000 for race prizes, amounted to
S29,258. With the superintendent OF
amusement's salary this item comes
to more than $4,000. The board says
the amusement features are great at
fractions at the fair, but that more
money should be spent in encouraging
the agricultural features.
Public Sale Advocated.
The public sale of all space privi-
leges is advocated, and although the
board says there is little cause for
complaint, attention is called to com.
plants of farmers that favoritism has
been shown in exhibition space allOt-
ments.
The board recommends that all
members of the board of managers
should present sub vouchers for their
expense accounts. The report says
that the adjustment of the pass sys-
tenn would increase the income at the
fair so per cent.
Attorney Generals Rulings.
Attorney General Simpson made a
ruling which may materially affect or
even determine the result of the cleo
ton of a president of the State Agri-
cultural society.
The opinion was given in response
to a request made by President B. F..
Nelson. Among other things, the opin-
ion eliminates States Senator Oar Hall
of Buffalo Lake from membership on
the board Mr.. Nelson put three ques-
tons to the attorney general:
First-Can a life member of the
State Agricultural society vote by
proxy?
Second-Can county agricultural
societies, which have not held a meet
ing during The past year, have vote
in the State Agricultural society?
Third-Can a member of the state
legislature hold an office on the state
fair board?
All questions were answered by the
attorney general in the negative.