The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-01-22
Would Substitute Horticul-
ture and Forestry for
Entomology Dept.
SYSTEM IS FARCIcAL
Allege Clerks Labeled Elk.
pcrts and that Salar-
les Are Juggled.
palladium Specially

(PaIIadtum SpcclaD
indianapolis. Jan. 21.-A hive OF
humble bees in the office OF b. w.
Douglass. state cntom0logist.-
agriculturalIstAcou not have caused
more excitement than did big, brawny
J. NJ. Zion. Clarks Hill. when he watt.
en- into the senate with his bill to abol.
ish the entomologist, and to create a
state department OF horticulture and
forestry.
Sturdy farmer Zion. with an honest
face that shines like kingdom-come.
wears half.length hob-nailed boots. in.
stead of rubber shoes. He Is here
with his scythe to NOW weeds. and
perhaps to cut into the seven.vei;ed
mystery which he believes hangs In
the doorway Of an office ON the third
floor of the state house.
Zion says n his bill is passed the
Democrats will have rolled $4,000
burden for horticulture. entomology,
forestry and agriculture or bee-inspec-
tion, into one much lighter load of
S13.5O0. besides improving the ser.
vice.
He charges the present cntomologist
with incapability and poor manage
ment, resulting In farcical admins
tration and the expenditure OF large
funds with little to show In actual re-
suits.
He alleges that clerks have been
labeled experts. that the inspectors
scarcely touch the country districts,
that baneful advice Is being handed
to orchard keepers. that big sums are
being spent on bees when Indiana Is
not a DECREASING state. that too much
has been spent ON photographs and
microscopic equipment. and that the
office IL the joke OF the fruit growers
OF the state.
Would Change Law.
Boosters Of lions bill. which was
introduced by Senator Jackson. say
Mason Niblack of vincennes. who was
instrumental In gaining an increase
in the appropriation for B. w. Doug
lass In 1909 from $500 to $4,000. is
now favoring the new bill to abolish
the department.
I'VE fail to find any evidence Of ex.
pert horticultural work. whatever"
said Zion.
Then he outlined the history OF the
office under the present administers.
ton showing what he says appears to
be farce and sham to the fruit grow.
ers Of the state.
b. w. Douglass got his appointment
under Governor Haniy and quit the
work Of expert photographer and real
estate agent to be the states expert
on orchard pests. lie was allowed g..
800 salary and $720 for a clerk. In
1909 through the influence of Mason
Niblack. Douglass's appropriation was
Increased to $4,000. The law was
amended 20 he might take up bee.in.
Spector. and the foul brood" alarm
was sounded throughout the state.
WithNan allowance Of 81 900 as bee In.
spector. his salary became $4,000. The
bring OF deputies and other expenses
fsnrth cost OF bee supervision up to
~. 900 annually. as estimated from q
summary Of expense warrants.
Reports OF the deputy inspectors
show there are only 5000 bee hives
In Indiana" said Zion. land the total
.value IL not equal to the cost of in
spcction for ono year.
Why u Does Not Pay.
Zion gave an interesting reason why
4 does not pay.
Indiana does not raise many bees
because the climate Is not suitable"
said no. During the warm spells in
winter the bees 60 out Of the hives
into the cold. and returning. are taken
lick and succumb with disease which