The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-11
Voice Of the eople



10 the Editor OF The Times Disnatcb.
Slr-Thcrc has been much clnmor
ana comment among certain classes
VI people In regard TO Senate bill NO,
90 known as the Rinchart BIZ. 1t
mas hocn circulated ali over the Stato
by men drawing salaries ana expcnseX
bnld by government funds that this
o!n was intended 10 abolish demon
straton work and the boys corn
CLUBS. Farmers have been begged ana
chtreated To write to their Senators
ana Representatives 10 save the demon
stration work and the boys corn clubs
Of the State.
If y9m will read carefully this bin
you will see ana bo convinced that
TINS work has been carefully protected
ana a,r provided FOR in said bill. Tho
ana land owners in his county. The
betterinent of the agricultural condl-
tons OF the State has always been
GEAR to his heart He is. however,
thoroughly convinced that virginia Is
a board ridden state. 1t Is estimated
mat we are spending In Virginia
about S25.o0h for hotel and travelling
expenses Of members of tho various
boards. For the development OF tho
agricultural interests alone we havo
the following boards: Tho state Board
OF ARricrlture. the Virginia Polytcch-
nc board, crop pest board State live
stock sanitary board nursery insnec-
ton hoard. truck experiment board.
and united Agricultural board AS /
Understand the situation. the only
functions OF the united agricultural
board which arc important and
mcritorions arc those affecting the
conduct OF experimental station work
IN connection with public schools of
the state, ana 1t must lie apparent tina,
this work properly comes within the
sphere OF the Constitution for tho
state Board OF Education. The amend
ca bii! leaves with the hoard of super
visors of the several counties authority
10 make appropriations out OF the
county funds for experimental and
cmonstratiof work. There is no rea-
propriations of $4,000 each to the Com.
missioner OF Agriculture at Blacks
burg and tho State Experimental STA
ton, provided for in the original act
20 be paid for out OF general funds OF
the State. and TO be expended for ex-
pcrimental. demonstration and edu-
chtionnl work along agricultural lines
should not be made directly to the
PROPOSES to repeal those parts of the
original act which provide for these
appropriations to be handled By the
united board, and leaves IL optional
with the Legislature to make such aD-
preparation as II may deem necessary.
This, 1T seems to me, Is much better
than to have these appropriations reach
their final destination by the round
original act. 1t is certainly better
for the agricultural interests OF the
state that the departments which
finally have this work IN charge SHOULD
not be hampered by the supervision
of cumbersome body. such as tho
united board: SO far as tho appropria-
ton of $4,000 out of tbs general funds
OF the State to be used by the State
Board of Agricultural Institutes ia
concerned, such appropriation is not
necessary. and will not be asked for
by the board
am firmly convinced that there ia
no reason for the existence of the
United Agricultural Board. and that
all tho work proposed 10 be done by
this board is now being done, or can
better be done. by the regularly con-
stituted agencies of the State. Most OF
the functions proposed TO be performed
by the board are now being exercised
by the State Board of Agriculture, and
the multiplicity of boards can only
result In confusion and consequent
deteriorat ton OF the service rendered
the public. The united board Is au-
thorized under section 6 of the orig
inal act to exercise certain supervision
over and to interfere with the work of
the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, the
Virginia Agricultural Experiment Sta
ton. tho State Board OF Education.
and the Commissioner and State Board
of Agriculture, and It may at its dis
cretlon divert the fund appropriated
for the purposes for which they were
! appropriated and use them for any
other purposes authorized by said act,
and in my opinion 1t Is unwisc to
allow any board such powers. particu
larly Il board constituted as The united
board and containing among other
members one who is not citizen Of
this State. The various State agencies
and the boards which arc co ordinated
to n certain extent. placed under the
management and control of the united
board. arc directly responsible for the
conduct OF their departments to the
! Legislature and TO the people, and 1t
Is, therefore. unjust to those depart
In ta1