Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-08-14
SMALL WAR IN
STATE SOCIETY
Horticultural Experts lncsns-
cd at Col. Readings Stand
(From the NEWS Corresponds

tfTOm the NE WIS COTTeSpOTh6Ht.I
Trenton, Aug. 14:-Oficers and
members of the New Jersey State
Horticultural Society and of the
State Board of Agriculture are up in
arms because, notwithstanding the
last legislature passed a law permit
ting the horticulturists to use the
state armories for their annual
meeting, Colonel Horace M. Reading
has notified the executive board of
the state society that a fee of $500
will be charged for the use of the
Second Regiment Armory in this
city. The annual meeting and ex-
hibit of the society is to be held
December 9, 10 and II and the pre-
liminary arrangements r being
made. Following the passage of the
law in question it was not thought
there would be any trouble in secur-
ing the armory for the purpose.
Formerly the meetings and exhibits
were held in the assembly chamber
at the State House, but the necessity
of showing fruit tree spraying ap-
paratus and the growth of the ex-
hibits has forced the abandonment
of the chamber as a meeting place.
George E. DeCamp, Of the execu-
tive board, said today the society
could not think of paying $500 for
the armory, as the entire fund for
the meeting is only 5000. Unless
the sum demanded is greatly reduced
the society will be forced to meet in
some other city, as Trenton has no
other place large enough.
There is great indignation among
fr,,it oromoro rapara11y at tho ocfion
of the Second Regiment authorities.
They claim that the armories are
state property and so should be open
for use for such purposes as this.
They point out thai the meeting and
exhibit of the Horticultural Society
are for the general good Of the state
through the improvement Of fruit
growing and, therefore, there should
be cooperation on the part of the
military authorities. The fruit men
do not hesitate to gay that the Sec
ond Regiment officers have shown
a very grasping disposition.
Two laws were passed by the last
legislature designed to open the
'armories for such exhibits as that
proposed by the hor~ticulturists. Both
are now found to contain "iokers'
which, on technicalities, will permit
the charging of a fee for this pur-
pose. The first act is Chapter PA
of the Laws of 1912. 1t is can act
authorizing the use of armories for
the promotion of agriculture and
horticulture and for exhibition pur-
poses by associations Incorporated to
encourage and promote the scientific
breeding and raising of poultry and
pigeons in th<s state, upon paying
reasonable compensation for such
use"
This statute provides that the
armories may be used by the State
Board of Agriculture for its annual
or other meetings, and for exhibition
purposes by any duly incorporated
association approved by the State
Board of Agriculture, and having for
its purpose the promotion of agrl-
culture and horticulture and the
scientific breeding of poultry and
pigeons. 1t Is provided that such
use shall be subject to the payment
of reasonable compensation "as
shall be agreed upon by and between
such commanding officer and such
association Some take the view
that this fee is not intended to apply
at all to the state boards but only
to outside incorporated associations.
The other act is Chapter 247. 1t
was approved the same day as the
other one. but the chapter number
would Indicate that it was approved
later and, therefore, repeats the
other one. This act provides that
the armories may be lawfully used
for meetings of the State Board Of
Agriculture, State Board of Horti-
culture (there is no such state board,
it should be the State Horticultural
Society and the State Grange, Sub
ject to such regulations as may be
prescribed by said commanding Of
f1cer."