The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-05-11
CAUST|C REPLY
Of MR.. N RAE TO
HIS CRITICS
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
REPLIES TO ATTACKS ON HIM
WITH REFERENCE TO PURE
FOOD MEASURES NOW BEFORE
THE LEGISLATURE.
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL.

SPECIAL To THE JOOHNAL.
Tallahassee, May 1o.-In reply to
criticisms OF his position with refer
ence to pure food measures now before
the legislature, Commissioner of AgTi-
culture w. A. McRae today issued the
following statement:
Section Is of the constitution, as
will be found on page 10 of the general
statutes Of Florida, reads as follows:
The commissioner of agriculture shall
perform such duties in relation to agrf-
culture as may be prescribed by law;
shall have supervision of all matters
pertaining to the public land under
regulation prescribed by law and shall
keep the bureau of immigration. He
shall also have supervision of the state
prison and shall perform such other
duties as may be prescribed by law
when II became necessary for the
legislature to create the office of state
chemist, said office being for the pur-
pose OF aiding the agricultural depart
menf OF the state of Florida it had to
be placed under the direction and SUI
-pervision Of the commissioners of agTf-
culture. The first reference to the
state chemist. shown In our laws, Is
In chapter % and found On page 531 OF
the general statutes and reads as fol-
lows: The governor snail appoint
for a term of four years, and until his
successor is appointed and qualified.
He shall be an expert chemist and
have his Office in the capitol Of the
state Of Florida, and his duties shall be
as hereinafter provided. The governor
may appoint an assistant state chemist
when necessary Section 1862 says:
The state chemist and assistant state
chemist shall be inspectors Of fertil-
-
direction and supervision Of the COM
missioner of agriculture
The next reference to the state
chemist is found in chapter 5452 of the
general statutes of Florida and reads
as follows: The state chemist and his
assistant shall be Inspectors Of com
meTcial feeding stuffs. They shall be
under the general direction and super
vision of the commissioner of agricul-
tbre.' This has reference to the duties
CT the state chemist with reference to
commercial feeding stuffs. In the
present food and drugs law, chapter
1922, acts of 1911. which law was made
in accordance with section IS OF the
constitution as above cited, and in ac-
cordance with the two chapters above
quoted, wherein the state chemist and
his assistant are under the general di
rection and supervision of the com
missioner of agriculture, 1t will be seen
that all responsibility for conducting
the business of the department of agri-
culture and enforcement of al, laws
pertaining to its operation is specific
ally placed upon the commissioner OF
agriculture.
1.-THE state chemist Is recognized only |
in subordinate capacity. When the
present law was passed by the legis-
lature of 1911, it was 30 delayed that
it had TO be rushed through at the last
moment, and this was done by the |
state chemist without the knowledge
or consent of the commissioner of
the opportunity to read and discuss
the proposed law. The state chemist i
simply took advantage of the oppor- |
tunity to override the commissioner of |
agriculture in furtherance Of his per-
sonal ends. Out of the goodness of
his heart Mr. McLin submitted to the |
humiliating injustice for the sake of
harmony in the working of the depart |
ment and the general good of the |
state.
$50 with the preparation of house |
nj No. 15s. introduced into the pres
ent legislature by Mr.. Stanford of
Csceola county, the state chemist, af- |
ter numerous meetings with persons |
apparently interested in the law. with |
the aid of an attorney, drafted the /
above mentioned bill, and without the |
knowledge or consent, or even without
notifying the commissioner of agricul-
ture of the drawing of the bill, and
giving him the opportunity to read it |
and inform himself of its merits had
1t introduced with the statement that
the commissioner of agriculture en-
dorsed and approved ii. The commits
sioner of agriculture never saw isis
hill till after its introduction knew
nothing OF its provisions ap.. any state
ment to the contrary is untrue.
Under the pretense Of superior wis
dom and experience in direction of
state affairs the state chemist, through
the aid Of the press seeks to create
the impression that he, in a subordi-
nate capacity. should be and is SUI
! erior to the execute head of the de-
partment of agriculture who is con-
stitutiona, officer of the state.
Case of Selfish Ambition.
"clearly this is a case of man who,
,orped with the wisdom of his own
conceit. and at the same time being
consumed by the fires of a selfish am
bitton. which so far 'overleaps itself |
+bat tr1lfh. common courtesy and de-
ceufy are thrown to the winds. Per
haA the state chemist would like an
;,,,-sstieation of the motives which so
suddenly induced him to change his
mind as to the retention of the pre-
servatiye clause in the new bill thouse
bill 1880.
"The bill before the senate which
has So aroused the eyes OF inc state
chemist is not substitute eh-' out