The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-01

JEFFERSON Hotel, Richmond a meetine
Oh tne state Farmers Institute before
which appeared Joseph D. Errleston
az mat time superintendent of public
.ns'rucuons, who outlined a plan for
me formation of what was afterwards
known as the United Agricultural
Board. Shortly after the Legislature
or 1910 assembled. a bill. known as
Governor Mann's Bill was in
troduced, and became a law, though
hot until IT had been amended. One
vital amendment l insisted upon and
that was to limit authority OF tho
United Board over agricultural funds
TO FUNDS specifically mentioned I'm tho
hill-viz., $4,000 to demonstration and
movable schools under the direction of
inc Blackshurg College Board; $4,000
10 experiment work, under the dircc-
ton or the director OF the Experi-
ment Station; $4,000 to institute
work under the direction of the
Commissioner OF Agriculture. In
company with Col. a. NJ. Bowman,
chairman Of the House Finance Com
mittee, l waited on Governor Mann.
and he finally consented to meet nv
objection. which he did by writing
In the following line: But nothing
In this act shall apply to any funds
except those mentioned in this act
rms suppose, covered the case.
was especially anxious TO have the au-
thority OF the United Board over funds
specially defined. for the bill contained
me following paragraph, which CON
ferred remarkable powers: If IL shall
appear to the board that any OF the
work required by this act. or which
snail be prescribed by the board is not
being faithfully and efficiently per-
formed by the agency to which II Is
assigned, the board shall ar once In
quire into the matter. and has the
power TO take action, assigning said
work 10 some other agency, or in any
other way that may seem best for the
faithful and efficient performance OF
SAID work. Under the requirements OF
inc Dill, the board met and appointed
n committee OF which Dr. Barringer
was made chairman, TO draft rules and
regulations carrying out the provisions
OF the bill. The committee reported
three sets of rules. for tho govern
ment. respectively. OF the three several
agencies. 1t was made clear at the
very outset that each department pro-
posed to preserve Its autonomy while
ut the same time cooperating so far
Is the bill allows.
When the rule protecting the funds
and the activity Of the State Board OF
Agriculture was under consideration
the Governor objected most siren
uously. For the first time the repre-
sentatives of the regular State Board
realized that IT was the evident intent
Board and control its funds. The board
had IL out with the Governor then and
there. 1t did not yield an inch and
the Governor retired from the meeting
upon adjournment realizing that he
had been defeated. From that moment
he lost all interest in the united board
except as it related to demonstration
work.
The absurd spectacle was witnessed
at recurring meetings OF the United
Board, held several times year, of
grown busy men from various points
in the State assembled at the public
expense TO listen to- a report OF an
agent employed by the United States
Department of Agriculture, over which
we had no control, and who made his
reports weekly to that department:
our report being byplay. do not
recall that tho work OF any other agri-
cultural agency was discussed at any
of these meetings. The Governor pre-
sided. He called for the demonstra-
tion reports. They were read. We ad-
journed and went home.
Still determined to have his way
the Governor. when the Legislature OF
1912 assembled. recommended in his
several messages measures designed to
dismember the regular Agricultural
Board. reducing 1T to practically moth
ing more than an auditing committee
The Governor recommendation fell on