Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-17
FROM
AGRI. C0MR. VIM.
7. GUPT|LL'S REPORT

William T. Guptill Of Topsham, COM
missioner of agriculture, in his annual
report submitted to the Governor and
Council Wednesday, advocates the
election Of the commissioner Of agri-
culture by direct vote Of the people
for the same length Of term for which
the Governor and State auditor are
chosen. Commissioner Guptill says in
his report:
"A few years ago. within the memory
Of many young men, the Department
Of Agriculture Of the State Of Maine
consisted Of one desk and one man and
was slowed away in the attic Of the
old State House. AS time progressed,
one bureau after another has been add
ed to it until now it's duties embrace
the supervision Of every agricultural
activity and to this, also, has been
added the inspection and supervision
Of every kind Of food consumed.
Among the laws in this department
that interest the consumer may be
mentioned the Bureau of Weights and
Measures; also the Inspection Bureau.
This latter, as I have previously said,
applies to the inspection of fertilizers,
commercial foods, fungicides and in
secticides, and drug and food inspec-
ton. The net weight law-that little
inoffensive law, which means so much
which says that all packages of food
that sell for more than five cents shall
have plainly stated upon it's wrapper
the net weight or quantity. is consum-
ers' law, ard applies to butter, candy,
bread, If wrapped,-oysters, canned
goods and all articles Of food in a
package. This department. therefore,
works not only through its dairy in
structor to produce milk, but through
the dairy inspector who sees that the
milk is such as the cows give and not
manufactured or adulturated. The
apple packing law is also a consumers
law.
ut, therefore, becomes evident that
every man in the State of Maine.
whether in city or country, is interest
ed in the Department Of Agriculture
and the one who administers it. 1t is
at the present time the largest depart
ment and has the largest number Of
employees of any department around
the State House and its activities are
the widest 1t seems reasonable, there
fore, that this Office should be an elect
i've Office, the same as the Governor
and the State auditor, and should be
elected for the same term as the Gov
ernor and the auditor.
$50 far as the duties Of the Office are
concerned, there is nothing but that
any man Of intelligence and decision,
with a sense Of justice can administer,
even from the start. In the last eight
years we have seen four men success
lively, commissioners, and while there
has been more or less cry at different
times against each one, it has been
rather Of a political nature than other
WISE It Is my belief, therefore, that
the Office should be made elective and
Of the same term Of Office as the Gov
ernor and it's operations should be
rigidly scrutinized.
Il was very much surprised to learn
when I attended the meeting at Wash
ington, where the commissioners Of
agriculture formed themselves into a
national association, that practically
every large agricultural state in the
United States elects its commissioner
Of agriculture by ballot. In fact. the
ratio Of the states that elect their
commissioners by direct vote and those
that have been chosen in some other