Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-02
SURFACE TOSEE
GOV. BRUMBAUGH
Wants to Know Why He Is
to Give Up Place; Saunders
Formally Chosen

/
office longer than expected by the
State Commission of Agriculture after
its members had read the law and
discussed matters with the scientist,
will see Governor Brumbaugh without
delay about the request for his
resignation.
DR.. Surface said last night that
even If he had to quit the depart
ment he would be a candidate for re-
appointment two years hence and
would keep an eye on things
Prof. ]. G.. Saunders, the Wisconsin
scientist, has been notified that the
place is his If he wants it and all that
is needed is the Governors approval
of the dismissal of Surface and of the
selection of Saunders.
In statement issued last night DIR.
Surface said:
Il was outside the Capitol Building
starting home about s o'clock Monday
evening when / was informed that the
Secretary of Agriculture wanted to see
me. l went to his office and was
greeted in a friendly manner by the
members of the Agricultural Commits
sion then in session, and was told by
the Secretary that they had called me
in to make a statement I said in the
absence of charges or definite COM
plants l could not assume specific al
legations, but talked concerning the
work of the Bureau of Zoology. 1 out
lined the character of the service that
it has developed for our citizens dur
ing the past II years, showing that
during this time it grew from q one
room office, with one employe, to six
rooms with nine indoor employees, and
twenty-five field men. These field
men were educated by myself in lee
lures and practical work to know the
pests of field and orchard crops and
how to suppress them, and also how to
care for orchards. There is not one of
them concerning whom I have not
received highly commendatory letters,
and there has been but little COM
plant. We have in Pennsylvania 1900
demonstration and supervision or
chards, which is more than the total
number in all other States and civilized
countries combined. We are waiting
for a larger appropriation so that the
contemplated service in these can be
developed.
In the office the mail has always
been given first attention. and it
amounts to over 1000 letters per year.
These must be accurate, practical and
complete. About 400 pages of original
bulletin matter per year have been
published. This l dictate and correct.
The bulletins up-to-dat now are in
the hands of the printer. Others are
IN preparation which should be
brought out.
I urged the members of the Com
mission and the Secretary of Agricul-
ture to offer suggestions upon which 1
could act in the progress of the work
OF the Bureau. I showed how we had
co-operated with all possible factors
/ for better agriculture and horticulture
in Pennsylvania. Among these have
been the State College, the Experiment
I Station, the County Farm Advisers,
the Federal Government, etc. I said
that 1t was my desire to receive criti-
cal suggestions, especially from all
superior officers, and work in harmony
with all, but there have not been no
CRITICISMS made to me upon any fea-
ture of the work of the Bureau. I ask
ed for questions bearing upon any pos
slble or presumed charge or criticisms.
and stated I stood ready to explain
everything clear and satisfactory to
the Commission or the Secretary, but
no questions were asked. The meeting
was decidedly harm onious, and I was,
therefore, surprised to learn the next
morning that I had been dismissed
with notice of two weeks time.
Il regret that intimation has been
made that l wish to have charges or
criticisms concealed. This is mistake
as l feel it important for the citizens
of this State that they should know
who are my enemies and why they are
so. /, therefore, ask that the Secre-
tary of Agriculture and the Governor
kindly announce time and place for
public hearing when all interested
persons may be present, and in the alb
sence of charges, which am assured
do not exist, if there be any criticisms
against me these can be made and
explained. 1t is not just to the pub
lie that they should be left under the
impression that l have anything to
conceal l have gone through three
nf a. 10
tude in public life, and each time have
been eXonerated completely 1t can
be seen that | would have learned to
avoid all things upon which charges
can be made. In my enthusiastic la
as practical naturalist l may have
made mistakes, but do not know now
what these are. and If reports of them
may have reached the ears of the
members of the Commission l shall be
glad to know of them, and to correct
them if possible, and avoid them in
the future. At least the public has a
right to know, and l do not object to
every private and public act of my
life being made known.
Il am glad that l am on friendly
terms with all my superior and in
ferior officers, and l do not wish it
inferred that there is any trouble be-
tween us, or anything that l would
have concealed.
nav manly ehSdSelnenIS IN tne
near future which l shall keep as
carefully as possible. I shall continue
as long as possible to serve the public,
and they may fully expect to see me
in this work in the future I am quail
fed for it and enjoy it, and know when
l give good and acceptable service to
mankind. l have not been shown
why l should resign. There are pow
ers that can put me out, and there will
be powers that can put me in again.
| shall have no 4uss with any of them,
but shall try to serve God and man
in a peaceful, industrious, faithful,
honest and conscientious manner"
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