21. George Rhey, Millwood, Westmoreland county, At large. J. A. Paxson, Philadelphia, Additional Members Executive Committee. (By election.) Abner Rutherford, Paxton, Dauphin county, Ex-Presidents. Frederick Watts, Carlisle, Cumberland county, Recording Secretary. D. W. Seiler, Harrisburg, Dauphin county, 73 votes. The auditors appointed to examine the vouchers of the Treasurer reported as follows, which, on motion, was confirmed: John B. Rutherford, Treasurer in account with Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society: Dr. Cr. 1881. By rent of office and grounds, Harrisburg and Philadelphia, $705 00 90 00 By expenses of Executive Committee, 2,637 93 29. To proceeds sale $1,000 United States bonds, 2. To proceeds sale $7,000 United States bonds, 25. To proceeds sale $1,000 United States bonds, -. To cash. single admissions, memberships, and exhibition at Philadelphia, 1,228 50 By printing and advertising, ... 1,679 18 8,413 12 By premiums and medals, 15,256 91 1,180 00 By superintendence, police, watchmen, and labor, By transportation, 38,727 86 By hay and feed, Entry fees, exhibitors' tickets, &c., 2,289 50 By tents, lights, fuel, and music, From concessions and other sources, 2,785 03 By insurance and Grand Army, Cash from dog show, 2,882 61 By expense of President's office, Donation from Pennsylvania Railroad Com pany, 2,000 00 By expense of Secretary's office, By expense of Treasurer's office, Donation from Thirteenth and Fifteenth Street By preparation of grounds, lumber, &c, By salary of Recording Secretary, By Reading railroad tickets on hand, The committee appointed to audit the account of the Treasurer report that we have examined the account and find it correct as stated, and a IRA TRIPP, Chairman NIEMAN, on resigning the chair, addressed the newly-elected President. In declaring the result of the election, Mr. NIEMAN said: Mr. Wilhelm, it gives me great pleasure to announce your unanimous election to the presidency of this Society. Your long connection with it as an officer, the great interest you have always manifested in its success, and the time you have so cheerfully given in attending to such duties as have been assigned you, assures us that we have no need to fear for the success of your administration. For myself, personally, permit me to say that this choice of the meeting of the Society is particularly gratifying, as our personal relations have been of long standing, and of the most cordial nature. Permit me again to congratulate you upon your elevation to this important position. Mr. PRESIDENT. I thank you very much for your complimentary remarks in my behalf, as well as the members of the Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society, for the honor conferred. Have always been interested in the interests of agriculture, and the success of this Society, which has done so much to promote the interests of agriculture. True, I have devoted much of my time during the past year with the committee of arrangements, to aid in providing the necessary buildings for our annual exhibition, without an idea of being honored to the position of President of the Society, but coming as it does, unexpected and unsolicited, I accept the compliment, again thank you, and promise to discharge the duties of the office to the best of my ability. Adjourned to meet at three o'clock, P. M. D. W. SEILER, IV. PROCEEDINGS OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. HARRISBURG, January 21, 1885, 3 o'clock, P. M. The hour of three having arrived, President WILHELM called the committee to order, the following members present: Messrs. Landreth, Branson, Barto, Neiman, Tripp, Keller, Hiester, Miller, Black, Mackev, Rhey, Speer, McDowell, McKean, Abner Rutherford, Taylor, Ziegler, Taggart, Miles, McConkey, J. B. Rutherford, Kennedy, Egle, and Seiler. Dr. KENNEDY offered the following resolution: Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed, to report at the next meeting of this Society, on the direction and extent of cooperation practicable among the agricultural organizations of the State, for the promotion of the common cause-the advancement of agriculture. Agreed to. Committee: Messrs. Kennedy, Branson, McDowell, and Seiler. Dr. KENNEDY offered the following resolution, which was agreed to: Resolved, That a Committee of Publication be appointed for the current year, to have matter ready by first of October. The PRESIDENT appointed, on said committee, Messrs. Kennedy, McConkey, and Seiler. Mr. LANDRETH offered the following: Resolved, That the Secretary of this Society be authorized to see to the drafting of a bill for the appropriation by the Pennsylvania Legislature of the sum of ten thousand dollars over and above the usual sum-the additional money to meet the extraordinary expenses of the Society incurred in the erection of permanent and spacious buildings at Philadelphia. Which was agreed to. Mr. SEILER moved that the President appoint a Committee of Arrangements of nine, the President to be chairman thereof, who shall have full power to act for this committee in the management and arrangements for the next exhibition. Agreed to. The President appointed Messrs. Blight, Kennedy, Landreth, Paxson, Twaddell, Shaner, McConkey, and Seiler. Mr. LANDRETH offered the following: Resolved, That the exhibits of this Society hereafter be divided into three grand sections, hereafter named, each being placed under a competent superintendent, with separate office and clerical facilities, under the supervision of the Executive Committee. 1. Soil Products in Primary and Secondary Forms. Agricultural Machinery. Products of Herd and Flock. 2. Live Stock. 3. Manufactures not Agricultural. Mr. MACKEY moved to refer the above to the Committee of Arrangements. Agreed to. Mr. LANDRETH also offered the following: Resolved, That the main building on the grounds be hereafter called "Industrial Hall." That it be arranged for the display of manufactures, not agriculture. That it be placed at the disposal of a Philadelphia organization, with power to organize an industrial display. Mr. McCONKEY moved to refer the above to the Committee of Arrange ment. Agreed to. Mr. McDOWELL. I desire to know if, by this change, the agricultural exhibits will be placed outside the building, and what arrangements will be made for their protection from the weather. This was answered by suggesting that the two buildings on extreme eastern end of grounds be placed at the disposal of such displays. The committee appointed to prepare suitable resolutions on the death of Vice President Daniel O. Gher offered the following: Resolved, That the Society deplores the death of Daniel O. Gher, who was, for twenty years, an active member of our Executive Committee We bear witness to his personal worth, and his official capability, and offer to his family our earnest sympathy. DAVID TAGGART, Mr. TAGGART moved that the thanks of the Society are due to the late President, James Miles, for his active and long services rendered while President. Agreed to. Mr. LANDRETH. chairman of the committee to make reply to that portion of the Governor's message, which refers to the Society, reported as follows: OFFICE OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, To the Senate and House of Representatives of the General Assembly of At the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society, held at Harrisburg, January 20 and 21, 185, the attention of the members was called to the following extract in reference to the Society, taken from the annual message of Governor Pattison, dated January 6: "There ought to be some modifications made in the existing laws relating to that branch of government having in charge agricultural matters. The law recognizing the State Agricultural Society as in some way connected with the public administration of this subject, by appropriating to it annually $2.250, should be repealed. Hereafter, there should be but one head of the agricultural interest, to wit: The State Board of Agriculture, to which all appropriations for this interest should be made, and which should have the entire charge of all matters pertaining to this branch of the public affairs. Notably should the agricultural board have the exclusive control of the publication of the agricultural reports. These changes should be made for the obvious reason that the agricultural society is a private corporation, conducted with a view to the private profit of its stock-holders, mos', or many, of whom are capitalists and farmers of large wealth, who are principally concerned in the refinements of agricul ture, fancy stock-raising, and the development of fleet horses, rather than the practical concerns of every-day farming. Such an institution is well enough in its sphere, and to be commended as a private enterprise; but as the State has a department of its own devoted to this subject, whatever public money is spent for this purpose should be spent through the recognized public channel. By dividing the resources intended for this interest, the State Board is deprived of a part of the means which should legitimately go to its support and the development of its usefulness." The Society respectfully begs leave, in the following brief reply, to correct the several misapprehensions of the Governor of the Commonwealth, which otherwise might mislead the public. AS TO THE STATUS OF THE SOCIETY. "The Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society " was created a body corporate by an act of Assembly, 29th day of March, 1851. The constitution, adopted soon thereafter, and still in force, provided "that the objects of the Society are to foster and improve agriculture, horticulture, and the domestic and household arts." Never before since the date of its organization has its status been questioned, and it has had repeated subsequent State legislation confirming its position. The Society has always been recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture as a State society, with the same claim to representation as the State agricultural societies of other Commonwealths. The Congress of the United States, by legislation, has recognized the Society as a regular State agricultural society, and the State Department at Washington officially, through our ministers and consuls abroad, proclaimed the International Exhibition of Sheep, Wool, and Woolen Fabrics, held in 1880 under the administration of this Society, and invited the competition of all nations. The Society is not conducted with a view to the private profit of its stock-holders, as so positively stated in the message of the Executive. It has no stock-holders! It has no stock! Its receipts from all sources go for the advancement of broad agricultural interests, as will be shown. The Society has the full confidence of kindred organizations, which manifest their approval of its work by joining hands with it at its annual fairs. These societies comprise the State Horticultural Society, the State Dairymen's Society, the State Bee-Keepers' Society, the Silk Cultural Society, the Philadelphia Society for the Promotion of Agriculture, the Fruit |