REPORT OF CHAIRMAN BOARD OF MANAGERS. (Here follows the report of the Board of Managers, read by the Chairman, Mr. Rudge as follows: Copy filed.) Mr. President and Members of the State Board of Agriculture: As Chairman of your Board of Managers I am pleased to say that the fair held the past season was, I believe, as good as could be expected from the facilities the board has at the present time. It was instructive both to exhibitors and patrons and the report made by our secretary will show that the finances are in better shape than they have been for several years. The buildings were crowded and the board should aim each year, as fast as their finances will permit, to increase their capacity. In the past three years the board has used all available moneys they could to accommodate the stock exhibit and I might say somewhat to the detriment of other exhibitors, and I believe the time has come when other exhibitors should receive a little attention. In the management of the fair there are two classes of people that your board have to cater to, one is the agricultural and stock men and the other are the patrons of the speed department. In the past year we appropriated a small portion of our funds and made what proved to be the fastest half-mile track in the country and the attractions given on the track were the best that the state Fair ever had, and I think people went home well pleased with the entertainment. New buildings and permanent improvements have been put on the grounds as follows: One ladies' brick public comfort and water closet building with all sewer connections at a cost of.. This was paid for by an appropriation made by the last legislature. From the funds of the Board the following improvements were made: 1 New Sheep Barn, 48x96, at a cost of $2,944.20 1,318.00 In addition to this there have been quite a number of permanent dining halls put in by private parties. Also four exhibitors have leased grounds and put up permanent buildings at a cost of not less than $2,000.00. One of the most attractive is the band stand built by the American Steel & Wire Co. Others were put up by the Buckstaff Bros. Mfg. Co., W. C. Shinn, and Rymers & Freid. RECOMMENDATIONS. I beg leave to submit the following recommendations: First, there should be some rule made to control the number of stalls and pens any one exhibitor should be entitled to, as there was herd after herd of stock brought to the fair for no other purpose than to sell, and in many cases were not entered for premiums, and in other cases were entered but not shown in the show ring. The state fair grounds make a good market at small expense when stalls can be had for the price asked in our premium list, and I trust the premium list committee will give this some attention. Second, I recommend that as soon as possible additional accommodations be provided for patrons who attend the races by enlarging the amphitheatre. Also that a new administration building be built and additional space for poultry, and additional water-closets constructed. Third, I recommend that the Board of Managers be instructed to have the Superintendent of Grounds' office in the city of Lincoln for at least two months before the opening of the fair and five days after the closing of the fair. Fourth, I recommend that a new scale of salaries be made for all elective officers, including the Board of Managers, as there has been no material change made in salaries for some 14 years and which have met the requirements 14 years ago would not meet the requirements today. All of which is respectfully submitted. Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 19, 1904. C. H. RUDGE, Chairman Board Managers. Mr. Cook: I move you that the chair appoint a committee of three to consider the different recommendations made by the officers in their reports and report tomorrow morning. The same receiving a second, was adopted. President: The chair will make the announcement of the committee later. Are there any other committees to report at this time. It has been customary for a number of years before adjourning this session of the Board, to receive nominations to fill the term of office of those whose terms expire at this meeting. What is your pleasure? Mr. McIntyre: I move, Mr. Chairman, that a committee of five be appointed as a nomination committee. President: To receive and act upon the nominations. Seconded. Mr. Mellor: I move to amend the motion by having the nominations first. Seconded. President: The motion has been seconded. You have heard the motion, that a committee of five be appointed to whom shall be referred the nominations. Mr. Mellor: I move to amend that the nominations be made first. Mr. Bassett: I rise to a point of order, that the amendment is not germane to that motion at all. That is on another subject entirely, it is not a part of the motion to appoint a committee to whom the nominations shall be referred. This amendment is entirely out of order. Mr. Mellor: For this reason, it is that the nominations should be made first: you make the nominations and appoint the committee, and then you don't appoint a committee composed of the people nominated. President: The chair rules the point of order well taken. The motion being put to a vote was declared by the chairman lost. President: Nominations are now in order. Mr. Mellor: Mr. Secretary, would it not be well for the Secretary to read the names of those whose terms will expire at this meeting. Secretary Furnas: If you wish. The names of those who expire at this meeting are as follows: V. Arnold.. S. C. Bassett.. W. C. Hervey. W. W. Cole. W. Foster.. Verdon, Richardson County. . Seward, Seward County. Neligh, Antelope County. And there were two others who were elected to fill vacancies last year, Mr. R. M. Wolcott, of Archer, Merrick County, and E. Z. Russell of Herman, Cuming County. Chairman: I wish to call attention to one matter particularly, that of Cyrus Horton, of Arapahoe, Furnas County. Last year, your committee in making their report to the Board got the figures of the places that were to be filled down all right, but they drew a line across one, and they reported the number one short to fill the requisite number. There never, to my knowledge, has been a ruling as to whether that appointment is for one or two years. proper. I call your attention to it for such action as you may think Mr. Bassett: I would like to ask for a ruling of the president whether the appointment was to fill a vacancy, or is for more than one year or not. President: The office to be filled was for two years. I apply the same rule to it that would be applied in the election of officers in the state, that the officer appointed fills the vacancy until the next general election, which would be at this time. Mr. McIntyre: In this connection, the list of names as read, comprise 14, whose terms expire at this meeting. The list last year comprised 15. The original law in the premises named 28, 14 for each year. So this 15 matter, I don't know how that crept in there, unless it was the same 15 years ago and I am speaking from memory, and that is not very goodbut I think that at the time that Governor Furnas had been a member of the Board for 21 consecutive years we felt we would throw him a boquet, and we elected him an honorary member for life, and I suppose that is the way that number gets in there. He has been voted for and elected every two years. I don't know, the "honorary" part of it did not seem to wear only a couple of years. I simply call that up to show the shape we are in. Member: I would like to inquire what the statute creating this Board called for? Mr. McIntyre: 28. Mr. Hervey: I beg leave to correct Mr. McIntyre on that. The law created the State Board of Agriculture in 1869-without there were 29 persons named-you will find on the statute book under the law, as passed at that time, the names of those 29. I have seen them, and there can be no question about that, the original law. Secretary Furnas: What year. Member: In 1869 the State Board of Agriculture was created. There was a Territorial Board of Agriculture created in 1858, and that was in existence until after Nebraska became a state in 1869. The State Board of Agriculture was filled by the election of 29 members. Mr. Bassett: I will get the statutes. I am Mr. McIntyre: I want to apologize for my error in this matter. very glad that Mr. Hervey has gone into this deeper than I had. I was speaking from hearsay, and supposed it was law. The following names were placed in nomination by the different members: Mr. Hervey: The number of men and names was not in the statute, it was in the legislative proceedings. President: The statute before me does not appear to give the number of whom this Board shall be composed, but the original act named the charter members as it was originally passed. That was in the Territorial days. When the law was re-enacted in 1869, I don't know what they did. Mr. Hervey: That was the same thing when it was a state board instead of the territorial board. President: If I misstate Mr. Hervey's views, correct me. In securing the data for a work that has been published, he has had occasion to look up the statutory steps of the ozganization of this Board and filed it, and I have no doubt but that the statement that he makes as to the number is correct. Mr. Bassett: I am quite positive that the membership of this Board is 28 persons. I had occasion to look it up before, but the present statute does not state the number of persons comprising the State Board. President: A gentleman made a motion, which was seconded. It was that a committee of five be appointed to whom nominations shall be referred. Motion adopted. President: I name as such committee, Mr. Bassett: I desire to know how many members of the Board there has to be elected. Secretary Furnas: It must comprise 14 nominations for them to report back. Mr. Bassett: This appointment to fill vacancies would make possible 17 names, I take it. President: If the association will permit the chairman I will state that he does not attempt to state whether the question of the state board con |