STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 23 



Society, where could it look for help. He believed this gallant peo- 

 ple would maintain their own interests; they had a right to keep the 

 Fair here. He believed this the proper place for the Society. Place 

 it under State control, and the Society would be put on wheels. As 

 a Santa Clara representative he wanted Sacramento County to keep 

 the State Fair here where it belongs. 



D. J. Simmons believed that Sacramento would do her share, with- 

 out a doubt. 



The Chair appointed as such committee S. C. Denson, Albert Galla- 

 tin, F. A. Hornblower, Christopher Green, W. H. Mills, J. H. McKune, 

 Creed Haymond, and A. P. Catlin. 



The financial statement of the Board was presented and referred to 

 a committee of examination, consisting of Messrs. Dray, Bassett, and 

 Frost. 



E. I. Robinson asked if the Board had voted its members or 

 employes life membership certificates? 



The Chair replied that the Board had voted Robert Beck, ex-Secre- 

 tary, and Will J. Beatty, life memberships, for services rendered, and 

 also to the retiring Directors; and that under the resolution of the 

 Board all subsequent retiring Directors are to receive such certifi- 

 cates. 



Mr. Robinson said he did not believe it right, and he offered a 

 resolution declaring the act of the Board illegal, and asking the Board 

 to reconsider it. 



L. J. Rose said the Directors had nothing to conceal — they had acted 

 as they deemed wise. 



F. R. Dray said he had heard that the resolution to grant the life 

 memberships was an old one, to give a Director serving three full 

 years a life membership. He had heard one of the certificates was 

 to a clerk who had a claim for $85, but was willing to take a life 

 membership. He believed if a Director came here and gave his 

 time, and worked faithfully as a Director for three years, and with- 

 out compensation, it was right to give him such a membership. If 

 not prohibited by the by-laws, he favored the act of the Board. 



T. L. Chamberlain, of Placer, said he had served ten years as a 

 Director, and never knew of a Director receiving plate or pay for ser- 

 vices as such . 



The Chair said reports had been circulated to the effect that they 

 had, but he knew of no such case. 



G. G. Blanchard, of El Dorado, said life memberships are sold at 

 ), and many had been sold. To vote a membership certificate to 



any Director is unjust to those who have paid $50, and served as 

 Directors besides. It was unjust to the men who, for years pa^st, have 

 served, giving time and money freely, and without return, except the 

 consciousness of benefiting the public. He protested against free 

 grants of life memberships. Men who accept Directorships, do it to 

 do good to the public and advance agriculture. 



Christopher Green had served several years as a Director, and never 

 received or knew of any Director receiving compensation. On his 

 part he had given money besides service. 



William Johnston, of Richland, said such grants to retiring Direct- 

 ors are not new. They have been given before. Directors have hard 

 work to do, and after three years' service he thought it but right to 

 recognize their services by such grants. 



