24 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



George Cone held that the Directors cannot grant a life member- 

 ship under the by-laws, except on the payment of $50. 



Mr. Robinson said Mr. Johnston was in error as to the custom, and 

 that the late issue of memberships was the first act of the kind. 



F. R. Dray said that no Director could be injured by the grant of 

 life memberships now. He believed that all Directors who hereafter 

 served three years should be complimented by such recognition of 

 their services. He believed no conscientious member really believed 

 that a three-year Director should not be thus compensated. Direct- 

 orships should not be confined to the rich. 



G. W. Hancock said it had been in his power by a vote to have pre- 

 vented all the debate. He was himself a life member, and had been 

 for some ten years. 



Mr. Hancock began to explain, when Mr. Robinson interrupted 

 with high words, and said the statement was false. To preserve order 

 the meeting resolved that the Chair should name a Sergeant-at-Arms. 

 The Chair named T. J. Clunie, and he accepted. Mr. Hancock then 

 explained tliat he referred to his vote in the Board, and not to any 

 power he (Hancock) had over Robinson's resolution. 



Mr. Robinson explained that he had misunderstood, and asked 

 pardon of Mr. Hancock. 



Mr. Hancock stated that Directors often expend much money. He 

 named cases where, years ago, life memberships had been granted in 

 recognition of past services; also, mementoes. 



Jerome C. Davis, Sacramento, said nothing of that kind had been 

 done in his case. All he ever got from the Society he had won fairly 

 on agricultural exhibits against competitors. 



T. J. Clunie, Sacramento, thought the Board had power to grant 

 life memberships if it saw fit. He opposed the resolution, and was in 

 favor of sustaining the act of the Board. 



G. G. Blanchard said there was no law, as he understood, author- 

 izing the Board to vote compensation. 



T. J. Clunie read from the by-laws, setting out that the Directors 

 have the general management of the Society in hand. 



Coleman Younger said sometimes the Board could not get a quo- 

 rum, and had considered the proposition of paying Directors a per 

 diem who attended to duty, but had resolved finally to give those 

 who serve faithfully for three years a life membership. If the Society 

 holds the Directors cannot pay for over-services nor recognize merit- 

 orious acts, it will tie the hands of the Board, and Directors will have 

 to travel at their own expense. 



G. G. Blanchard read to show that the Secretary is to be paid, but 

 that there is no reference to paying Directors in any way, and being 

 thus omitted by the law, amounts to prohibition. 



L. J. Rose was sorry to see such feeling. He feared the Society 

 would not be benefited by it. As a Director he had served, and 

 would still serve. The Board thought it had the power to do as it 

 had. Mr. Coleman had served for fifteen years, and served well for 

 the Society, and Mr. Shippee had served five years, and the Board 

 thought it had the right to compliment them for their free work, and 

 set an example for future Directors to emulate. 



T. J. Clunie said the Board had all power not forbidden to it in 

 managing the Society. He spoke warmly in favor of indorsing the 

 act of the Board — ^a Board that stands without reproach for its faith- 

 fulness and integrity. 



