504 STATE BOARD OF AGRICL LTURE. 



give wider kiiowletlge of more general adoption of valuable iinprovcmciits ami inetli- 

 otls, and bj' interchange of view's and kindly criticisms, to correct imperfect or faulty 

 methods and plans for organizing such societies and for conducting aniuial exhibi- 

 tions. 



Your committee are of the opinion that every effort should be made by the offic- 

 ers of this society and the members of the Executive committee, and through com- 

 mittees appointed to attend the anmuil meetings and exhibitions of these county 

 and district societies, to secure on our part increased knowledge of what they are 

 doing, and on their part greater confidence in and more hearty cooperation with 

 the State society, in its efforts to promote the common cause in the State. 



County exhibits, in various departments, are inactive at our ainnial fairs, and it 

 is to be hoped that these county and district societies will be induced more and 

 more frequently to avail themselves of these ojiportunities to make such an exhibi- 

 tion at these state fairs as will reffect credit on their respective localities and on the 

 State. 



Reports h.ave been received from several societies, and reports of organization of 

 new societies and reorganization of old societies to the number of six. 



The reports presented from the several county societies show a gratifying increase 

 in the number of entries at e.ach, and in the amounts offered and awarded as premi- 

 ums. 



We have reason to believe that these reports of county and district societies will 

 from year to year become more valuable and instructive, as affording hints and indi- 

 cations enabling us to perfect our aimual premium lists by the addition of articles 

 and classes to meet the wants and encourage the production of new and varied 

 industries. 



Respectfuully submitted. 



J. M. Sterling. 

 M. Shoemaker. 

 H. A. KIPP, 



Accepted and adopted. CommiUee. 



Presidetit Webber, from the committee on considering the propriety of ask- 

 ing the State Legislature to have tiie reports of the Society printed separately, 

 asked uiitil the next meeting of the committee to report ou the same. 



Leave granted. 



Mr. Fralick, from the special committee to investigate the charges made in 

 the "Evening News" of September 31, 1878, submitted the following: 



To the President and members of the Michigan State Agricultural Society : 



Gentlemen,— At the close of the last annual fair of this Society, there appeared in 

 the Detroit "Evening News" an article charging certain members of tiie P^xecutive 

 Committee and officers of this Society with misconduct and corruption. The paper 

 in question referred to Mr. Thompson, Secretary of this Society for the facts to sus- 

 tain these charges. The officers of the Society deferred any action or public notice 

 of them until the present winter meeting of the Executive Committee. On the 

 KUh inst., the first day of the meeting, Mr. A. J. Dean, the Treasurer of the Society, 

 asked for an investigation of said charges by a special committee. Pending the 

 action of the Executive Committee on that request, Mr. J, P. Thompson, the outgoing 

 secretary, reiterated some of tiie charges that had been published in the ''Evening 

 News" in September last. On motion, Henry Fralick, Philo Parsons and F. V. Smith 

 were appointed such committee. They immediatelj' notified Mr. Tlionipson to 

 appear before them, present his charges in writing, with his evidence to sustain the 

 same. They also notified Mr. Dean and others to appear and make their delense. 

 Mr. Thompson appeared and submitted his charges, specifications and the evidence 

 to substantiate tliem in writing, wliich are hereto attached, and contains what he 

 calls nine charges, as follows : 



Specifications of Charges and Explanations hv Ex-Secretary Thompson, 



RELATIVE TO CHARGES MADE AGAINST Mr. DeAN, TREASURER. AND OTHER OFFI- 

 CERS AND JIEMHERS OF THE SOCIETY. 



1st. I charge that Mr. Dean was Treasurer of the Society and was at the same time 

 an acting member of the Committee on Printing, and that he procured the printing 

 of his achnission tickets. Admitted. 



2d. 1 charge that Mr. Dean was Treasurer of the Societv and was at the same time 



