PROCEEDING.S. 81 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Cumback — As we failed to get an appropriation last , 

 year to paj the interest on our bonded debt, I suggest a hori- 

 zontal reduction of twenty per cent, of premiums offered, so 

 that we may have a surplus in the treasury at the end of the 

 year to apply on the debt. The fairs throughout the State 

 make a mistake in paying large premiums. I am a new mem- 

 ber and want to be careful. People come to the fair more for 

 social enjoyment than anything else. I am not sufficiently fa- 

 miliar with the premium list to say just what would be best, 

 but I think it would be right to make a reduction. 



Mr. Votaw — Mr. Cumback says twenty per cent. This seems 

 a little like the tariff" question. I think that it would not be 

 wisdom for the State Board to make a general sweep on the 

 premium list. It occurs to me that a liberal premium should 

 be offered for cattle, sheep and other stock. It will be an in- 

 ducement for them to bring out their stock. However, there 

 is a certain class that come as an advertisement for manufac- 

 tured articles, on which no premium should be allowed. I 

 hope this matter will be taken under advisement by the Board, 

 and the premiums on herds of cattle will be kept up. 



Mr. Cumback — It does not cost a's much to bring cattle here 

 as heavy agricultural machinery. The agricultural men are 

 willing to bring their implements and four times as much. 

 The same will apply to the cattle men and all other exhibitors. 

 Since the premiums have been taken off some things, the ex- 

 hibit has increased four fold. It is not the premiums after all, 

 therefore I think we have made a mistake in our county fairs, 

 and some in our State fairs, in paying out so much for premiums. 



Mir. Votaw — We must, in my judgment, give premiums in 

 order to bring out imported horses and cattle. It is different 

 from agricultural machinery which is made in our own State. 

 I must contend for premiums retained on horses and cattle. I 

 think every gentleman who is interested in catrle and horses 

 of the best quality, will bear me out in this. 

 6— Aqriccxture. 



