WASHINGTON. 161 



WASHII^GTON. 



An Act to promote the fruit-growing and horticultural interests of the State of Wash- 

 ington ; to provide for the appointment of a commissioner of horticulture ; to repeal 

 certain laws in conflict therewith, and to provide penalties and punishment for its 

 violation, with the amendments to sections four, five, six, seven, eight, twelve, four- 

 teen, and fifteen, approved March 16, 1905, by Albert E. Mead, governor. 



Be it enacted hy the legislature of the State of Washington: 



Section 1. That a commissioner of horticulture shall be appointed by the 

 governor for the 'state of Washington. It is hereby provided, prior to the ap- 

 pointment, the applicant must furnish a certificate from the faculty o^ the 

 college of agriculture that he is a skilled horticulturist ; on such certificate the 

 governor may make the appointment. Before entering upon the discharge of 

 his duties, the said commissioner shall take and subscribe an oath to support 

 the Constitution of the United States and the constitution and laws of the 

 State of Washington, and to faithfully discharge the duties of his office, w^hich 

 said oath, together v\dtli the aforesaid certificate, shall be filed with the secre- 

 tary of state. The said commissioner shall keep his office at Tacoma, which 

 office shall be open to the public during normal office hours every day excepting 

 Sunday and legal holidays and days when he may be necessarily absent at- 

 tending to official duties in other parts of his district. 



Sec. 2. The objects for which said commissioner is appointed are to maintain 

 and exercise a supervisory directory over the horticultural industries of the 

 State, to enforce the laws relative to the importation, transfer, and sale of 

 fruit, fruit trees, plants, or nursery stock within the State, and give such in- 

 structions to fruit culturists regarding cultivation and extermination of fruit 

 pests as the nature of the case may demand. The official term of the said 

 commissioner of horticulture shall begin on the first day of April, 1905, and con- 

 tinue for four years, and until his successor is appointed and qualified. Said 

 commissioner shall receive annually in full consideration for his official services 

 the sum of two thousand dollars, to be paid monthly as other State officers, 

 and for incidental expenses of his office — such as necessary traveling fare, 

 stationery, and postage — the sum of one thousand dollars annually, and for 

 office rent and bulletins one thousand dollars annually. Said sums shall be 

 paid on warrants drawn by the State auditor on the presentation of proper 

 vouchers therefor. The term of the present commissioner of horticulture shall 

 expire April 1, 1905. W^hen from illness or other cause the commissioner of 

 horticulture is temporarily unable to perform his duties, he may appoint some 

 qualified person to discharge the duties of such office until such disability is re- 

 moved. Said appointment shall.be in writing, signed by the commissioner of 

 horticulture, and filed in his office. The appointment of such deputy may be 

 revoked by the commissioner of horticulture at will. The commissioner of 

 horticulture shall be responsible for the acts of his deputy : Provided, That no 

 charge or claim shall ever be made against the State or any of its funds for 

 compensation to such deputy. 



Sec. 3. Said commissioner may be removed from office at any time for cause, 

 such as inefficiency, neglect of duty, or immoral conduct, but no removal from 

 the office of commissioner of horticulture shall be made for political reasons. 

 Vacancies occurring in the office of commissioner during a term shall be filled 

 by the governor making an appointment for the unexpired term, under the rules 

 and regulations as prescribed in section 1 of this act for full-term appointment. 



Sec 4 (as amended by act of 1905). Fruit culturists in any county in this 

 State are hereby authorized and empowered to organize into a horticultural 



7418^No. 61 M 11 



