WASHINGTON. — 161 
WASHINGTON. 
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 by 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 of the 
eollege 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, which 
said oath, together with 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 shal! 
expire April 1, 1905. When 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 
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