THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
7 3 
in bank in the name of American Association of Nurserymen. 
“We find that there is not enough cash on hand to pay all 
bills now due ; that receipts from published proceedings if as 
usual will square all accounts and recommend that secretary’s, 
stenographer’s and Union and Advertiser bills be paid first. 
“In regard to balance of $1,491.80 due from N. A. Whitney 
we find that Mr. Watrous, chairman of our executive commit¬ 
tee finds that there is due from the estate of Mr. Whitney, now 
in the hands of an administrator, property to the value of 
$8,000 to $(o,ooo on which he has secured the first lien pay¬ 
able to the chairman of the executive committee from first 
payment made by the administrator. We recommend this 
settlement and believe that the money is secure and bill will 
be paid as soon as the estate can be settled. 
“ We find that bills of members of standing committee have 
been audited and paid, some of them containing a per diem 
charge of $5 per day ; others only for expenses. We have to 
suggest that all should be alike. If one member is entitled to 
per diem, all are.’’ 
William Pitkin, secretary and treasurer of Chase Brothers 
Co., Rochester, N. Y., asked if it were in order to discuss a 
matter that had been passed upon by the executive com¬ 
mittee. 
President Rouse—“I think so; yes sir, inasmuch as the 
committee’s report has not been acted upon by the conven¬ 
tion. 
Mr. Pitkin—“ There is strong objection to some of the ac¬ 
counts as presented. As I had the honor of being a joint 
member of the tariff committee of this and the Eastern Asso¬ 
ciation, I am familiar with the work of the committee. I have 
no desire to belittle that work. Good work was done. But I 
am opposed to the payment to any member of the committee 
more than the actual expenses. It would establish a bad 
precedent to do otherwise. If the Association has got to the 
point where it must pay its members for their services on com¬ 
mittees, per diem charges, then I think we had better disband 
and go home. (Applause.) 
“ Mr. President, I offer a resolution to the effect that no 
amounts for per diem charges in this or in future cases be paid 
to members of this Association. I will make that as an amend¬ 
ment to the auditing committee’s report.” 
President Rouse—“ I was a member of the tariff committee. 
Two of the members stayed in Washington against their own 
wishes and at the solicitation of the others on the committee, 
for the services of these two members were of great value at 
the capital in the furtherance of our object. But they felt 
that they could not spare the time from their business. I 
agree with the general proposition of Mr. Pitkin, but I hope 
some action will be taken to reimburse at least in part these 
two members for their extra labors in Washington in behalf of 
the Association.” 
Mr. Albaugh—“I did not put in any claim for a per diem 
allowance, but if the services of some of the members of the 
committee are deemed worth pay, perhaps mine will be. 
Mr. Brooke—“As a member of the auditing committee I 
wish to say that the committee made no recommendations on 
the subject, for it believed that it had no right to do so. If 
any of the committeemen are to be paid a per diem allowance 
I think all should have it. The additional per diem allow¬ 
ance, not charged in the bill, would be about $200. I want 
to say that we have not the money on hand, but we will 
have it.” 
Mr. Albaugh—“ I think the amendment is germane to the 
question.” 
Professor Emery—“I have done effective work for this con¬ 
vention and I never thought of a per diem allowance. I 
worked the better part of one fall and winter on the transpor¬ 
tation committee work. I felt well repaid by the thanks of 
the Association and the satisfaction of having done good woik 
for it. Whenever you .pay your committtes per diem allow¬ 
ances and it becomes known, you destroy the influence and 
the power of the committees to do good work for the Associa¬ 
tion.” 
Mr. Pitkin—“ I wish to say that there was nothing personal 
in my objections. I do not know what members are referred 
to in connection with the per diem allowance.” 
The report of the auditing committee, as amended by Mr. 
Pitkin, was adopted without a dissenting vote. 
TALK OF INCORPORATION. 
Hon. C. L. Watrous was on the programme for “A Little 
Matter of Business.” When the time came for him to speak 
he said : “ I have thought that this Association should be 
incorporated under the laws of some state. As it is now if we 
have a defaulting treasurer, not being a legal body we cannot 
sue and recover. We can incorporate under the laws of Iowa, 
for instance, without any chance of there being individual 
expense and with but little cost for the incorporation. A 
corporation acting under the laws of one state is entitled to all 
the immunities of all states. I move that a committee of five 
be appointed charged with the duty of incorporating this 
Association, with the power of presenting suggestions and 
reporting to the Association at its next meeting.” 
Hon. Silas Wilson—“Why delay one year? I offer an 
amendment that the committee go ahead and incorporate. 
You well know Mr. President that if this Association had been 
incorporated it would be in a better position with regard to its 
finances than it is to-day. 
Theodore S. Hubbard—“ I think there would be trouble 
and delay in effecting an incorporation.” 
Mr. Watrous—“The statutes of Iowa state that any three 
persons may incorporate when the incorporation is not for 
pecuniary profit. In other states the provisions are very 
burdensome.” 
Colonel Pearsall—“It is the same way in Kansas. I am a 
director in four or five corporations in that state.” 
President Rouse—I should not want the Association to be 
incorporated under the laws of New York state. There the 
directors are individually responsible.” 
Hon. N. H. Albaugh—I have failed to hear stated yet any 
good reason for the incorporation of this Association. There 
may be times when it would be handy to be incorporated, so 
that we may sue ; but there also may be times when it would 
be a great deal handier not to be incorporated, so that we can¬ 
not be sued. I am opposed to the proposition to incorporate.” 
A. L. Brooke—“ I also am opposed to it.” 
Mr. Watrous—But I personally could not sue to settle the 
accounts of our ex-treasurer. What are we going to do ? 
Mr. Brooke—“ Can we not direct you as chairman of the 
executive committee to sue, as well as we could if we were 
incorporated ?” 
Mr. Watrous—Yes, I suppose so ; but still I think we should 
