Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 211, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1913 — COUNTY COUNCIL HELD UP APPROPRIATION [ARTICLE]

COUNTY COUNCIL HELD UP APPROPRIATION

Members Decide Not to Provide for County Agricultural Agent Unless Compelled to. The matter of appropriating money for a county agricultural agent came up before the county counci] at their annual meeting this week and after passing the appropriation because the law required it to be done, the members of the council engaged in some discussion of the matter and all seemed to be of the mind that the services possibly Were not worth the amount they would cost, and it was decided to withhold action for the time and the order for the appropriation was stricken from the report'of the meeting. At the May meeting of the council an appropriation was made for the agent, the interpretation being placed upon the action that it was for six months, or the balance of the calendar year. There is a possibility that a full year’s appropriation may legally be claimed. The council Is made up largely of farmers, and progressive ones, too, but they have not been able to satisfy themselves, so far, that the expenditure of 12,000 a year for an agricultural expert is a justifiable one. Their action is in no manner directed against Omnty Agent Barrett personally, as he has been very energetic with his work, but In their discussion they all expressed the belief that his services will not be used to any great extent and’ that the greater part of his time will be unemployed with the farmers. The law may compel the council to make the appropriation, but the attitude of the six members present at the annual meeting walk against the appropriation and to delay any action, for the time being, at least. If the appropriation is not made, H is quite probable that Jasper county will not have a county agent after Dec. 31st, when the money appropriated in May wfil have been expended.