The officers of the society shall, ex-officio, fill
the corresponding offices in the Executive Committee.
SECTION II. -- OF THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF OFFICERS.
The duties of the President, in addition to those
defined by the Constitution, and the By-Laws regulating the duties
of
the permanent committees, shall be as follow, to wit:
1. To inspect the fair-grounds, after they shall have been
prepared for the annual exhibition by the special committee of
arrangements appointed for that purpose, and suggest such
modifications or further preparations as he may deem necessary.
2. To formally open the annual fair of the society, at such
time as the executive committee may prescribe, with an
appropriate address.
3. As the executive head of the society, to have a general
supervision and control of the entire exhibition, subject only
to the authority of the executive committee.
The duties of the Secretary, more specifically defined
than in the Constitution, shall be as follows:
1. To make a faithful record of each meeting of the executive
committee, and keep such record in a condition for the
convenient reference of any member thereof, at any time;
also to make a record of every order drawn on the treasurer,
and delivered to parties in whose favor they were so drawn -
separately entering and numbering the orders drawn to pay premiums
and those to pay general expenses, and so defining them - and
of all moneys due the society; in all cases holding the parties
so indebted responsible therefor until they shall have presented
him a certificate from the treasurer, showing that the same has
been paid.
2. To open and carry on such correspondence as may be advantageous
to the society or to the common cause of
agricultural improvement, not only with individual agriculturalists
and eminent practical and scientific men of other industrial
pursuits, but also with other societies or associations whose
objects are kindred to ours, whether in this country or foreign
lands, and to preserve a journal of such correspondence in the
archives of the society.
3. To collect and arrange for convenient examination, standard
agricultural works and periodical publications, together
with such models, machines, and implements as may be donated
to, or otherwise acquired, by the society.
4. To investigate, as far as practicable, the nature of fertilizers,
indigenous and cultivated plants, insects injurious to
vegetation, etc., and to collect and preserve such specimens
thereof as will illustrate the natural history and agricultural
resources, condition, and progress of the state.
5. To institute and collect reports therefrom, needed experiments
relative to the preparation of the various soils of the
state for economical culture, the cultivation of different
grains, fruits, and garden vegetables, the breeding and raising
of stock, etc.
6. To visit, by the advice of the executive committee, or
as his own judgment may direct, the various portions of the
state, and to give lectures on the science and practice of
agriculture, wherever and whenever they may be deemed most necessary
or desirable.
7. To co-operate with the Superintendent of Public Instruction
and the agent of the Normal-School Board, for the
introduction and use in the schools of Wisconsin, of standard
works on agriculture and the other industrial arts and sciences.
8. To attend as many as possible of the industrial exhibitions
of this country, particularly the county fairs of Wisconsin;
to co-operate with the president and special committee of
arrangements for the judicious preparation and management of
our state exhibition; and to have the sole supervision and control
of the office of entry thereat.
9. To carefully prepare and superintend the publication of
the Annual Report of the Society to the Governor of the
State, embodying therein the proceedings of the State Agricultural
Society, an abstract of the reports of the incorporated County
Agricultural Societies of the State, and such reports, essays,
and addresses, or other matter of information as may be calculated
to enhance the value of said report.
Finally, it shall be his duty, not only by the means above
named, but also through such other instrumentalities as he may
devise, and the committee approve, to devote himself faithfully
and unreservedly to the promotion of the industrial interests
of the state.
It shall be the duty of the Treasurer --
1. To receive primarily and exclusively all moneys due the
society from whatever source.
2. To keep a full and faithful record of all receipts of
moneys coming into his hands, and of the sources whence derived,
in a book specially furnished by and belonging to the society,
and to have the same open, at all reasonable times, to the inspection
of any person or persons authorized by the executive committee
to make such examination.
3. To likewise keep an exact record on every order by him
paid; and such record must be verified by the proper
vouchers, allowing that the sums therein named have been
by him so paid.
SECTION III. -- OF MEETINGS.
The Executive Committee shall meet annually, on the
day preceding the day on which the annual meeting of the
society is held, on the first Tuesday of February, and again
on the first day of the annual fair.
They shall also meet at the call of the Secretary, the President,
and a Vice-President of the society concurring - and
may adjourn to any slated time.
SECTION IV. -- OF A QUORUM.
At any meeting of the Executive Committee, four members thereof
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business.
SECTION V. -- OF PERMANENT COMMITTEES.
There shall be two permanent committees of the Executive
Committee, which shall be respectively styled the Standing
Committee and the Finance Committee.
The Standing Committee shall consist of the President,
the Secretary, and the Treasurer, who shall have the power in
the recess of the Executive Committee to draw orders from
the treasury for all necessary, current incidental expenses.
But the Executive Committee shall have authority, and are hereby
required to revise the proceedings or transactions of said Standing
Committee, and endorse or disprove of the same.
The Finance Committee shall consist of the President
and Treasurer, and it shall be their duty to suggest means for
increasing the revenues of the Society.
They shall also have authority to invest any portion of the
funds of the Society that may from time to time be set apart,
by the Executive Committee for investment, disposing of such
funds upon such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by
the said Executive Committee.
Each of the above-named sub-committees shall be responsible
for the faithful discharge of their duties to the Executive
Committee, to whom an appeal may at any time by taken from
their acts or decisions.
The auditing, adjusting, allowing, or rejecting of all bills,
claims, or demands, of whatsoever nature, against the Society,
and the issuing of orders upon the Treasurer for the payment
of same - except for the current, incidental expenses of the
Society, as by this section already provided for - shall devolve
upon the Executive Committee; and it shall be the duty of said
Committee to annually examine the books, papers and vouchers
of the Treasurer and Secretary, and compare the same, and adjust
the accounts between these officers and the Society, and to report
thereon at the Annual Meeting in December.
SECTION VI. -- OF THE ORDER OF BUSINESS.
The following order of business shall be observed at all
the meetings of the Executive Committee:
1. Reading the minutes of the preceding meeting.
2. Reading the minutes and reports of the Standing Committee.
3. Reading the minutes and reports of the Finance Committee.
4. Report of Auditing Committee.
5. Report from Special Committees.
6. Communications from the Secretary.
7. Communications from the Members of the Committee.
8. Unfinished business.
9. Miscellaneous business.
This order of business may be suspended, however, at any
time, by a vote of the majority of the members present.
SECTION VII. -- OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
The fiscal year of this Society shall commence on the first
Wednesday of December in each year, and all annual reports
of the year previous shall be made up to that time.
SECTION VIII. -- OF THE EXPIRATION OF THE TERMS OF OFFICE.
The terms of office of all officers of the Society shall
expire on the 31st day of December, in each year.
SECTION IX. -- OF AMENDMENTS.
These By-Laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the
Executive Committee, by a vote of eight of the members