Smyrna times., 1892-12-21


any other trade and calling. Th,
thinking, representative men are com
paratively few in any class, and per
haps among the farmers, there is M
organization so progressive as the
msmbers of the Delaware State Grange
Our editorial column cannot probably
be put to better use than in summary
of the three days deliberations of the
farmers, in their meeting in Whining.
ton last week:
In its report the committee urged
the passage of law equaiizing taxa
tiOn, so that all property be taxed
except that used for religious purposes.
1t recommended a change in assessment
laws, so that there should be three
assessors in each county acting Jointly.
The amendment to the peach yellows
law, to add to its efficiency, was desir-
ed. The abolition of the poll tax was
favored, and in its place a registration
fee was suggested; the levying and
collecting of school taxes was desired
to be done the same as the taxes for
county purposes.
The committee opposed the accent
ance of railroad passes by legislators,
and recommended that their pav
should be increased 1t urged the
stopping of immigration for one wear.
from March lst, 1898. Qualification
was expressed at the working of the
registry law, and the new ballot law
was held to be a step in the right di-
IectiOn, but it was desired that it be
made positively and inevitably secret.
An act against bribery at elections was
desired. The committee recommended
the adoption of a resolution fAvOring
the free distribution Of mail in the
rural districts.
wOMAN'S WORK.
The report stated that During the
year we have printed and sent out TO
each subordinate grange remonstrances
against opening the Worlds Fair on
Sunday, and also against selling intox-
icants on the grounds, nearly every
one of which was promptly returned,
signed by the masters and secretaries
and under seal OF the Grange.
Young Patriots Day. established
at our last meeting, proved a success
beyond our most sanguine expectations
and your committee earnestly entreats
each subordinate grange not to let the
day pass unheeded.
Just now there is u wide and al
most inexhaustible field for mental
activity, calling upon every true
hearted patriot of our loved country.
The political maneuvring in party pol
itics of the last few weeks, to gain GER
tain ends, is enough to make any hon.
est and true-hearted American tremble
at thoughts of the danger that threat
ems our Republic, and while our broth
ers are fully awake, and planning a
revolution that may give reform in the
near future, let us consider its primary
source of power from which these
evils emanate, and the only one
from which permanent relief can be
obtained.
The family is the ever-enduring
and eVer-present primary fOrm of or
ganized humanity. Men and women
will marry and establish homes of some
sort, to thousands of whom, home in
In the better sense of the word. is
unknown, and raise mp families, pom
ulsting, but not improving the world.
Degenerate homes can produce little
that is good, and degraded individuals
create corrupt homes, and corrupt
homes, be they rich or poor, are the
bulwark of corrupt politics, and SO, of
corrupted and ruined national life."
COMMITTEE ON LEGIsLATIoN's RE-
PORT.
w. z. Killen, G. w. Ralph. and IT
h. DilwOrth, the committee on leeisla.
tiOn, presented their report. in which
they said 1--WE would urge, and have
right TO expect, that the legislature
soon to convene at Dover, will pass a
law equaling taxation, so that ali pron.
erty, whether it be lands, houses. mort.
cages, bonds, stock, or whatever il
may be, shall pay its proportionate
share Ofthe taxes.
I'VE would also recommend that onr
election laws should be amended nv
striking out the clause providing for |
voters assistants, as we believe thev
defeat the end for which the law was |
intended, to certain extent. Also the |
clause that provides for publishing the
oficial ballot; also for printing four or
hVe times the number of ballots that
there is voters in thestate We would
also recommend a different mode to
make our assessments, believing that
the better plan would be to have three
assessors for each county, and all three
to act together.
WANT THE POLL TAX ABoLIsHED
I'VE believe that the poll tax should
be abolished, and in its stead have a
registration fee. We recommend the
adpotlon of resolution in regard to
!eyylng and collecting school taxes.
oeHeVlng that school tax should he
levied and collected the same as the
taxes for county purposes.
We would recommend that a law
De enacted requiring public printing to
be put out to the lowest bidder
We believe that if our legislators
are not paid sufficiently to enable them
20 pay their travelling expenses. that
"eir per diem should be raised and a
law enacted to prevent them from re.
celving free passes on railroads.
TO STOP IMMIGRATION.
1--WE further endorse the resolution
from Fruitland Grange as follows
Resolved, that in view of the near
approach of cholera to this country.
hat immigration should cease for one
year, beginning March 1st, 1873; also
lrging that our representative and
senator's give their votes in favor of the
enforcement clause recommended by
ne Interstate Commission, giving
hem power to enforce their decisions;
FOR FREE MAIL DELIVERY.
I'VE also endorse that part of the
worthy masters address referring TO
he free delivery of mail in the rural
listricts, and would recommend the
Oiiowing: Resolved, that it is the
ense Of this grange, that the citizens
4 the rural districts are entitled TO and
,ught 10 receive the same service "a
hose Of the city. We will further saw
hat we endorse all the sentiments of
be worthy master Ia regard 10 legis.
alton, and would recommend the
range to favorably consider the :
CLOSING SESSION. s
The Delaware State Grange con- g
oneluded the business Of its eieh- 0
eenth annual session, Thursday after. u
oon. The newly elected officers s
iere Installed. An interesting report II