The Dickinson press., 1896-10-31

Mr.. Picker said: ut seems tina. there
Is no effort to improve the service S0f
Mr.. Loud, Chairman of the House com
mittee on postof6ces and postroads, said
in the course of the debate:
The increase in the appropriations for The
star route, service ervIs t during 9!Eot tn th last m lomr yeess
taken from that service and devoted to reg
nlation, screen, and other wagon ser tlse:
IL the o eoe5t Mof ave T bee1 y pe9si esen1a9fin nc 1eS@
ing appropriations for the star route service,
all OF that increase has been used In the
large cities.
In fact, the amount thus diverted dur
whereas the increase in the appropria-
ton for country mail service was only
$4,000 0 so that Notwithstanding the
successful efforts of the friends Of the
farmers to secure an appropriation to
better his mail service, there was actual
" less money spent on that service than
before, because the Democratic admins
tration of the postofice department used
elsewhere, as it has in previous years,
the improvement of country mail service.
This is in striking contrast with the
Republican administration of the post
Office department. MI. Wanamaker &C.
cured appropriations for experiments in
free mail delivery in villages and he
faithfully expended these appropriations.
In a communication to the Senate he
stated that after making an allowance
equal to the previous average annual
increase of the business of the Offices, |:
was found that the increase of the busi-
ness of the Offices due to the free daily
delivery had more than paid for that
delivery. In some cases the profit from
free delivery was quite large. In New
Canaan, Conn.,, for example, the village
in which free daily delivery was first In
troduced, and in which the experiments
v were , conducted !dod for five We years year ,.a the aver I've:
1923, while the free delivery cost only
$500. A business that yields an average
annual profit of 1917 per cent, part Of
the period being a time of panic and de-
preston, is a good business indeed; yet
the present administration of the post
office department has discontinued the
free delivery in the villages in which it
was established by MI. Wanamaker.
lagos indicated, as Mr.. Wanamaker fore
saw that they would, the practicability
Of free daily delivery to farmers; and
he secured from the Fifty-second Con-
gress IN appropriation for experiments
in free mail delivery to farmers, and an
appropriation for this purpose was made
by the Fifty-third Congress at both
sessions. The language of the appro-
Bisseil and Mr.. Wilson have refused to
expend these appropriations. The mail
has become a very important factor in
the prosperity, welfare and enjoyment
Of the people. In the attitude of the
Republican and Democratic administra-
lions toward rural mail service and the
efforts made to improve it, the farmer
will find excellent aid in deciding for
which party to vote.
Who Forfcits Land Grants?
For some years the farmers of the
country have been demanding that the
Of certain railroads, should be declared
forfeited where the conditions of the
grants had not been complied with. The
Fifty-frst Congress-the first Congress
Republican in both branches since the
demands for the annulment of these
grants had been made-at its first ses.
sion enacted a law
United States. and the United States hereby
resumes the title thereto, all lands hereto
fore granted to any state or to any corpora.
tion to aid in the construction Of Il railroad
opposite to and cotcrminous with the por.
tion Of any such railroad not now completed
and in operation, for the construction or
DGueHI y WulCu SuCU ful "ClC 8AdutCu
and all such lands are declared to be a part
of the public domain.
This law should have much weight
| with the farmer in determining what
| ticket he will vote, for, aside from re-
storing considerable areas to the public
ury. it showed that IL Republican Con-
gress did not fear to enact righteous laws
for the people and against some of the
most powerful corporations in the c0un-
try-in marked contrast to the subservi-
ency to trusts and corporations of the
since.
Who Opened Foreign Markets?
For some years certain European ma
tions-one of which, ut least, while
preaching free trade, practiced the pro
| lection of certain farm products 10 the
extent Of prohibitory decrees-had e
| cluded our animal products and live ami
mails for their markets or had subjected
them to vexatious and Notwithstanding
regulations, because it was alleged, they
were frequently unwholesome or dis
eased. Our farmers were well aware
that this allegation was al untruthful
subterfuge, and they demanded such in.
| spection of our slaughtered animals and
live animals offered for export that for.
eign governments could not plead disease
among our animals as a justification fol-
l CASluuAAC PAO0uNkS VI OuA 81 LA6
from their markets. Everyone familiar
with our live stock interests, knows that
this was a matter of great moment to
them. The Fifty-frst Congress, that did
so much for the farmer, made meat in.
spection laws that fully met the wishes
Of our stock.raisers, and that, being
faithfully administered by Secretary
ed Of them. 1t is unfortunate that by
his own utterances and actions the pres
ent secretary of agriculture should have
shown a different attitude toward those
wise laws. In determining which ticket
he shall vote, the farmer will certainly
compare the department of agriculture
under Secretary Rusk with it under hit
successor, who began his career as sec
rotary of agriculture by insulting organ
lied farmers, and who has made the
truly remarkable record of not missing
even one opportunity to show, along will
his total lack of sympathy with farmers
not only his complete ignorance of III
agricultural interests. but either an utter
~incapacity or a completely successful in
disposition to learn.
l6 to 1 Not Wanted.
The currency plank of the Chicago
platform certainly does not express tn.
sentiments of the National Grange; ant
at it's last annual meeting, in Atlanta
Ga, October 1OL16. 1895. the Farmers
National congress voted down all of tn,
l6 to l free silver coinage resolution
presented, and adopted resolutions il
which it declared that it was %emphatical
~ in favor of the use of both gold AMI
silver as the money of ultimate redemp
tion and was in favor of the free coinage
of silver by international agreement a
a ratio to be agreed upon.
1t is but justice to the Democrat,
party to say that. until recently, throug!
it's long career. it was friendly to agri
culture. AS long as it was inspired b!
Jefferson and Jackson it had a jealou
seNlrd for our agricultural interest, bu
it has drifted away from it's old course
I is inspired by those who hold strang'
doctrines; and while thousands and hun
dreds Of thousands of Democrats are tn
friends of the farmer. the present Demo
cratic party. as IN organization to elec
men to enact laws md others to admin
:ster them. is. us compared with the Re
publican party. careless of the. welfar
of our agricultural industries; and. o
even greater weight with the American
farmer, careless of that financial integ
rity that must underlie the welfare o
Ill industries and which is essential t
the honor and glory of all nations.