Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-22

dition. AS rule, the inspectors of these
roads are appointed as reward for po-
litical services, and very little is accom-
plished. Every year $500, 900 is spent for
the roads of Maryland, and he was salts
fled that if this money were properly spent
it would result in giving good pixies
throughout the state; but his observation
was that the roads today are no better
than they were twenty years ago.
He thought there should be an annual
assessment of property IN Maryland for the
purposes of taxation. In his own case he
had been assessed, when he established
himself IN Montgomery county, twenty
years ago, and that lasted for ten or fifteen
years, although he doubled his stock in that
time He thought in the same way some
people must be taxed too high. They have
three assessors and he thought one assess
or would be better.
Grange Having a Good Eject.
He said the grange was having a good
effect on the farmers
Il think the great trouble with the farm
ers of Maryland is that they do not know
their business he said.
The grange in the south does not appear
to be so prosperous as in the north and
west. 1t was great advantage in instruct
ing the farmers concerning their business,
and it's social features were especially val
liable. He had lived near people for ten
years without knowing tfSHl, out When he
went in the grange he became acquainted
and found he had fine and desirable neigh
bors he had not been acquainted with.
The grange had not been strong enough
to influence legislation to any great extent
for the purpose of improving agricultural
conditions in the state. He did not think
the farmers of the state are as well repre-
sented in the state legislature as are other
classes.
He thought the condition of the agricul-
turists as a whole is improving. They are
improving intellectually. If they under
stood their business as well as men In
other businesses do they would be very
much more prosperous.
IF you go to the market here,' he said,
land see the butter the farmers bring in
you will see it is generally of such poor
quality that it will not bring a good price
The result is that people send to Iowa or
to Illinois to get their butter. II the farm
ers around this city would learn to produce
a trst-clasS grade of butter they could sell
it for much better prices than they now
get"
Do Not Apply Business Principles.
Their tendency is to go ahead and pro-
duce in certain line, and they do not ap-
ply business principles to their work, as is
done in other lines of industry. Improved
machinery had greatly lessened the hard
labor of the farmer of twenty-five years
ago. He had known the farm before and
troduced, and he knew the work is not so
hard today as formerly.
Mr.. Ager was opposed to the colorng of
oleomargarine. He said this coloring re-
suited in deceiving the public. If the oleo-
MAJ rgarine were not colored it would not be
possible to deceive people. In the District
of Columbia a habit of coloring milk to
make it appear rich had grown up, but it
had been stopped by officers of the law.
Mr.. Ager concluded his testimony at 1
o'clock, when an adjournment was taken
until o'clock.
The subcommission on mining will meet N
Denver, Col, July y, and will cary on an
investigation in Colorado, Utah, Montana,
Idaho and perhaps some other states. This
ex-senator Mantle, Representatives Otgen
and Bell and Messrs. NJ. D. Ratchford, j.
L. Kennedy and c. J. Harris.
The commission has appointed Prof. Davis
r. Dewey of the Institute of Technology of
Boston to secure data concerning trade
unions.
Farming Interests in a Rad State.
l.. w. Youmans of ANendale. S. c., ap-
peared before the commission at the after
noon session. Mr. Youmans Is an agricul-
turist Of his state, and is a well-known
politician of South Carolina, having been
member of the legislature and chairman of
the committee on agriculture of the lower
house of the legislature.
Il regret very much to say cannot bring
a favorable report from my section of the
SOUTH said Mr.. Youmans. THE agricul-
tural interests of my state are in a very
deplo"able condition"
This was rot the result of the climate or
soil. He thought the cause must be artifi-
ciaL Nature was bountifuI.