The San Francisco call., 1899-11-16
TO BETTER
THE HUSBANDMEN
Recommendations of the
National Grange.
Special Dispatch 20 The Call.

SPRINGFIELD, Nov. 15.-The thirty
third annual session OF the National
Grange convened in this city to-day.
with Master Aaron Jones OF South Bend.
In'l.. in the chair. Twenty-six States are
represented.
While the committee engaged In their
deliberations Master Jones called on
Jaoen Robinson, master OF the Dominion
grange or Canada, for remarks, and Mr..
Robinson took up the most Of the morn
ing session. bringing greetings and re-
viewing the work of the year in the Do
minion- The event of the afternoon ses-
sion was the annual address OF Master
Aaron Jones, which, together with the
report OF committees, occupied the time.
Jones began mis- annual address by con-
graduating the grange on the prosperous
condltlon or the order. He said Inc
grange favored national and State laws
controlling trusts and State inspection
Oh the subject or transportation he said:
Transportation Is OF the most important
interests In our country, and the just and equi-
table adjustment OF charges for freight and
PASSENGERS Is OF utmost concern TO private and
pubic welfare. There was in the United States
Is4'sz miles OF railway June 30 1897. valued at
siV. e$9.OvsgIi. The earnings OF the railways in
the United States for the year ending June 30
1887 as reported. were 81. .122. .Oss, COS.
Our vast sea coast, our river navigation and
our great lakes have in service documented and
undocumented vessels exceeding eight million
tonnage. Nearly four millions OF this tonnage
is In service on the Mississippi River and It's
tributaries. On the great chain Of lakes ex-
tending from Minnesota TO New York State
san more ships than enter the port OF Liver
passes through Sault Ste. Marie in eight
months than passes through the great Suez
canal in year. Last year 16S 600 900 tons OF
freight passed through Sault Ste. Marie Our
coastwise traffic is OF the same gigantic pro-
portions. Il has been demonstrated that water
transportation is much cheaper than by rail
on long distances freight can be carried by
steam for one-qBarter and by sail for one
seventh the cost by rail In view OF these facts
should not our order favor the Improvement
OF our harbors on sea and lake and keep our
rivers free from all obstructions that interfere
with navigation? our rivers and lakes are
worth billions OF dollars 10 the American
people. / recommend that our order favor and
insist upon the construction by the United
States OF ship canal from the Great Lakes
TO the Atlantic Ocean and also a deep water
way connecting the Mississippi River route
with the Great Lakes. These great arteries OF
commerce would be worth to the American
people many times their cost and would AFFORD
the cheapest transportation known and would
be wholesome check on railway charges. such
waterways would save 10 the farmers over
/ 500. O00. 600 year.
The construction OF the Nicaragua canal by,
the United States would bring san Francisco.
Columbia River, Puget Sound and all seaport
/ towns on our Pacific coast line 10 900 miles
nearer by water 20 all our cities on the Allan
tic coast and Gulf OF Mexico. and the deep wa
terway connecting the Mississippi River Great
Lakes and Atlantic Ocean would enable boats
to deliver cRrEOes from our Pacific coast TO
river and lake ports and all along the - OF
/ l recommend that the National Grange con-
tinue to press their demands for appropriate
/ legislation on the following important matters
| First-Free delivery Of mail in the rural dis
| tricts: and that the service be placed on the
same permanent footing the delivery OF mail
\ in the cities and that the appropriation there
/ for be commensurate with the benefits an de-
mands for the service.
/ Second-PrOviding for postal savings bank
Third-Submit an amendment 10 the constitu-
/ tion providing for the election OF United States
Senator by direct vote OF the people.
l Fourth-Enlarsing the powers and duties OF
/ them and charging them with the duty OF fix
] ing maximum rates OF fare and freight on all
] Interstate railways.
/ Fifth-Reguating the use OF shoddy.
SiNth-Enact pure-food law.
| Seventh-Providing for the extension OF the
market for farm products. making II the duty
/ OF the United States consuls 20 aid in the ex-
/ tending OF markets for farm products as FOR
manufactured articles.
| Eighth-The enactment OF an antitrust law
] clearly defining what acts on the part of any
corporation would be against public policy.
! Ninth-The speedy construction OF the Mica
| ragua canal by the United States
Tenth-The speedy construction OF ship
canal connecting the Mississippi River with
the Great Lakes and the Great Lakes with the
Atlantic Ocean.
Eleventh-Revising the fees and salaries OF
all Federal officers and placing them a
basis of similar service in private business.
We also recommend 10 the several State
oranges that they urge on their respective State
Legislatures appropriate legislation on the fol-
lowing important matters:
First-Anti-trust law.
Second-Equslizing taxation as will cause all
property TO bear its just proportion OF the cost
OF government.
/ ThIrd-The passage OF pure-food law.
Fourth-Provide State commission with the
duty and power TO fix maximum rates OF freight
and passengers on all railways subject TO their
Fifth-The revision Of all fees and salaries
placing them on an equitable basis.