Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-10-03
FOR THE FARMERS.
The Last Republican Legislature
Looked After the Agricul-
tural interests.
MANY GOOD NEW LAWS PASSED


Besides the Enactment of the Anti.
oleomargarine Legislation There
Were Bills Passed Demanded BY the
Gransers Of Pennsylvania.
The farmers of Pennsylvania have
good reason to commend the last legis-
lature for it's consideration of their
needs, as shown in the large amount
Of valuable legislation which was en-
acted in the interest of agriculture.
They passed no less than 33 distinct
bills directly benefiting the country
districts-ithe farmers of the state.
Among those of the greatest import
ance is the new commercial fertilizer
law, which increases the license fee
from $40 to SIS, for sales of 100 tons
and less, and extends the powers of the
secretary of agriculture, by authoriz-
ing him to prosecute offenders, direct
ly, without having to do so through
some purchaser. Under the practice
and workings of the old law, which pro-
vided that the 'informer be the pur-
chaser and the goods be for his own
use," no one could be punished for it's
violation.
THE WIDE TIRE LAW.
There is also the wide tire" law,
which grants an annual rebate of one
fourth of the road tax, not exceeding
the value of five days labor to all who
will use a tire of not less than four
inches wide, in hauling loads of 1000
pounds and over. The hauling of loads
of 10000 pOupnds and over is prohib-
tied, under penalty, unless the wagon
has tires at least four inches wide.
This is a most important advance. in
the interest of better roads, since it
aims TO reduce the wear upon the pub
lie highways, by increasing the bear
ing surface of the wheels, making
them rollers, smoothing and compact
ing the roadway. instead of knife-like
disks which cut 1t into ruts.
Another important law, relating to
the improvement of the public roads,
was passed, amending the act of 1899,
stones from the highways" once each
month during the summer season. The
amendment provides a penalty, not ex-
ceeding $40, to be collected, with costs
of suit, from the supervisors for fail
ure to pick the stones from off the
public roads once each month, for the
months Of May, June, August and
October.
A law was passed for the protection
of live stock" against infection from
animals dying of contagious or infec-
tious diseases, such as anthrax, black
quarter, hog cholera, swine plague, ra-
bies or glanders The carcass of such
animals must be disposed of in such e
way as to effectively destroy or Sc
quester the poison, germ, parasite or
infective agent of the disease, with
which the animal was afflicted at the
time of death. This supplanting the for
mer careless methods, which dragged
the carcass to the woods, to become
the prey of dogs or birds, or to contain
mate streams, is a wise precaution,
and will protect the owners of live
stock from ignorant or careless neigh
bors.
A law was enacted which provides
for the inspection of concentrated
commercial cattle feeds" Investigation
showed that many of the cattle feeds
upon the markets of Pennsylvania are
adulterated so as to be almost worth
less. The purchasers OF such feeds
had no way of discovering their char
acter without going to great trouble
and expense. and thus many thousands
Of dollars were lost annually by the
farmers in the purchase of such worth
less material. This law requires the
tagging of all packages containing con-
centrated feeding stuffs, such as lin
seed meals. cotton seed meals, gluten
meals, maize feeds, starch feeds, sugar
feeds, drief brewers grains, malt
sprouts, hominy foods. cerealine feeds.
rice meals, ground beef or fish scraps,
and all other materials of similar
nature, giving the percentage of crude
fat and protein. 1t is made the duty of
the secretary of agriculture to have the
goods inspected and to bring to pun.
ishment all who violate the law.
That portion of the Vinegar Law"
which required cider vinegar to con-
tain not less than four per cent Of
acidity and one and one-half per cent
of solids, was repealed. making the
present law to require that cider vine
gar shall be pure and be made Of
the kind of fruit marked upon the cask
or barrel" The barrel must also be
marked with the name and address
Of the manufacturer
INSPECTION OF NURSERIES.
A law for the inspection of nur-
series" and the tagging o. all packages
of nursery stock with a copy of the
certificate of the secretary of agricul-
ture, stating that the nursery is ap-
parently free from San Jose scale or
other such dangerously injurious in
sect pest or pests was also enacted. To
sell nursery stock, cuttings or shoots
without such certificate is misda-
meanor, and the nurseryman or agent