The progressive farmer., 1901-11-19
NATIONAL GRANGE.
Legislation Desired by the Patrons of HuS
bandry.

To Members Of FEfty-SeUentb Con-
greSS:
The National Grange, Patrons of
Husbandry, representing the farm
ers of the United States, respectfully
calls attention to the following mat
ters upon which legislation is de-
sired:
1. Further Extension of Rural Free
Mail Delivery.
The favorable results from the
establishments of this service, and
the insignificant expense compared
with the benefits derived, justify
asking for its further extension at
the earliest practicable date.
! 2. Submit an Amendments to the
Constitution Granting the Power
to Congress to Regulate and Con
troll all G. operations and Com bina-
tiOns of Capital of M 'nopCistio
Nature, thus Preventing the use
of Their Corporate Power to Re
strain Trade or Arbitrarily Fix
prices
We suggest this as the most rae
tical solution of the trust problem.
Uuder present conditions the people
are subject TO suoh demands as these
great m, nopOlies are pleased to fix
and the least request we can make ir
to give the people through their rep
resentatives in Congress the author
ity to enact laws regulating the ac-
tiOn Of gigantic combinations of cap
ttaI that menace the rights of the
people.
3. Establishment of Postal SAVING
Banks.
The experience of other civilized
countries in this method of afford
ing oOn ventens and safe means OF
deposit for small savings ia an argu
ment in favor OF such institutions
that cannot be ignored. The estab
lishment of Postal Savings Banks
will encourage a vast mum ber of oiti-
zens TO become creditors of the gov
ernment, thereby increasing their 10y
atty and patriotism while the money
received by the government would
be at such low rate of interest as
to meet outstanding inde btedness
and other financial de mands.
4. A Pure Food Law.
The numerous authorizations of
food products upon the market, some
of which are conceded by the highest
authorities in the country to he dan
gerous so public health, is at ffcient
argument to warrant Il de uand tor
some form of national legislation
that will protect the people from The
use of adulterated and other foods
5. Completion nf the Nicaragua
Canal by the United States
We demand this Legislation on ao-
count of the more direct water cOm-
munioatiOn v hioh it will afford with
the Pacific Coast AMI our new posses
siOns in she tar E tst, thereby re
ducing the cDst of transpOrtati tion by
water and resulting in reduction
in railroad rates across the country,
which have been inorea- Led di+uro
DortiOnate to prof in other business
through COm Dinati M made by great
tnrO gh rail way systems. Tue oO-t
of IN wing the drops of the country
and other supplies for producer. and
consumers wilt be lessened by open
ing no this great waterway, and 1t
should not be longer delayed
s Additional Powers SO the Inter
state Commerce Commission.
The Interstate Commerce. Commits
sion should be given authority t
regulate matters between the trans
pOrtatiOn companies and the people,
when unjust charges or disorimlna-
persons or property in interstate
traffic. Suoh authority was contem-
plated in the G um bill, known as
Senate Bill n 1439, which was in
the SenaJe Com nlttee on Interstate
Commerce at the end of the preced.
ing Congress. We desire the pro-
visions of said bill enacted into IaW
at the coming session of Congress, in
order that the Interstate Commerce
Com mission may have the 4u hority
to perform the duties contemplate,
in it's establi~hmenF
z. Election of United States Senators
by Popular Vote.
We o4ll upon Congress to submit
$1OO Reward 500.