Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-12-20

lies), the advantages are all on the.
side Of the rural merchant. 1t is
monopoly and not the square deal
which the rural merchant has to fear,
and the parcels post is but one step
toward abolishing the monopolies
which have caused the decay of our
villages and small cities. If the rural
merchant will only study the great
economic problem of the day until he
understands the steps necessary to be
taken to restore the villages to their
old time prosperity, he will very quick
ly discover that his true friends are
the farmers, and that he should be
united with them in all their efforts
to secure a square deal and establish
conditions that will make the granting
of special privileges impossible,
Among the most insistent of the OBJ
jections to the establishing Of par
I cells post, and which are claimed to
have the greatest weight with Con-
gress, are the present conditions of the
postal revenues and the belief that the
cost of establishing a parcels post
would be very heavy and have TO be
met out of the general appropriations,
An examination of existing postal CON
ditions is conclusive, in my judgment,
that the present deficit is only appar-
emit, and that there would be large
surplus if certain postal abuses were
corrected. In order, therefore, to in
sure the early establishment OF par
cells post, / believe it will be neces-
sary to include other measures of pos
tai reform in our demands, and ]
recommend as measures that should
be advocated by the Grange in connec-
ton with parcels post: % correct
the abuses of the franking privilege;
(2) withdraw free postage from all de-
partments of the government and pro-
vide in lieu thereof that the postal
service of each department be met by
specified appropriations to be included
in the general congressional apprcpria-
ton; (3) provide for the readjustment
of railroad mail contracts; (4) Make
it obligatory on the acknowledgement
al to include in his annual reports de-
tailed information showing the actual
cost of each department and the rev
enue derived from each. I am con-
WINGED that Grange postal reform
bill, or bills, including these measures,
in addition to a demand for parcels
post, would appeal to every public
spirited citizen, and that we could con-
fidently expect all friends of postal
reform to support the Grange in our
efforts to secure their adoption.
Field Meetings.
The field meetings held during the
past year have been better attended
than ever before. The benefit of this
method of educating the people with
reference to the work being done
should be apparent to all, and every
effort made to increase the attendance
and interest. At these meetings., need
ed legislation can be fully discussed
and the farmers fully advised as to-
the advantages to agriculture to have
such laws enacted by State ana Ma
tional Legislative bodies as will give
all equal advantages and absolutely
prevent special privileges and secure
equitable and just laws. These meet
ings can be made still more profitable
and less expensive by systematic ar
rangements as to time and place OF
meetings. by those having them in
charge, giving a little more time and
care in securing the attendance OF the
best men and women in the locality OF
each field meeting, and at as early
date as possible, securing speakers and
arranging the details of the program.
have made arrangements with the
following brothers to attend and adj
dress field meetings in this State the
coming summer: National Master Bach
elder; Ex-Governor G. j. Bill, Master
of Vermont State Grange and Seere-
tary of the Executive Committee of the
National Grange; 3. B. Norris, Past
Master New York State and Chairman
of the Executive Committee of the Ma
tional Grange; Senator H. O. Hadley,
Master of New Hampshire State
Grange. These brothers are all able
and earnest speakers well known to
most of us. In order that these broth
ers may be able to reserve dates for
the different parts of the State, it
will be necessary for systematic plans
to be made at once. I bring this mat
ter to your attention SO that no coun-
ty will be without a speaker for the
coming field meetings.
Good Roads.
The National Grange has taken posi-
tive action in favor of National aid
to road building at the three past ses-
sions. This matter is Of such great
Importance to all people living in ru-
raj communities.
The arguments favorable to Federal
appropriation for the improvement of
our public roads are so conclusive that
| it is not necessary to refer to them
at length.
The only objection urged against
legislation for this purpose is the con-
| dition of the public revenue, which, it
| is alleged, will not permit of even the
moderate expenditure Of $8,000,000 an
nually for a period of three years, as
provided in the Currier bill. This OBJ
| lection is not well founded, and in
| view Of the fact that the Senate passed
the Ship Subsidy bill, providing for the
payment of four or five times this
amount, and the further fact that the
public funds are being voted annually
| for much less deserving objects, it can
only be considered little less than a
subterfuge. This measure will be
IL Il. ~ &T.xSf1a