The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-12-26

tie, and the practically unanimous re-
mOnstrance of the members of the or
der is the best evidence that they were
not in favor of the scheme. There is
no doubt that the attitude of the grange
killed the movement at that time, and
if it appears again the people will be
better informed in regard to the mat
ter.
| INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.
Several years since the national grange
took up the question of the initiative
aud referendum and referred it to the
State oranges. The oranges of Maine
passed resolutions favOring the adop-
ton of this form of legislation, where
upon both the leading political parties
of our State favored the movement. 1t
was passed favorably upon by the last
legislature and will be submitted to the
people of the State for their ratification
OF rejection at the next State election.
MASTERS SALARY.
At the session of 1900 the committee
recommended the masters salary be
continued the same as the previous
year. At the 1901 session the salary of
master was 5000, and So per diem, and
actual expenses when in official capac-
ity. In 1908 the salary was fixed at
$500 per year, also for 1904 session. The
salary for 1905 was made $500 per year
and $3.50 per diem and actual expenses
i when in official capacity. The salary
for 1906 was fixed at $500 and the same
per diem and expenses as the previous
years. At the 1906 session the same
pay was fixed, $500. This makes the
average salary l have received for 10
years | have been master, $3.50 per year,
and Sl.S5 per day.
The master, as with all other officers,
pays his own bills between the quarter
| ly meetings of the executive committee,
and has to render an itemized account
of per diem and expenses, and they are
not paid until approved by the commit
| tee.
| To charge that any accounts are not
proper and correct is to impeach the
integrity of the executive committee
| These are all matters that the public
is not interested in, and no one outside
of the order has made them public; and
| if it can be shown that | have taken a
single dollar from the grange treasury
wrongfully, will refund the money.
You may draw your own conclusions
as to the purpose of this publicity.
The secretary's report shows total
of AIS Oranges and membership of
| 81, 4S6. Net gain in membership during
the year, 1881. Sixty-seven Oranges
| have a membership of 200 or more, a
gain of 10 over last year. The receipts
of the Secretary's Office were $1l,27435.
| The election of officers took place
| Wednesday. There was no choice on
| the first ballot for State Master, the
| reelection of State Master Obadiah
Gardner of Rockland being contested
sharply by friends of e. S. Stetson of
Greene. On the first ballot Stetson
had 269, Gardner 266, scattering5. Mr..
| Stetson lacked two votes OF the neces-
sary majority. Adjournment then
was taken until 2 p. M, when Mr..
Stetson was elected by one majority.
Mr.. Gardner has been at the head of
| the Maine State Grange for 10 years,
having served five terms. The other
| officers elected were: Overseer, Boyden
Bearce, East Holden; lecturer, w. J.
Thompson, South China; steward, D.
G. Hall, West Eden; assistant steward,
+. G. Patten, Topsham; chaplain, j. H.
Little, South Paris; treasurer, E. E.
Addition, Leeds; secretary, E. H. Libby,
Auburn; gate keeper, 5. K. Cushman,
Steuben; Ceres, Mrs. w. J. Thompson,
South China; Pomona, Mrs. Boyden
Bearce, East Holden; Flora, Mrs. c. S.
Stetson, Greene; lady assistant stew
ard, Mrs. E. c. Patten, Topsham.
Columbus Haytord and Edward Evans
were elected members of the active
board. In the evening the fifth degree
was conferred upon Is candidates by
AndroScoggin Pomona Grange, and
the sixth degree was conferred upon a
class of 400 members
R. d. Leavitt, chairman of the execu-
tive committee, referred to the State
field meetings at which F. A. Derthck
of Ohio was speaker, the need of more
extended work Ill cooperating for the
sale of farm products. 1t was suggest.
ed that the two thirds of the oranges
that were holding their regular meet
| lngs Saturday be divided among the
other days of the week as it would tend
to reduce the expenses of the different
State officers who visited them officially
from time to time and mentioned the
fact that the governor had appointed
NJ. L.. Merrill as member for the
Grange on the commission appointed
to investigate the whole system of tax
alton.
NJ. L. Merrill, chairman of the legis.
lative committee, said that a few of
the things that the Grange has stood
for and been entirely instrumental in
bringing about are the following:
National: First-The decision max
ing railroads and other common carriers
subject to restriction and regulation.
Second-The law prohibiting the
adulteration of foods and medicines.
Third-The free delivery of the rural
mail
Fourth-Providing for untaxed in
dustrial alcohol.
State: First-A more equal assess
ment of taxes by the creation of a
board of assessors.
Second-A tax on collateral inherit
ances.
Third-Laws guaranteeing the per-
centages of purity of feeding stuffs and
seeds.
Fourth-Providing for better roads.
Fifth-Increasing the tax on the va
rions corporations.
Six h-For rural telephone service.
Seventh-Making possible larger and
better rural schools.
Eighth-More liberty to the people
by the initiative and referendum.
These are few acts of positive legis-
lation.