The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-09

chine is behind the times and will be more so in the near future.
 We would not curtaiI their righteous use, if we could. But we still advo- The Frange pledged itself to the sup port of such a law at our last session and acting under your directions we .efldeavored to have 1t put upon our statutes. We failed but nevertheless made a good showing, so good that the. House voted for its adoption with a good majority. Then when 1t came up for reconsideration. turned it down. You may well ask why.
 LEGTSLATION.
 Tn matters of National legislation the Grange influence has manifested itself, and Connecticut has taken a promin- ent part Both before the Finance Committee and before the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, not a State made better showing than Connecticut It was also conceded that the most convincing arguments, pre- sented by anyone, were given by the accomplished much, but there iss yet a deal to do. The, protracted and per- sistent agitation for a parcels post Is approaching a. climax and 1t is more than probable that some sort of a par cels post bill wtll be enacted at this session of Congress. Much depends upon us whether it is what we desire or not We are not shouting for a
 
 whole thing or nothing. Congress can not claim want of funds, for the Post master General in his recent report inc forms us that he has a surplus Of $219, 900 beside the cleaning up of a previous deficit of $17,000.000. At the same time, 3,744 new postohfces have been established, 2,516 new rural routes covering 6O,679 miles and the force of employees increased by more than B. 900. The successful operation of the postal savings bank, which we have labored for 50 long, is an assured sue cess; now let us have the parcels post.
 The repeating of the bill which pla- ces 10 cents a pound upon oleomar- garine, will be sought by those inter- ested in Cts manufacture. While this tax is a protection to the butter f1ak- er we need a law which would pro hibit it's coloring in imitation of but ter. We are not objectfng to It's use, but we do object to it's being put upon the market under false colorS-
 State-<yfse your Legislative Commit tee was successful In securing favor able action upon that legislation ~hic you as a. Grange especially endorsed. with the exception of the automobile speed limit law, to which we have already referred.
 The Public UtihtGes Commission law was enacted. Needed appropriations obtained for our Agricultural College and Experiment Station.
 The powers of the Cattle Commission were enlarged as per your directions- The opposition aun1lIIAng that they were defeated through the influence of the G-ance.
 You WiH remember that one year ago we said that if the farmer must guarantee the weights of his products. that articles put up by the manufac- -turer, in packages, should also have their weight and the quantity contain ed in them stated on the package. Thanks to Representative Johnson of Manchester, we now have such a law
 CONC(T ,TTGT0N
 For the good of the Order we believe it we'll to call your attention to the un- deniab'e fact that a very few of our Oranges are not Oranges but mere so- cial clubs. There are some instances with that degree of seriousness which its achievements, power, and purposes entitIe it .to-k Our existence of more than half century has almost wholly changed our personnel In some of the Oranges the substitution of the new for the old has supplanted sta bility with frivolity and intellectual re- freshment, only p easing while it lasts. No substantial progress ever found root in a soil whose chief aim was amusement
 Organ'za.fon is an absolute neces- than our Grange. It's work must con- tinue. Its complete success depends upon how you and I do our part Pa irons, this session is in your hands. May your Judgment and action be such that we may continue to grow in strength and influence, elevating the rural liver tto the highest type of cit fzenship.
 LEONARD HOLMES FIEA1EY Echo Farm. No. woodstock, Conn;
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