Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-28
PATRONS OF 4ussAhpRY.

W&E1 worked in the first and second degrees at tho meeting of Norwich Grange. No. 172, F. of IT.. the lAene session Of the grange. It was decided to hold a special meeting in the town hall. on the evening of Friday, Dec to confer the third and fourrn os- gRees upon the largest, class or candtr dates ever in the history or the grange and of the order in this state In any subordinate grange.
 A number of visitors from surrouno. ing surburban granges are expected at Inc class initiation.
 The summary Of the proceedlnGs or the recent annual session or fne. NaT tienal Grange as prepared py J,s,. ;, ". DarroW shows that at the forty -e1gn annual session of the National Grange convened at Wilmington, Del, on No- Veuber Il of tWenty-nlne or tns tflirty-two grange states were repre- g, scented. The 1lnrepresented were Hortn Dakota, Minnesota and DeiaWare' The opening address of Nationa1 MAS. ter Oliver Wilson of Illinois reWewed the work of the year and indicated the policies or some of them, which ne believed that the grange should ap- prove for the years to come There have been 490 new granges organlzed the past year, the largest number since 1873. He spoke with much Sattsfac- ton of the fact that the resources or E1 almost SICK, ,000, to be exact 9rSg2!Ss. This is gain of about $4,e00 over last year. In regard to some Of the public . questions in which the grange is in- terested that Of farm credit he con sidered as one of the most important. He favors government aid and ap- a proved the bid of the joint committees g of the House and Senate in principle.
 The oppressive interest rates that have so long obstructed agriculture he saad ce4 1No Snaa6f1v PnATcPd On postal improvement he congratulated the order on the success of the parcel post, a grange measure, and looked with favor on the increase in weight of packages to be shipped by parcel ~ post. On the subject of federal aid for highway Improvement Mir. Wilson said that the burden of road building and maintenance should be borne by national, state and local government in fair and equitable ratio. Relative to the. much discussed question of bonding the state to improve the high ways, he believed the policy wrong and that roads should be improved and paid for rather than saddle a debt on coming generations which they had DO part in contracting. He advocated an educational test for immigrants seeking naturalization. They should be required to be able to read and write the English language and stand examination in the Constitution of the United States and of the state in which they seek citizenship. Regard- ing the interests of peace, A7r. Wilson supported the principle laid down by the President of the United States, that Of strict neutrality in the present situation.
 The National Grange does not hesi- tate to deal with the large questions Of the day whether they be connected directly or indirectly with agriculture Mostly they have an indirect yet rnra1 ferSa with the interests of the farmer. Among those considered at this ses- sion, farm credits. cooperation, gov ernnaent ownership of public utilities highways and taxation stand we'll to the front.
 Summary of Resolutions and Reports.
 The National Grange took action on the following subjects as indicated:- Opposed the plan Of the ,postnaasteF general to let the mail carrier service On rural mail routes to the highest 1hidder instead of paying the, carriers Axed salaries as at present. : X Favored the removal of all linaita- tions on amounts that may be deposted in postal savings banks and their use in loans to farmers.
 Appropriated $2.o00 for extension work, if needed, in each grange state and $5,006 for tl1e same purpose in organizing new grange states. Voted to establish a permanent na- Honai grange fund of $100.006 as soon as suhcient funds are available for Che purpose.
 Recommended the uniformity of laws in all states for the assessment of taxes In 50 far as method of assess ment and valuation is concerned.
 Urged state granges to give more at tention to the subject of Home Econ chaies and appropriated $100 for the extension work of the committee on same.
 Approved an official photograph of tine seven founders of the order: Messrs. Kelly, Saunders, Thompson, ,+ Cross. Trimble, Mcdowell and Ire- land.
 Favored the conservation of our natural resources which should not be cold but developed and private owner. ship of same shall be taxed at Q fair rate.
 Urged delegates to see that farmers were appointed on tax commissions and equalization boards where they are not now so appointed
 Protested against the seating of United States senators whose election was secured through the use of cor ruptten funds or methods of coercion.
 Urged upon Congress and state leg- aSlatuFeE the enactment of laws to pre- vent water power. monopoly but to develop 1t for the benefit of aIi
 Opposed the establishment of a fund to be known as the o. H. Kelly Me- rnnrial Fund. the income If which was to be used for exte or other grange work.
 Opposed resolution to reduce the national grange sessions to six days unless 1t be done by amendment to the constitution and by-lawa.
 Voted to meet next year in CalIfor- uia, probably at Oakland If arrange rnenfs can De made that are gatisfac- tory to the executive committee.
 Approved the proposition to cele- bTate the Golden Jubilee of the organ isatfon of the grange at the annual meeting in 1916.
 Elected state master ". ". Eady of Vermont as member Of the executive committee for three years. No other o4flcers elected this year.
 Voted to have a codidcation made of tho tax laws of all the states for the use Of grange officials in their dis cnssic1s Of the question.
 Recommended that state granges desiring to organize Iiee insurance companies on the legal reserve plan, anvestigA&e the New York and Michi- gan plans.
 Opposed the many houding schemes for road building and favored the pay aa you go" policy as more businessiike whatever the unit of administration.
 Advocated that national ana state