Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-12

ICOuOuCIlng a three OayS' convention lI
 this city, closed it's sessions Thursday afternoon shortly after 4 o'clock after
 a most successful gathering.
 On Thuraday the state organization went on record as favoring the estab- lishment of universal peace, endorsed
 woman suffrage and passed a resolu-
 tion against the liquor traffic in this state. besides several other important resolutions.
 The officials and members of the
 state organization, have left Norwich very much impressed by the hospitality of the citizens.
 The convention has been a big suc- cess not only in the matter of busi- ness but in the attendance, which at | all times has been very large. Due l credit must be given to the Chamber
 in quartering the mass of delegates in
 such satisfactory manner.
 | Morning Session.
 | L. H. Healey, secretary of the state | board of agriculture, chairman of the executive committee, presented his | report at the morning session which
 opened in the fourth degree. The re- port follows:
 Worthy Master and Patrons:
 The labors of the executive commit tee for the grange year of 1916 have been pleasing rather than onerous and | laborious.
 Five official meetings have been held The first one on Jan. 13. when the board was organized by appointing L. H. Healey chairman and J. A. Sher- wood clerk. At this meeting the usual allowance was voted the state lecturer for use in his department for this coming year.
 The chairman was also instructed to secure new sashes for our worthy master and state lecturer.
 It was also voted to continue
 Brother C.: E. Staples as special or ganizing deputy for New London county.
 Feb. 15. The question of holding our next state session was thorough ly discussed at this meeting. and the worthy master was instructed to arr | range for the holding of our next ses- I'sion in the city of New Haven; pro viding suitable hotel and hall facili-
 ties could be made by the chamber of commerce
 On Feb. 29 the most important meet ing of the whole year was held with all the members present. The worthy master was authorized to appear with council, if necessary, before the state commission appointed to suggest
 changes, if needed, and to codify the
 tax laws of the state.
 Another important question consid-
 cred at this meeting was the position
 which we should take regarding the
 light between the contractors and the
 producers as to the elimination of the so-called Leased car system" for the
 transportation of milk This was the
 vote that the state grange appropri-
 ate a sum equal to 50 per cefft of all moneys raised by the several Connec-
 ticut dairy associations. Said sum not to exceed $500.
 July 10. At this meeting it was voted that we accept the invitation of the Norwich Chamber of Commerce to city of Norwich. In this invitation they agreed to furnish all necessary halls for the holding of meetings and the conferring of degrees. Stated that I1 1-1S@ 4I@A e. facilities could be secured and that the members of the chamber would open their houses for the lodging of delegates, not otherwise provided for. All of which they are now making good.
 A communication from the New York State Grange Cooperative Asso- citation regarding the purchasing of fertilizer was read and by vote refer red to the patrons exchange.
 The fifth and last meeting was held on Dec. Is when the only action before I the committee was the ratification of bordinate lectures as per announce | ments on program for this meeting.
 During the year four granges have | come to be owners of halls, and in I we have presented Easton, Cheshire, l Morris and Wolf Den with the regu- l lation flag for their grange homes.
 Potent Factor in Legislation.
 Your state grange during the session l of our last legislature was recognized !! as being the most potent factor in all | legislation pertaining to the needs of | the country resident. A great part of | the time of the secretary of this com- mittee was given to the work.
 Brother F. E. Duffy. chairman of the | legislative committed, deserves all the Thank You" we can bestow upon 1im for his unceasing effort to have favorable action taken upon those bills n ioI1 1r1, 4r.fn 4od It did cost something. You can not 10 these things unless you are will ng to at least pay the expenses of hose who are in the work. am l some of the things that your legisla- i've committee accomplished. The most important bills in which we were interested were those relating to tax ltion. You will recall that at the be- sinning of the last legislature the pro- 'osal was to put over a flat two mills tate tax A tax which would have property. But through the efforts of he state grange committee, assisted " those Pomona and subordinate committees, which rendered such eff his proposed state tax to one-half f a mill and in other ways secured 1 unds to not only meet the needs Of UT states expenditures. but also to measures where our cooperate inter sts pay their share of taxation. This of taxation made a diff ererce of $1100 to our town of Wood ,, tock.
 You delegates from other towns can gure out what it means to you.
 An attempt to change these laws of 2 axation will without doubt be made t this session of our legislature.
 Tn your selection of legislative com I 1ittee 1t is up to you to appoint those 7ho will give this work the same arefu1 attention and consideration as heir predecessors have done,
 In the New England fight, which ( rase made against the Leased Car" C ystem, the state grange was lever T here"
 Your state master and the chairman f your executive. committee attended c Il the hearings before the interstate 1 ommerce commission both in Boston | nd Washington. The state grange ' nd the Dairyrnen's Association used | v very effort to present the facts to the r and when a decision from r