The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-01-26
Fairfield County Leader
Makes His Debut AS a
Progressive, Sponsoring
Omnibus Bill for Agricul-
tural and Public Welfare
Board.
Have Commission Of
Twelve, Serving at a Cost
of $4,000 a Year and With
Millions to Spend, Look.
After All Humanitarian
Laws.
Especial to The Farmer)


Hartford, Jan. 26-At an an
nual cost to the state of over
three millions of dollars, John
Z. King, of Bridgeport, hopes to
hasten the millennium.
Signalling John .T.'s debut as
a progressive" there was in
troduced in the Senate today a
blanket bill providing for the
establishment of an agricul-
tural and public welfare COM
mission. The bill, for which
John T. stands sponsor, as yet
is in skeleton form. When it's
completed, it will cover 48.
pages and will go right through
Col. Roosevelt's policies from
soups to nuts"
All the new legislation pro-
posed by the bill is to be under
the direction of a board of
twelve, who will serve at a
salary of $4,000, with $1,000
for the chairman. Agricultural
experiments and developments !,
farm loans; health insurance !;
mothers pensions; minimum
wage for men and women;
state pasteurization plants leg
alization of pooling of farm
products, and possibly some
more things will be incorporat-
ed in the bill.
In its skeleton form, the
measure was introduced in the
Senate today by Senator F. A.
Bartlett. It's scope was outlin-
ed last night to it's Fairfield
county sponsors by Attorney
Spotswood B. Bowers, who is
drafting the bill. l<
The bill creates an Agricultural and
Industrial Board and defines its pow-
ers and makes appropriations to car
ry the provisions into effect. The
commission is known as the Agricul-
tural and Public Welfare Commission.
There are IL members to be appoint
ed by the governor and confirmed by
the Senate during this session of the
General Assembly. Three or the
members are to be from the State
grange, three from the manufacture
ers Of tho state residing in this state
and three from the employees Of man.
ufacturing plants Of this state residing
in this state, two from the board OF
trustees of Storrs Agricultural Col
lege, and woman resident of Connec-
ticut interested and qualified in social
welfare work. The salary is $4,000.
The chairman is to be selected by the
members Of the commission and is to
receive $4,000 annually. The term is
for four years.
The bill provides for experiments
under direction of the commission ard
dissemination Of information thus
gained and otherwise secured, to assist
farmers and live stock growers; to es-
tablish nurseries for the cultivation OF
fruit trees and the distribution of
the same on the terms and conditions
made by the commission; to in y.s1i-
gate the dairy conditions of the state
and to discover and demonstrate i'm
proved methods of producing and
milk and other dairy pro-
ducts at wholesale.
The reforestization is provided by
the establishment Of nurseries for the
If trees for the purpose
OF reforestin,g IanG, for the protection
and preservation Of the water supply
and the distribution of such trees. It
provides for loans to farmers to assist
in the purchase of seeds and FERTILIZER
in case Of total or partial failure crops
of the preceding year. A state bank
for making rural loans is provided the
are the directors, the de-
tails of management being under the
direction OF the state bank
In towns of less than 5000 in
habitants, it is provided that a sum
equal to the amount set aside by the
town shall be paid the town for the
Of the byroads of the
town. A free employment bureau is
provided in connection with the office
Of the state department Of labor. The
commission has power and license
and supervise cooperative societies
among farmers and live stock grow
ers for the purpose of building alb
batoirs, grain elevators, pasteurization
plants, etc., and Of maintaining prices
and makes it legal for persons to COM
bine, unite, or prove any or all OF the
crops Of tobacco and general farm
products. The establishment Of
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