Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-22

two have received serious considera-
ton by tax authorities; one 10 to tax
at special and lower rate than 9TH
.er property and the other is through
State income tax law.
The latter has already been enact
ed by several states, and seems to me
to be the next step in securing Rev.
enue for local and State purposes and
is in line with what the Grange has
always stood for.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
people Of the State voted this prop
osition down at our last election, as
I believe, under q misunderstanding
of the facts, largely brought about by
advertising articles in the Press. in
tended to defeat the measure. think
a, campaign of education should be
started on this matter and that it
should soon be placed before the
people again.
The Grange has always stood
against increasing the number OF
Governmental Commissions and Of
fees and against unduly increasing
Governmental expense
When we note the increase in Gov
ernmental functions and the conse-
quent increase in agents and costs
during the past ten or twenty years
and the corresponding increase in
taxes, does it not seem time that
some one should attempt to call a
halt, and who can, do this better than
tho Grange?
oil An ~ n
the name of progress, and costing SO
much money. been for the better?
Herbert Spencer in his article on
1.-THE Coming Slavery" refers to this
tendency of increased Government
functions by saying:
1.-THE extension of this policy 80
fosters everywhere. the tacit assump-
ton that Government should step in
whenever anything is not going right.
Surely you would not have this mis-
cry continued" exclaims someone. il
you hint a demurrer to much that is
now being said and done. Observe
what is implied by this exclamation.
It takes for granted, first, that all
suffering ought to be prevented.
which is not true: much suffering is
curative. and prevention Of it is pre-
vention of a remedy. In the second
place it takes for granted that every
evil can be removed: the truth being
that with the existing defects of hui
man nature, many evils can only be
thrust out Of one place or form into
another place or form-often being
increased by the change. The ex-
clamation also implies the unhesitat-
ing belief, here especially concerning
us, that evils of all kinds should be
dealt with by the State.
There does not occur the inquiry
whether there are at work other
agencies capable Of dealing with evils,
and whether. the evils in question
may not be among those which are
the best dealt with by these other
agencies.
) And obviously the more numerous
governmental interventions become,
the more confirmed does this habit
of thought grow. and the more loud
and perpetual the demands for inter-
vention."
Increasing power of a growing ad-
ministrative organization is accom-
panied by decreasing power of the
rest of the society to resist its fur
Their growth and control" =.
This quotation, written many years
ago. seems especially applicable at
the present time. -
A movement has already been
started to persuade Congress to pass
law making a so-called Daylight
saving zone for the Eastern states.
While 1t is claimed that this law is
in the interest Of the laboring man. it
| is we'll known that the real call is
from the automobilist, and vacation
| list who desire the long summer aft
ernoon for recreation.
That it is not for the best interest
OF the farmer is shown by his uni
versal disapproval of the plan.
Are you going to lie down and let
! some other interest run your affairs
or are you going to write or see your
Senators and Representatives, both
State and National in relation to this
proposed plan? Personal letters from
you can largely determine this mat
ter.
In Conclusion
: AS two years ago the Grange had
share in the great victory won for
Prohibition by the passage Of the
Natl. Prohibition Law, so this year
the Grange can again claim it's
share in the coming of Woman Suf-
frage; but in both these fields the
Grange has greater work to do in
seeing to it that the ideals on which
these laws were based become reali-
ties.
With so much Of the pioneer work
already done, with the self-sacrificing
spirit that has gone before. we should
certainly expect great things of this
Order in the future as in the past.
List Of Committees
Agriculture-F. p. Washburn, Harold
s. Pike Joseph H. Moore. Alice L.
Eaton. Ada F. Harris. Phoebe Car
michael.
Auditing-Arch D. Leavitt. D. r.
Briggs.
Boys and Girls Clubs-L. H. Shibles
| Eugene Danforth, Fred Skiilings, Nina
Andrews. Susan Guptill. Melissa l..
| Bracket.
By-Laws-Fred NJ Nevins. Chas. s..
Hamlin. Chas. d. Jones, Mary L. Hub
bard, Mary M. Woods. Annie Nutting.
Co-operation-Ray D.. Hewes, Roy
Paul, Jesse w. Hoyt Lottie NJ. Holds
don. Katherine Moses. Mary MacDon-
aid ss
Credentials-James H. jackson, Mrs.
Ernest Oliver. at