White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1933-09-07
Benton Pomona
Grange Meets
At Richland
F. J. CHAMBERLAIN DISCUSSES
ORGANIZATION OF GRANGE
POWER DISTRICTS
BY County Agent E. c. Durdle

BY County Agent E. G. Durdle
Benton county Pomona Grange met
with Vale at Richland last Saturday
Afternoon and evening. Master j. Nc
Lean was in the chair There were
several vacancies among the officers.
However, the attendance was good for
both the afternoon and evening ses-
sions, there being As present in the
afternoon and around 100 for the lee
t,,re hour program in the evening.
Reports from the various Oranges
showed considerable activity on the
part of some, while some had not done
much during the summer months. Ken
newick Valley Grange had about the
best report They have held regular
meetings and initiated and reinstated
some 81 members since the last quar-
ter. They have been running special
programs under the direction OF Mrs.
Swayze with considerable interest. This
Grange is in very good condition at
this time. Kiona-Benton had almost
as good report, although the act1v-
tiles are little different. Mrs. Hart
man reported class of ten for the
Goss Memorial. The agricultural COM
mittee is working on the Fair exhibit
for the Benton Franklin Fair and also
on the organization of weed district.
They are particularly proud OF their
baseball team, which has one more
game to play before having the right
to represent Eastern Washington. Lo-
Gust Grove with Gilbert Clodfelter re-
porting, Finley with r. G. Morgan
Vale with Frank Stops reporting,
Horse Heaven with Mrs. E. H. McBee.
and Hanford with Mr.. Hartmann. all
had reports indicating continued &C
tivity and interest on the part OF mem
bers.
| r. j. Chamberlain, member OF the
Estate Grange Executive Committee,
was present and discussed the inadvis-
ability Of organization of small Grange
power districts. Mr. Chamberlain dis
cussed at length his general attitude
toward power companies and stated
that he felt that some of them were
showing change in attitude toward
the general public.
He stated that the Coulee Dam Is
to be built by government money which
is to be repaid by the state from the
4 sale of current to be paid out in 20
i wears at ~ mills. If the sale Of pow
II er does not take care of this repayment
n then it would be necessary to tax the
Ipublic for this repayment. 1t was his
feeling that nothing less than the
} counties should be organized into pow
er districts and the counties consoi-
date to make large districts, In this
way getting away from many dift1-
culties in organization and problems
: following organization. 1t was also his
feeling that any agitation to form small
districts at this time might be sug-
gestions of power companies. He FUR
ther stated that he felt the power
companies might use one OF three
methods to upset the real benefits
which might come to consumers
through the State Power Bill. The
2 first of these was by gaining control
of the commission in charge and the
= second by the forming Of numerous
:. little districts, getting control of q few
and wrecking them, and pointing to
them as examples of why districts
8 should not be organized. The third
securing contracts with consumers
over long period of time at low
< rate SO that the general consuming
public would be tied up when the
Coulee Dam power may be available
Mr.. Chamberlain also mentioned
s that there were three things tied ur
5, In power districts: Water for domestic
a use, power, and irrigation. He agar
'. reviewed the situation for those pres.
l. ent at the evening session.
The following resolutions were passed
one making it compulsory for hunters
s to secure written permission before
hunting on the property of any farm
l. or be liable to fine Of $25 and an!
re or all damage. Another resolution wa
" passed giving vote of thanks to thos
10 responsible for the power investigation
ID Still another was passed against an,
of increase in the budget or showing a
e. to why an increase was necessary.
as "
Since the Spokesman went to pres
of last week, additional bushes l
,is White Bluffs and Hanford have bee
Of added to the group of those displayin
e. the Blue Eagle of the MIRA. in the