Evening star., 1948-12-09
StateGrange
ToUrgeCounty
Home Rule
Would Free Maryland
Legislature Of Mass
Of Local Problems
By james Birchfield

HAGERSTOWN, Md, Dec. g.
The Maryland State Grange today
Is expected to adopt resolution in
dorsing home rule for counties as
a means of freeing the Legislature
for more serious State business.
Presenting the proposed resolu-
ton to the annual Grange session,
j. Homer Remsberg, Frederick
County dairy farmer, said home
rule such as is now being set up in
Montgomery County, relieves the
State Legislature of mass of detail
having to do only with localities. He
estimated that more than one-third
of the business of the Legislature
now involves local problems.
Home rule, Mr.. Remsberg said,
places local problems where they
belong. with the localities.
Lists Grange Objectives.
Asserting that the Grange believes
the so-called farm problem results
from the failure of industry to keep
its output in balance with the abun-
dant output of farms and the fail
ure of farm prices to remain in
balance with the prices of other
goods and services. Mr.. Remsberg
called on Grange members to seek
these detectives:
The preservation and strengthen
ing of the family owned and ope-
rated farm.
The conservation of and efficient
use of soil and other natural re-
sources.
A constantly rising standard of
living for farm families.
An opportunity for farm youth
to achieve farm ownership in pro-
portion to their ability and effort.
A marketing and parity structure
that will maintain agriculture on
self-sustained and stable basis.
The maximum participation by
farm people in programs to aid agri-
culture.
Other Actions Taken.
Other resolutions included:
Endorsement of the Aiken bill to
set support prices at from. so to 80
per cent of parity; urging the estab-
lishment of a retirement program
for farmers and farm workers; urg-
ing greater cooperation between
extension and forestry work and
requesting more funds for farm
forestry work; requesting additional
State funds for improving the Pleas
ant Valley Camp in Garrett County:
urging a more vigorous national
program for the control of Bangs
disease; indorsing a continued
japanese beetle and corn border
control program. and calling for
an expanded Federal-State school
lunch. program.
The Grange also is expected to
request that the Soil Conservation
Service be maintained as an agency
of the Agriculture Department.
where it will continue to be operated
on a cooperative basis with State
1t probably will go on record in
favor of independent laboratories,
under the supervision of the Uni
versity of Maryland for testing the
butterfat of milk sold through pro-
ducer co-operatives. This would
apply on markets where the butter
fat test determiens the price to the
producer.
Hit Margarine Taxes.
Another resolution favors the re-
moval of all margarine taxes, If and
when means are taken to prevent
its sale as immitation butter.
The report of a joint Grange and
Maryland Farm Bureau Committee
on Taxation yesterday recommended:
l. An exemption on part OF tax
payers unearned or investment
income.
2. Higher exemptions for persons
65 and over
3. Deduction of Federal income
taxes.
4. Reduction and eventual elm
ination of the State tax on real
estate.
DIR. Saunders Speaks.
Addressing a luncheon yesterday,
DR.. Paul D. Saunders, master of the
Virginia Grange and editor of the
Southern Planter, Richmond, said
this country is in the midst of the
greatest era of agriculture prosperity
in its history.
President H. c.. Byrd, of the Uni
versity of Maryland, said one of the
most serious problems now facing
the State is that of higher educa-
ton for Negroes. He asked that
State agriculture leaders consider
this problem, which must be solved
In one way or another at once"