LIVE STOCK BRKEDEKS. 83 



thereby saving the people vast sums of money in reduced vi ' trans- 



portation. 



The subject of taxation has always engaged the attention of the 

 Grange, and it was through the influence of this organization that in many 

 states the burdens of taxation have been, in a measure, at least, equalized 

 by a more equitable assessment of real estate between city and farm prop- 

 erty, and by the enactment of laws taxing personal property and corpora- 

 tions which had hitherto paid little, if any, taxes for local or State pur- 

 poses. 



The Grange is strenuously opposed to adulterations of all kinds, and 

 mainly through its influence State and National laws have been enacted 

 to control the sale of oleomargerine and other butter frauds and protect 

 the great dairy interests of the country from these vile compounds which 

 the unscrupulous manufacturers would place upon the market as pure 

 butter. 



Through the influence of the Grange most maple sugar producing 

 states have enacted stringent laws against the adulteration of this farm 

 product, thereby protecting both producers and consumers. 



The Grange successfully fought the driven well and sliding gate 

 patents in the courts, saving enormous sums of money in royalties which 

 were being extorted from the farmers and others using them. 



Through the influence of the Grange upon Congress the extension 

 of the patents on sewing machines was prevented, saving to the people 

 fully fifty per cent, in the prices amounting to millions of dollars an- 

 nually. 



The Grange has a grand record of usefulness in legislation in nearly 

 every state in the Union for its influence on the side of justice and equality 

 in the enactment of many wise and judicious laws in the interests of the 

 people, and for the protection and advancement of the farming industries. 



A recent victory of the Grange, and one of its grandest achievements, 

 is the establishment of rural free mail delivery in various achievements, 

 of the country. The Grange was the first organization to publicly pro- 

 claim that if it was right for the government to carry mail to the homes 

 of people in cities, it would be right for it to carry mail to the homes of 

 people in the country, and through the discussion of the question and 

 intelligent presentation of the matter to Congress, appropriations have 

 been secured; first, for experiment, and now practically for permanent 

 establishment of the system of rural free mail delivery. This breaks the 

 i.solation of farm life, will tend to secure better roads and advance farm 

 values wherever it extends. The results in this matter alone will justify 

 the entire cost of the Grange from its establishment to the present day. 



