NINTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART III 91 
THE FARMER IN THE LEGISLATURE. 
GEO. C. WHITE, NEVADA, IOWA. 
Mr. President, Felloiv Farmers and Mem'bers of the Meat Producers Asso- 
ciation: 
The subject assigned me for discussion is not one chosen by myself, 
yet it is one that may very properly be disucussed at this place and this 
time. 
The Meat Producers Association was organized for the purpose of re- 
lieving the individual shippers from many injustices that then existed 
and with the firm and steadfast belief that the voice of an association of 
thousands of members united for a fixed and well defined purpose would 
be far more effective than individual unorganized efforts in correcting the 
injustices and abuses that the shipper of stock was subjected to at the 
hands of the transportation companies, commission men, stock yard com- 
panies and packers. 
From the very beginning our association has been working for legisla- 
tion, both state and national, that will correct injustice, secure good 
service at reasonable rates and provide a fair and competitive market for 
the sale of our stock. 
While it sometimes seemed we were not as successful in obtaining the 
legislation asked for as we hoped to be, yet on the whole, as judged from 
the total results it is doubtful of any association, organized for a similar 
purpose, was ever nearly as successful as has been this one. 
Since it has been necessary for this association to bring many meas- 
ures before the general assembly of this state, a short explanation of the 
machinery and working of our legislative bodies might be instructive and 
valuable, and show why hearings are necessary and procedure not rapid. 
V/hen a measure is placed in proper form for consideration by one of 
our legislative bodies it is called a bill. A bill on any subject of legisla- 
tion may be introduced by any member of either body. Two copies of 
every bill must be furnished the clerk, one copy is marked original, the 
other duplicate or printer's copy. When the clerk receives the bill he 
gives it the proper consecutive number, and reads the title to the bill for 
information. If no objection is offered the bill immediately goes to the 
second reading, by the order of the presiding officer. 
After the bill is read the second time it is ready for commitment, 
amendment or engrossment and is referred, by the presiding officer, to 
the appropriate committee. 
Under our rules a committee is allowed to hold a bill not longer than 
ten days, at the end of which time the committee must report this bill 
back to the body from which it came. 
This rule, however, is flagrantly violated, and here is often the danger 
place of many meritorious bills. 
When a bill is referred to a committee it is the duty of the chairman 
to notify those who are interested and both those who favor and those 
who oppose the measure that on a certain day and hour this committee 
would hold an open meeting and hear arguments why this bill should or 
should not become a law. 
