12 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



attractions of a general character, yet requires careful consider- 

 ation and investigation. 



While we do not wish to occupy too much of your valuable 

 time, it is our desire, as well as our duty, to report to you the 

 subjects of more general interest that have received our atten- 

 tion and the action of this Committee thereon. The dissolution 

 of the firm of Reynolds, Corbett & Thomas, left the Order with- 

 out commission agents of any kind in the city of Chicago. 



Believing there was a strong desire for such agents on the 

 part of Patrons in this State, we appointed the firm of Hall. 

 Patterson & Co., at the Union Stock Yards, our agents to buy 

 and sell all kinds of live stock at reduced rates of commission. 

 These parties have made and executed a bond of $150.<»}. with 

 good sureties as we believe, for the faithful performance of their 

 duties as such commission agents, and the proper accounting for 

 all consignments that mav be made to them bv members of the 

 Order. 



The power of the State Grange to enforce the penalty of such 

 bonds being questioned, we have taken measures to obtain the 

 opinions of men who stand high in the legal profession. All 

 seem to agree that if the bond is properly dratcn, it can be 

 enforced. As these bonds were designed to. protect a new 

 method of doing business, peculiar forms were required. The 

 Committee authorized its Secretary to employ the best legal 

 talent in making these instruments, and it is believed they are 

 as good a protection to every individual member of the Order in 

 this State as though they had been made between each indi- 

 vidual and these agents. It is expressly stipulated that not 

 only any Patron may sue alone, but that any number may sue 

 jointly and recover, until the amount of the bond is exhausted. 



At the same time a contract was made with Z. M. Hall to sell 

 the various kinds of farm produce at a specified rate of commis- 

 sion, also to fill orders for groceries; an announcement to this 

 effect was made in confidential circular Xo. 4 from the State 

 Agency ofBce; but as he failed to comply with the requirements 

 of the Committee, the contract was canceled, and the article 

 referring to it in the circular erased. 



In considering the work of the State Agency, your Commit- 

 tee found themselves in a very embarrassing position. They 

 found, by consulting the proceedings of the last meeting of this 

 Grange, that an agent had been elected with a fixed salary, and 

 this Committee required to assign him an amount of work 

 worth just §1.C>0C>. no more, no less: after giving the subject a 

 most thorough, careful and candid consideration, we came to the 

 conclusion that under the circumstances, it was impossible. 

 The agent was located at a point very poorly adapted for the 

 transaction of business. 



