out that the committees can help to re- 

 move any doubt as to what agridilttire 

 wants. 



May-field, who also has taken part in 

 proceedings at the state legislature, added 

 that farm legislation is presented in a 

 better light when it comes as a sincere 

 need from the farmers in the counties. 

 "You," he told the audience "can make 

 your voice heard in Springfield through 

 your county committees." 



In the five separate sessions held in 

 the afternoon, the men interested in 

 particular farm problems gathered to- 

 gether to organize their committees. 



Taxes 



Taxes — Vandervliet explained how- 

 local government operates in Illinois and 



pointed out that recent changes in assess- 

 ment laws and tax rate limits have in- 

 creased the taxing powers of local gov- 

 ernments and also the responsibility of 

 local citizens. He also explained the 

 procedure for making surveys of local 

 government, road districts, and school 

 districts. Vander\'liet showed the assem- 

 bled committeemen how they could par- 

 ticipate effectively in a town meeting. 



Schools 



Schools — Cox explained to the 

 schools group what his department had 

 accomplished to date and what remains 

 to be done. He pointed out that the 

 lAA School Report of 1944 is the basis 

 of school policy followed by his depart- 

 ment. Cox spoke on policy and lAA- 



^^ 



XPi^ESS ITSELF ON FARM LEGISLATION 



*!*■■ 





sponsored legislation. School committee- 

 men then discussed what contribution they 

 could make to the betterment of rural 

 schools. Cox promised to keep individual 

 school committeemen up to date on per- 

 tinent school information with letters, etc. 



Roads 



Roads — Mayfield summarized the 

 three road systems — state, county, and 

 local. He then explained the historical 

 background of the lAA's interest in the 

 road problem running back 25 years. His 

 summarization of the finance and admin- 

 istration of the three systems included 

 explanations of state-aid grants, federal 

 aid, and the motor fuel tax. Mayfield also 

 pointed out the present difficulties and 

 problems concerning the improve- 

 ment of farm-to-market roads. The com- 

 mitteemen were then encouraged to dis- 

 cuss their local road problems and evalu- 

 ate their local road administration. They 

 also compared the relative merits of the 

 use of the last Si *> million state grant or> 

 larm-to-highwav roads. 



Health — Safety 



Health and Safety — Whitlock pointed 

 out that one of the most important 

 things the county health and safety- com- 

 mittee can do is to conduct local stuilics 

 and surveys. Such studies could in- 

 clude health, accidents, and the state or 

 rural fire fighting facilities. Members 

 can do much to promote safety minded- 

 iiess, NX'hitlock said, with exhibitions, 

 demonstrations, statistics, and tlie use of 

 posters and publicity materials. Whitlock 

 promised committee members safety pub- 

 lications and materials and offered to act 

 in an advisory capacity at any time 

 possible. 



Animal Health 



Animal disease — Dr. Van Houweling 

 explained that the practicing veterinarian 

 is the first line of defense against animal 

 disease. However, he said, assistance to 

 counties and individuals is available 

 through the lAA. the U. S. Dtpartment 

 ot Agriculture, the Illinois Dep.irtment 

 of Agriculture, and the University of 

 Illinois. Van Houweling pointed out 

 what farmers can do in an organized 

 effort to combat disease, possible changes 

 througli legisl.ative action were discussed. 

 Committee members joined in a discus- 

 sion of local problems and experiences ir> 

 the handling of disease conditions. 



Above: Talking over the committee plan informally at lunch In Benton. Below: Dis- 

 cussing the organixation of committees before the Benton meeting ore left to right, seated: 

 William Timpner, Perry county; Claude A. Terry, Jackson; I. E. Parett, lAA; G. C. Tennlson, 

 Franklin, and Dale Yehe, Wayne; standing: R. C. Broom, Williamson; W. W. Whitlock, 

 lAA; Albert Webb, Franklin, lAA director; John K. Cox, lAA; and Chories Mayfield, lAA. 



a^s^ 



MARCH, 1948 



IS 



