1906. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
223 
EVENTS OF THE WEEK. 
INSURANCE AFFAIRS.—The report of the Armstrong 
Investigating Committee, recommending drastic and sweep¬ 
ing reforms In life insurance business, was presented to the 
Legislature at Albany, N. Y., Feb. 22. The committee makes 
the following recommendations: That the insurance law be 
amended to permit the organization of mutual corporations 
without capital stock. That all stock companies be con¬ 
verted eventually into purely mutual companies. That all 
present proxies be rescinded and that the life of proxies 
hereafter be limited to two months preceding election. That 
provision Ik: made to give “a free and effective expression 
to the wish of the policyholders in elections." That the 
terms of all present trustees or directors shall expire on 
Nov. 15 next, and that: the next elections be held under the 
supervision of the Su|>erlntendent of Insurance. That stock 
investments of the companies be prohibited except in stocks 
of municipal corporations. That the limit of annual new 
business be fixed at .$150,000,000. That a drastic measure 
be passed to prevent political contributions. That lobby¬ 
ists be registered and that each company submit itemized 
accounts of its legislative expenses. That all salaries over 
$ 5,000 a year be fixed by the trustees and not by a com¬ 
mittee or officer. That the rebate law be amended to make 
the receiver equally guilty with the giver. 'Phut syndicate 
transactions be prohibited. That dividends l>e distributed 
annually and that the issuance of so-called deferred divi¬ 
dend policies 1)0 prohibited. That agents’ commissions be 
made uniform, and lion uses and prizes prohibited. That 
provision lie made for publicity in the transactions of the 
companies. 
ADMINISTRATION.—The question of whether the Hep¬ 
burn bate 1)111 should be reported from the Senate Com¬ 
mittee on Interstate Commerce with a court review amend¬ 
ment was practically settled Feb. 22, whs*) fhe Democratic 
members of the committee decided fo support such an 
amendment. Rut they imposed conditions which render it 
not entirely certain that Senator Knox’s amendment will 
be the amendment adopted. The general provisions of Mr. 
Knox’s bill are as follows: The bill extends the Interstate 
Commerce lnw to all common carriers over which Congress 
has jurisdiction, Including those partly by rail and water, 
and all the facilities and instrumentalities In connection 
therewith whether owned by the carrier or otherwise. 
It declares unlawful all rates for the transportation, 
receipt, delivery, preservation or incident thereto which 
are not just and reasonable. Complaints as to rates, 
discriminations, etc., are to be heard by the Interstate Com¬ 
merce Commission, and if found unlawful, unjust or pre¬ 
judicial, the commission is to fix a rate which is to be flic 
maximum rate for the service, to take effect within a time 
deemed reasonable by the commission, and to continue not 
exceeding two years unless set aside by the courts, which 
are to decide only as to its lawfulness, the carrier being 
required to give bond for the repayment of excess charges 
if the court suspends the order. Appeals can be taken 
only from civil courts to the Supreme Court, and such 
appeals are not to act as stays from the findings of the 
Circuit Courts. A carrier who falls or refuses to carry 
out an order of the commission is to be lined $5,000 for each 
day of failure or refusal. To make the orders of (he com¬ 
mission enforceable as to just rates in which foreign roads 
are parties authority is given to suspend I lie movement of 
traffic on that part of the road within he United States. To 
meet the additional demands upon the Interstate Commerce 
Commission in the enforcement of the act it is authorized 
to employ special agents and examiners. 
PARCELS POST VS. “FREE SEEDS/' 
In talking with different people on this tonic, market 
gardeners In particular, I have yet to hear the first sensible 
man endorse (he free seeds and plants as generally sent 
out from the Agricultural Department. In conversation with 
two of tlie ablest men of the Department some time back, 
they both admitted the free seed shop as a discredit to the 
Government, it being both a big expense to the Agricultural 
as well as the I’ost Office Departments for what little good is 
ever derived from it. Rut both these men stated that Con¬ 
gress would never do away with the free seeds as long as 
many of the members counted largely on having these very 
seeds, worthless as many of them might be, assist them In 
their elections. If only new and rare seeds and varieties 
were distributed for trial (the original purpose of the busi¬ 
ness) all would be well and good. But for stuff to be sent 
out still that was discarded as worthless by practical men 
years ago is just simply a serious reflect Ion on the wis¬ 
dom of the officials of the Agricultural Department. I 
frequently receive seeds, not that I request them, but they 
come anyway. If they are of a nature to make good chicken 
feed It’s not so very bad, but if otherwise they are just 
thrown or given away. A few days ago. In a veritable 
snowstorm with a cold north wind, our rural carrier seemed 
to be extra heavily loaded. Asking the cause was told, 
“An overdose of free seeds and plants.” When opening a 
parcel that was directed t«j myself, behold what: I found: 
Two Lenoir and two Herbemont grape vines all the way 
from Washington by mall, delivered in a regular snow¬ 
storm, worth at the most, if they were needed, 10 cents. 
Jerusalem, what a gracious (Government ! No wonder we 
farmers are prospering when we get. such gifts. Now, the 
Herbemont grape Is one of the oldest we have. Nurseries 
sell (hem at five cents apiece by (in- 100. The Lenoir is not 
worth standing room in our .section of country. I have 
discarded them as worthless 20 years or more ago. Now, If 
the Rost Office Department could carry parcels of, say, up 
to 10 pounds weight of such goods as the people generally 
require at a fair rate of postage there would be revenue for 
the services, and the people would lie benefited. There would 
be an advantage all around. And would It not be best for 
the country’s good to have the Congressmen who have not 
ability or brains enough to re-elect them to their positions, 
to stay at home next lime and let some abler man take the 
place, than to have them get themselves re-elected by the 
means of free seeds, etc.? Now, Mr. Congressmen, act sensi¬ 
ble and do away with tlie free seed humbug and give the 
country in place a parcels post. You will stand much bet¬ 
ter chances of re-election. j. w. stubionuauch. 
Texas. 
HAY ROGUES FOUND GREEN FARMERS. 
I enclose you a clipping; it speaks for itself. I wonder 
how nnyiy of (hose 50 farmers take The R. N.-Y. or know 
what a Rradstreet report is? It Is pretty hard to bale 
hay and sell it for from $8 to $10 a ton, and (hen not gel 
that, but what are you to do? I baled 00 tons tills year but 
I sell direct to consumer iu Massachusetts, and it nets me 
about $12.50 on cars. f. e. w. 
Ballston Lake, N. Y. 
“It is estimated that in this country alone farmers in the 
past year have lost upwards of $ 00,000 through unscrupu 
Ious hay purchasers. The farmers in Duanesburgh are the 
heaviest. losers, and the swindle perpetrated upon them is 
at present (he chief topic of discussion there. The game 
worked by these agents was to order several tons of hav to 
be delivered on a commission basis. The man receiving the 
hay would pay the agent, who would appropriate the money 
to his own use. The unsuspecting farmers have been vic¬ 
tims of these unscrupulous agents for years, the game 
varying in some slight degree each season. One method Is 
to buy up hundreds of tons of hay. have It delivered and 
promise to pay in a few weeks. At the end of (lint time the 
party who ordered the hay has left for parts unknown. 
The operations of these buyers have been carried on in Al¬ 
bany County also, and the farmers in that district are up 
In arms against the practice, with a determination to put a 
stop to it. The residents of the rural districts have prac¬ 
tically no redress for their wrongs, but it is Imped that the 
act they will recommend to (lie Legislature will, if passed, 
put a quietus on the brazen methods of these so-called hay 
agents.” 
SIZES 
3 to 17 feet 
Agents 
Wanted. 
Pulverizing Harrow 
Clod Crusher and Leveies 
SENT ON TRIAL. 
To be returned at my expense if not satisfactory. 
The best pulverizer—cheapest 
Riding Harrow on earth. The 
Acme crushes, cuts, pul¬ 
verizes, turns and levels 
l„. all soils for all purposes. 
Made entirely of cast 
steel and wrought iron 
—indestructible, u* 
Catalog and booklet. 
“AnIdeal Harrow" by 
_HenryStewart sent free. 
I deliver f. o. b. at New York, Chicago, Columbus, l.oulsvllle, Kansas City, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Portland, etc, 
DUANE H. NASH, Sole Manufacturer, Millington, New Jersey. 
BRANCH HOUSES: 1 t O W. Wamhlngton St., CHICAGO. 240-144 7th Av«. S., MINNEAPOLIS. 1318 W. 8th St.g 
KANSAS CITY. MO. 218 I Oth St., LOUISVILLE, KY. Cor. Wator and W. Cay Sta., COLUMBUS, OHIO. 
* 1'UCAHii MENTION THIS 1*A1*EH. 
Lou Dillon 
Tandem Garden 
Cultivator 
Suits the practical gardener because it cultivates either between or astride the rows, 
and be goes along at an easy, continuous walk. One simple movement without the 
use of wrench or tool of any kind makes it possible to always furrow the soil at just 
the desired depth. You must not put this cultivator on a par with the common hit 
and miss garden cultivator. It works so easily and accurately that it is the 
greatest help to amateur gardeners, women, truck farmers, and, in fact, 
unyone who wants to save time and do good accurate work. 
The Lou Dillon cultivator works as easily as a lawn mower. It is in fact, 
the only garden cultivator that is practical for a woman or child, as it is 
tiie only one made that they can push. 
We will take the cultivator back and give back yotir 
money if it don’t do your work better and in less time 
than any garden cultivator you ever used. 
Write for free descriptive catalogue and prices. 
Schaible Manufacturing Co.. 
Albion. Michigan. 
< 
v 
_. THE LOUDEN JUNIOR 
Always ready. Never out of repair. The 
round top swinging fork pulley registers at an angle. 
Does not tip or bind on track as other Carriers do. Fills 
barn full clear up to the comb. Lock alwavs works and never 
gives trouble. Patent swivel takes twist out or kinky rope. 
This is one of our many excellent Carriers made either for 
steel or wood track. 
ALL HAY TOOLS 
We are Hay Tool Specialists. Our line includes 
everything in Carriers, Tracks, Hay Slings, Forks, 
Pulleys, Stackers, Cable Rickers, Hay Rack Fixtures, 
etc. Also, the best lflexible Rarn Door Hangers in 
tlm World, Feed and Litter Carriers and other hard¬ 
ware specialties. Write for free catalog and also 
booklet on “Fitting up Barns.” Sent free. 
LOUDEN MACHINERY CO.. 
39 BROADWAY, FAIRFIELD, IOWA 
mmm 
2 a”*- r? 1 - 
It’s Economy 
to give your horse good 
nourishing feed. You 
cannot get the best work 
out of him unless you do. 
It’s economy to feed your 
fields with a top dressing of 
Nitrate of Soda 
(THE STANDARD AMMONIATE) 
You cannot get the best results unless you do. The difference between a field so fed and a field 
without is shown in the above reproduction from a photogiaph. The crop on the right (one acre of 
1 imothy) was treated with Nitrate of Soda. The neighboring crop had none. We will give you the 
opportunity to TEST IT FOR YOURSELF ENTIRELY FRF.B 
by sending sufficient Nitrate of Soda for you to try it, asking only that you use according to our direc¬ 
tions, and let us know the result. To the twenty-five farmers who get the best results, we offer, as a 
prize, I rof. Voorliees’ most valuable book on fertilizers, their composition, and how to use for differ¬ 
ent crops. Handsomely k*und, 327 pages. Apply at once for Nitrate of Soda, as this offer is 
necessarily limited, ‘rood lor Plants,” a 230 -page book of useful information, sent free to farmers. 
WILLIAM S. MYERS, Director, 12-16 John Street, New York 
The Stoddard Combination. 
The Back Breaker Combination. 
T HE STODDARD COMBINATION is a money-making anti a labor- 
saving investment. It adds dollars to your bank account and lightens your 
work. It is the most complete sawing outfit manufactured. 
T HE STODDARD ENGINE is always ready in cold weather as well as 
warm, the Material, Workmanship and Horse Power are guaranteed. It 
will operate any piece of machinery that requires power, and will do its work on a 
very small amount of gasoline. 
Drag Saw Outfits if Preferred. 1 ] Write for Catalog E. H. 
Stoddard Mfg. Co., Rutland, Vt. 
Eureka Potato Planter No. 10 
We also make a Cue-Row Walking and a 
1 wo-Kow Riding Planter. The largest and 
best line matte in this 
country. Sold with 
or without the noted 
izard Fer¬ 
tilizer Feed. 
Capacity 
300 to 2000 . 
EUREKA 
MOWER CO., 
Utica, 
N. Y. 
ALL STEEL 
RAKE 
ZQ 
Durability and ease of operation are two desirable features you get in 
the Johnston All Steel ltuke. Durability because where the strain and 
wear is greatest, there it is strongest. The head and frame where most 
strain comes are made of ungle steel. Wheels are steel with oust hubs 
and round staggered spokes. It’s all steel but the tongue or shafts— 
No Warp, No Shrink, No Split 
Teeth do clean work without scratching; they are long, flat-pointed, 
interchangeable. It’s an easy rake to operate because it is nicely bal¬ 
anced. Runs light, pleases man and horse. A special rake folder gives 
all its good features and tells why the Johnston Rake is bent to buy. A 
postal brings it free and our l‘J06 catalog illustrating the complete 
Johnston line of “Not In the Trunt“ Farm Tools. Write for it today 
TUK JOHNSTON JlAltVHSTKlt CO., liOX *201 , BATAVIA. N. Y. 
