The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1916-12-22
.OEMURRAGE RATE
INCREASE DENIED
APPLICATION OF MONTANA RAIL
ROADS REFUSED BY COMMISSION
DISCRIMINATE FEARED.
PLAN TO LEND SCHOOL FUNDS
eoard of Land Commissioners Adopts
Rules Providing For Loans For
Not Less Than $500 or
More Than $1,000.
Helena.

IlGltuds
There will be no increase in denur-
rage charges in Montana, according
to decision handed down by the state
railroad commission. The railroads OPP
Grating in Montana asked that they be
allowed to increase demurrage charges
in line with the increases granted by
the interstate commerce commission.
a hearing on the application was held
last month, and at it the railroads
held that one cause of the car shortage
was because consignees held the cars
for storage purposes, finding it more
profitable to pay the demurrage char
ges. 1t was contended if the rates
were increased cars would be more
quickly released to the carriers.
The request was opposed by the
1umbermen, who were the only ones
who appeared in OPPOSITION at the hear
| ing. Two witnesses, B. ]. Boorman
and Guy Bulmer, both representing
lumber companies, testified that the
railroads did not collect demurrage
charges in every instance, On this tes-
timony the commission bases its refus-
al to grant increased rates, saying to
| do so would be to encourage discrimin-
alton by the railroads between ship
pers, so long as the carriers collected
from some and not from others.
X X X
On School Funds Loans.
The state board of land commission
ers has adopted rules governing the
lending of school funds in farm lands.
Under the rules no loan will be made
for less than $500 and none to exceed
$4,000. The minimum length of time
for which loans will be made is years
and the maximum 10 years. The in
terest rate is fixed at 6 per cent. Aft
er three years, payments may be made
upon the principal of $100 or or null
tiple thereof. Loans are to be made
upon the appraised value and not the
assessed value, and in amounts not ex.
ceeding two-fifths of the appraised |
value. The state land agent will make
the appraisement, and the applicant
must pay his railroad fare and travel
Ing expenses, and applicants must al. |
SO furnish, also at their own expense |
abstracts of title.
Loans are to be secured by first |
mortgages on forms furnished by the |
state, the mortgage running to the |
state of Montana. Payments of prin-
cipal and interest are to made to the |
register of state lands, who must &C.
count therefor to the state treasurer.
Rules on Taxation Question.
A ruling has just been made by At
torney General Poindexter on the ques-
ton of taxation of indemnity lands, in
reply to an inquiry from r. G. Wig
gen horn, county attorney of Carbon.
The assessor of Carbon levied taxes on
lieu lands selected by the Northern
Pacific railroad company. It is held
by the attorney general that if, as he
has been informed, the commissioner
of the general land Office passes upon
an application for such lands and the
proof submitted, under a decision of
the supreme court of this state title
does not pass to the railroad company
until after the commissioner has rem
dered his decision.
4 X X
Not Doing Full Duty.
Montana is not doing it full duty
toward educating it's boys and girls,
Chancellor e. c.. Elliott of the Univer-
sity of Montana told the members of
the Helena Commercial club, and he
said some striking changes must be
made in the educational work in this
state if Montana is to take it's place
among the other states of this nation.
Chancellor Elliott showed that Mon
tana ranks fortieth of the 48 states
of the Union in the amount of money
spent on its institutions of higher ed
ucation, and ranks last of all the
northwestern states in this regard.
X X X
New Rules Govern Militia.
New Regulations governing the en-
in the National Guard of
Montana have been issued by Adjt
Gen. Phil Greenan, and will be dis
tributed to all recruiters and guard
officers of the state. These rules are
made under the terms of the nation
al defense act, which became effec-
tive June 3, 1915.
X X X
Prohibition Act Proclaimed.
dOVSIuOI Dahl v. OIcWdIJ u Null |
tana, in formal proclamation, has
notified the people Of the passage OF
the prohibition act, effective on and af-
ter the 31st day of December, 1918.
X X X
Lectures. on Historical Sites.
Dr.. F. E. Carver of the Montana
State Normal college at Dillon has
just given an illustrated lecture on
Historical sites Of Montana" in th4
church at Deer Lodge
DR.. Carver in undoubtedly the LEADING
student of research in Montana history
He has written extensively on this
subject and several of his articles have
recently In local and state
papers. He has given the same lecture
the slides in many Montana
cities. and has been SO well received
10 has been asked to reneat