The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-06-21
NONPRODUCT|vE
JOBS ARE LISTED
ADJUTANT GENERAL GREENAk
GETS NEW DATA ON
DRAFT CASES.
NEWS OF THE CAPITAL CITY
Mountain States Telephone q TeIe-
graph Company Makes AppIica-
ton to Utility Commission
to Increase Rates.

| OcDcIdl NlCC1dI
has received instructions from Provost
Marshal General Crowder relating to
the Redistribution Of idlers and per.
sons engaged in certain designated
non productive occupations. When
found, such persons are to be cited by
| the local boards in whose district they
live, to appear and show cause why
they should not be placed in Glass /.
ALI findings in cases Of this kind, re-
CARELESS of whether they are favor
able or adverse to the registrant, are
| to be reviewed by the district board.
The designated nonproductive occu-
pations are as follows: Persons en-
gagged in serving of food and drink
passenger elevator operators and at
tendants, door men, footmen, carriage
openers and other attendants in clubs,
hotels, stores, apartment houses, office
buildings and lighthouses; .ushers and
other attendants in connection with
games, sports and amusements except
ing actual performers in legitimate
concerts, operas or other theatrical
performances; persons employed in do
nestle service; sales clerks and other
clerks employed in stores and other
mercantile establishments.
Reasonable excuses as valid include
sickness, reasonable vacation; lack of
opportunity for other employment !;
temporary absences not exceeding a
week if not habitual; compelling do
nestle circumstances.
Would Increase Phone Rates.
Application for permission to in
crease its rates on residence phones
from % to 80 cents month and on
business phones from 80 cents to 81
a month, has been made of the state
utility commission by the Mountain
States Telephone and Telegraph com
pany. A hearing in the immediate fu-
ture is asked at which the company
asserts it will prove its deficit in Mon
tana last year was $235,0O0 and that
its anticipated deficit this year is
100000.
The application also contemplates
an increase in rates on long distance
messages from four-fifths of a cent a
mile to one cent a mile and in lieu of
the long time contract now required
for the installation of phones an in
stallation charge of So instead of $3.50
as at present. Redistribution of
towns on a basis of telephones in use
instead of population basis is asked
for. Rural rates will not be changed.
The company asserts that material
costs have risen $50 per cent, main
tenance cost 34.5 per cent and cost of
traffic 42.5 per cent, while
greater than before the war.
The relief applied for is imperative
for the maintenance of efficient SER
vice, it Is asserted. In January and
February, 1917, the deficit was $31 900
in Montana it is claimed this year
in those two months the deficit was
ST., ZOO.
The rates applied for are substan-
TALLY the same as were in effect in
1912. before the voluntary reduction
made by the company.
In support of its argument for q
Redistribution of towns on basis of
telephones used instead of population,
the petition points out that Billings,
and Helena are practically |
the same size, but Helena has 300 |
phones, Billings 3,4O0 and Anaconda
only 1,500.
4 X X
$4,000 Automobiles in Montana.
If the average cost of automobiles |
used In Montana is $1,000, this state
has an investment of $4,000 in ma
chimes, for up to the present time
Secretary of State G. T. Stewart has
sent out 10000 licenses and applica-
ions are still coming in at the rate of
LOO to $50 day. Three repeat orders
,or license plates have been placed
'lnce the original order was sent in,
md Secretary Stewart estimates not
ess than $4,000 machines will have
been licensed by the end of the season.
The cdrtailment of the production of
has not begun to be felt
vet, but it is thought that in the course
If few months there will be de-
.ided slump in the number of new cars
registered, and then the relicensing of
lsed cars will become more active.
X 4 X
Fuel Administrator Named.
A Washington, D. c., dispatch says
'uel Administrator Garfield has ''defi-
itely decided on the appointment
f M. H. Gerry of Helena as state
ueI administrator in Montana to sue
eed w. J. Swindlehurst, resigned.
X 4 X
Rate Arguments Suspended.
The Montana railroad commission /
as been advised by the chief counsel {
{ the federal railroad administration /
lat under Director General McAdoo's c
ate increase order. "ail rate questions
! between complaining parties and
le railroads are probably suspended Q
' that order" u
The question was asked in connec- Il
on with an alleged discrimination s
lat exists in the rates on lumber to n
)ints on branch lines. The Montana D
admission will take up these matters Ii
It'll the director general. Il