Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-09-25
LOW SCRIP RATE FORCES COUNTY
 AGENTS TO QUIT
H. C. l.. Also Cause of Resig- nations of Joel Lambert and
 C. H. Thomas.
QUORUM COURT MAY
 PREVENT THEIR LOSS
Both Men Have Been Factors in Agricultural Progress of Jeff ferson-Paper Sells Ex-
 tremely Low.

tremely Low.
 Because of h. c. l. and l. V. slow value of scrip-Jefferson county is likely to lose the services of it's two farm demonstration agents.
 C. H. Thomas and Joel Lambert. who have preached and taught better farming in the county for the past five years, and who are accredited with great measure of the progress made in the diversification of crops movement and increased prosperity of the farmers, yesterday rendered their resignations to County Judge R. H. Williams. The resignations are effective October 1.
 Judge Williams, discussing the res ignations with The Graphic, com- mended the work of Messrs. Lambert and Thomas, and expressed the hope that some plan might be adopted by the quorum court at the meeting Oc- tober 20 whereby the services of the two farm demonstrators might be re- tained for the benefit of the people of Jefferson county.
 Agents Statements.
 In presenting their resignations, Messrs. Thomas and Lambert issued a joint statement addressed "To Farmers and Business Men of Jeffer- son County" in which they say:
 Owing to increased cost of oper- ating old cars to conduct the work and the low cash value of county scrip for the past eighteen months, to say nothing of the increased cost of living, we find it necessary to ten- der our resignations as county agri- cultural agents, effective October 1, to enable us to engage in more profit able work.
 Knowing that we cannot longer continue the work at the present sal aries, we deem it only fair to take this step now that the public may appreciate the situation before time for making appropriations for next year. We trust that the work we have done during the past five years throughout the county will warrant the continuance of the work in the future, and bespeak for our success sors the heartiest support and CO., operation of every one interested in advancing the agriculture of the county.
 "We also wish to express our ap- preciation of the support given us bv the daily newspapers of Pine Bluff, the several county courts which have endorsed the work, and the business men and farmers with whom we have worked. It is with sincere regret that we find this change necessary"
 Nobody Wants It.
 The low value of scrip of Jefferson and some other counties in the Elev- enth judicial district was a factor in the resignation recently of Court Ste- nographer H. L. Strenberg. Like the farm demonstrators. the court stenog- rapher said he couldn't meet the high cost of living while compelled to dis count his salary warrants 30 to 40 per cent.
 All county officials receive their saiarles ln scrip, but the clerks of the courts are permitted to cash their warrants from the receipts of their offices in the months when :hese re- celpts are sufficient to cover the war rants. Members of the sheriff's and other departments must fina1ce them- selves and trust to getting the face value of their warrants by present. ing them to the treasurer when he has funds. The result is tl at pay- ments by the clerks into the county treasury are watched pretty closely Dy the officials. The incentive is the difference between 60 per cent and 100 per cent.
 Fine Bluff banks have carried uuan- tltles of this scrip, until the supply IS far in excess of the demand, and they were compelled to call a halt. The scrip will be worth 100 cents on the dollar in time, the bankers feel. but they, like others, cannot af- ford to hold it that long.
 Blame Debatable.
 The cause for the depreciation of Jefferson county scrip is a subject o1 debate. It seems generally agreed that It's low value is not due to the incumbent of the county judges off, lice, R. H. Williams, but to predeces- sors in that position. Friends of [. K. Cheek, who held the judpeship immediately preceding Judge vii. liams, defend him from the charge oL causing the great depreciation, tnough they admit he issued a lot or It; C. Mason Philpot held office just before l.. E. Cheek. His friends say ne inherited bad condition, and though he expended considerable in constructive work, he had made such arrangements for handling these warrants as would have prevented de- preclatlon had he remained in office or ms policy. been continued by his successor. ts
 +
 About $l00,000 worth of scrip was redeemed this year at tax-payinp tune, and it is believed that more tnan SIPS, 900 will be redeemed next year. Under the law taxpayers are permitted to pay in scrip the taxes
 (Continued m naro .;xl