davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1921-12-12
PURCHASING c
POWER FARM
\ 0 v A I
30 ITO N
Secretary Agriculture De-
fines Vicious Circle in
Which Farming Has Been
Thrown; Sees Light Ahead

WASHINGTON, Dec. IA note
of optimism over the future outlook
of American agriculture in spite of
the present serious plight of the far
mers of this country was sounded by
! the Secretary of Agriculture in his
annual report to the President made
public here today. The worst period.
ne believes, is over, and a gradual
Improvement from now on NAV be
looked for, with the beginning of a
new agricultural era as the outcome of
the present distressing times.
The Secretary reviewed faithfully
the present situation of American ag-
riculture, analyzing the factors that
brought it about. In large part, he
declared, the troubles of the farmer
today are due to world wide conditions
and the inevitable result of the Would
War, and it is not to be expecthed that
by some miraculous transformation
this period of adversely may be turned
into a period of prosperity.
High freight rates, big crops pro-
duced in the face of high costs, un-
employment in the other industries of
! the country with the attendant les
sening in buying, and the lack of for
eign markets for our surpluses are
given by the Secretary as the more
immediate causes for agricultural con-
ditions facing the farmer this year
In some respects vicious circle has
been created that it is difficult for us
to break through, he declared. In
discussing the question of the effect
of European buying of our surplus
foodstuffs the Secretary said:
Had some way been found for the
people in need to buy our surplus at
prices which would cover the cost of
production the American farmer would
have been prosperous and the coun-
try would have prospered with him.
1t is terrible indictment of modern
civilization that with such abundance
here there are millions of people over
seas suffering for the bare necessities
and other millions starving to death.
And surely We are sadly lacking in our
understanding of economic laws or in
our adjustment to them when the pro-
duction of bounteous crops grown bv
the hard labor of 100000 farmers
and farm workers and their families
is permitted to play such large part
in paralyzing our industries and bust
ness at home"
The purchasing power of the prin-
,cipal farm crops of the year 1921, de-
clared the Secretary, at the present
time is lower than ever before known.
In times past some of these crops, he
pointed out, have sold at lower prices
per sale unit expressed in dollars and
cents, but probably never before have
our farmers generally been compelled
to exchange their crops per sale unit
for such small amounts of the things
they need The purchasing power of
our major grain crops is little more
than half what it was on an average
for the five pre-war years of 1910
1914, inclusive.
The Secretary drew particular at.
tention to the matter of freight rates
and their direct effect upon the far,
mer. The cost of getting farm prod
ucts from the farm to the consumers
table, he pointed out, has increased
Continued on Page y
Imperial Valley press., 1921-12-12
BADGER GAME
LANDS TWO
IN COUNTY
J A | |
w. C. Hester and Beautiful
Young Wife Alleged ID
Have Attempted Black
mail; Woman Makes De-
nial

William C. Hester, said by the po-
lice to be an ex-convict, 81 years of
age, and his wife Kate, %, are prison
ers in the county Jail on charge Of
robbery.
Their arrest was made by Under
sheriff Harry Barker Saturday night
as the result of their attempt, it is
alleged, to muict M. L. Grayson Of an
| automobile and number of city lots
BY means of what is commonly known
as the badger game.
Mrs. Hester, who is pretty, young
woman, and apparently unsophisticat-
ed, denies that she was q party to the
swindling of Grayson, and lays bare
her knowledge of the affair in state
ment, which bears all the earmarks
of truth.
According to Mrs. Hester, she is the
daughter of B. Young, a deputy
sheriff. in Northern California coua-
! ty. Two years ago, she says, her par
ents forced her into a marriage with
Hester, whom she never regarded as
wife should a husband, and that she
! had received only Indifferent and at
times cruel treatment from him ever
since. 49,
She became acquainted with Gray
son, she stated, some weeks ago when
she went into the secondhand store of
F. w. Clayton, on North Fifth street,
to buy stove, being introduced by
Clayton.
She and Grayson became friendly
and he urged his attentions upon her.
Finally she consented to receive him
at her home and on Friday last, hav-
ing been told by her husband that he
was going to his work at the Globe
mills in Calexico, she notified Gray
son that he could come to the house.
! She stated that a short time after
Grayson's arrival, and while they were
both lying on the bed fully clothed
except for their shoes, her husband
and a man called Joe, had come into
the room.
She had jumped from, the bed and
Grayson pulled the bedclothes over his
head and begged Hester not to shoot,
that he would settle.
Saturday, it is alleged, Hester
forced Grayson to give him bill of
sale for his automobile and also de-
manded a deed to certain city lots
of which Grayson and Clayton are the
joint owners. Grayson attempted to
get Clayton to sign a deed with him.
but Clayton refused and reported the
matter to the sheriff's office. The ar
rest of Hester and his wife followed.
A complaint against them was issued
by the district attorneys office.
Imperial Valley press., 1921-12-12

Continued to Page ~
Imperial Valley press., 1921-12-12
INCOME 7 Ak
QUEST|0N Ms
ANSWERED
H { R {
Just How New Law Affects
People Of Limited Income
Told by Internal Revenue
Department

To what extent will the average
taxpayer be benefited by changes in
revenue legislation? What are his
exemptions and deductions under the
revenue act of 1921 compared with the
revenue act of 1918? Hundreds of
such questions are reaching the Bu-
reau of Internal Revenue. The pur-
| pose of this article is to answer those
most frequently presented. Later, by
i direction of Commissioner of Internal
Revenue David H. Blair, there will be
prepared for the press series of in
formative articles telling the taxpay-
er in detail how to make out his in
come tax return for 1921.
| Probably the most important
change affecting the man of moderate
income is in the exemptions. Under
| the 1921 act a married man with a net
income of $4,000 and less is entitled to
an exemption of $2500 Under the
revenue act of 1918 this exemption
was limited to $4,000. The revenue act
of 1921 also provides for each person
| dependent upon the taxpayer, if such
person is under eighteen years of age
or incapable Of self support because
mentally or physically defective-an
exemption of $4OO. The exemption
under the revenue act of 1913 was 5000
for each such dependent. Thus, a
married man with two dependents
whose net income for 1921 was $4,000
will pay this year tax of S6S, COM
pared with $104 on the same income
for 1920.
The exemption of $2500 applies also
to the head of a family whose net in
come for 1921 was $4,000 or less, an
increase of $500 compared with the
1918 act A head of family, as de-
fined by present treasury regulations,
| is "a person who actually supports
and maintains in one household one
or more individuals who are closely
connected with him by blood relation
ship, relationship by marriage, or by
adoption, or whose right to exercise
family control and provide for these
dependents is based upon some moral
or legal obligation"
The normal rate of tax, A per cent
on the first $4,000 of net income above
the exemptions, and per cent on the
remaining net income, remains un-
Ichanged. This applies to citizens and
residents of the United States. Alien
lnon-residents are taxed to the full
per cent on income received from
sources within the United States
Nonresident aliens are allowed only
single personal exemption of $1,000
Ito overcome the disparity in the
lamount of normal tax in the case OF
two taxpayers, one of whom is just
within the lower $4,000 exemption, the
Iother being just within the higher
$25O0 exemption, the act provides that
the reduction of the personal eXemp
ton from $2500 to $1,000 shall not op
crate to increase the tax, which woulC
be payable if the exemption were
I$25000, by more than the net income
in excess Of $4,000. For example, ;
married man or head of family hal
net income for 1921 of 5000. As
suming that he has no dependents, hi
tax, if he were allowed only the 5000
exemption would be $120.40. Unde
the benefits of the above provision
however, his tax is $$ll0, A per cen
Continued on page %
Imperial Valley press., 1921-12-12

Continued on Page y
Imperial Valley press., 1921-12-12

Continued on page %
Imperial Valley press., 1921-12-12
RECENT VISITORS

The following were recent visitors
registered at the 81 Centre Chamber
of Commerce: F. E. Fender, San
Diego; Percy Williams, Tucson; Hec-
tor Burness, Fresno; F. H. Wilson,
Dinuba; G. C. Culp, Seattle; L. L. Ber-
retta, Los Angeles; T. l. Hayes, Ok
Johanna City; Mr.. and Mrs. ]. G. Will
kins, >Phillipsburg, Kas; Otto Emme-
negger, Menasha, Wis.
Imperial Valley press., 1921-12-12
IMPERIAL. CO.
RATE CASE
HEAR \ c
{ \ D D
F Flagrant Discrimination
Against Valley Shippers
Shown; Situation, if Con-
tinued, Will Boost Busi-
ness Truck Companies

The hearing of the case of the
Board of Supervisors against the
Southern Pacific Railroad to compel a
more equitable readjustment Of
freight rates in aand out of the valley
was conclude last Saturday in Los An
geles, before Commissioner. II. D.
Loveland, of the State Railroad Com
mission, this county being represented
by r. P. Gragson, manager of the AS
sociated Jobbers' Traffic Bureau.
The testimany given at the various
hearings Of the case has been briefed
by both sides and it may be three
months or more before a decision is
handed down by the commission.
The high spots in the case are here
with given for the information of 10
cal shippers, who are vitally interested
in the case. Indifference now, Mr.
Gragson points out, may cost Imperial
Valley producers millions of dollars.
The case is being hard fought by the
railroads, although Mr.. Grcgson con-
tends they are standing in their own
light; that even if they gain their con-
tention for present high rates, they
will stimulate truck competition to
their own ultimate undoing.
1t was clearly shown at the hearing
that the excessive freight charges
were the same freight handicaps are
not in operation.
AS there is a U. S. government tax
of 3 cents on every dollar of freight
paid; and an additional state tax of Z
cents on every dollar of freight paid;
and as these taxes are added to or in
cluded in the freight rates and are
paid by the shippers, it was contended
and maintained that if Imperial rates
were so per cent higher than rates in
other parts of the state, the shippers
are paying so per cent more taxes
than their competitors to both the
state and the nation.
Density of tonnage and density of
population are two of the natural
bases for the computation of freight
rates.
On the basis of density of tonnage,
it was shown by official figures that
the Los Angeles division handles twice
the freight of the Stockton division
and four times as much freight as the
Shasta division, both of which have
lower rates. The comparative fig
ures in gross ton miles, in thousands,
are:
Stockton division .................. 3.401 ,73S
Shasta division ..................... 1,576,620
Los Angeles division ............ 6,l28 1902
If rates were based on operating
costs, then the Los Angeles-Imperial
rates should be reduced at least SO
per cent. 1t was shown, on the testi-
mony of Southern Pacific expert in
charge of operation, that the operat-
ing costs on the Stockton division are
50 to rs per cent higher than on the
Los Angeles division, and operating
costs on the Truckee Sacramento) di-
vision are the highest on the system
Yet, it was shown that the South
ern Pacific in the Portland suit before
the Interstate Commerce Commission
had volunteered to adopt rate sched-
ale very much lower than the loca
rates here, for whose retention the
same railroad is making hard fight
These lower rates would apply tc
Continued to Page ~
Imperial Valley press., 1921-12-12

In statements issued to the press,
the publicity department Of the Ma
tional Coal Association declares that
mine operators make only
25 to 80 cents ton on their product,
and the reason coal which sells at the
mine mouth for $$3.47 costs the con.
sumer many times that amount is due
to freight rates and labor.
Imperial Valley press., 1921-12-12

Philadelphia has two detachments OF
|"co-ed soldiers" at Drexel Institute
and Ogontz School for Girls. Under
regular drilling the girls have become
straight-backed and vigorous. Drex,
cl Institute has been cited by mill.
tary officer as model for girls rifle
firing.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-07
" 4 FAiTIiFUL READER.
Shall She Ask Him7

Dear Cynthia-As have never writ
ten to you before, am going TO ask you
a question.
met a fellow whom like very much
and as | was introduced TO him in the
right way would like 10 know him
better I am seventeen years old and,
never having any fellows como 70 visit
me. | would like to have him. / have
many friends. both boys and girls. and
have a beautiful home, all kinds OF
music. but have a peculiar father. Now
what want 20 know Is. would II be
all right TO have this fellow take me
home some night and then introduce him
70 my parents? ! would also like TO
have him take mo out some place. Also
would II bo all right for me to write
him letter asking him to accompany
me to mask PARTY? Also could you
tell ne what I should do Everybody
ellis mo have beautiful brown eyes
and hat they attract the fellows. Why
I even put a wedding ring and engage
ment ring on my finger so as 10 have
fellOl 8 turn away, but they even talk TO
me ore then. BROWN-EYEr PAT.
We . ask him to take you to the party
II yoI have tickets for il. Wh! should
you not want your friends to talk to
you? Don't he silly, dear. Wait iii
you get your own rings to wear and be
kind and polite to all your friends,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-07

THIS is the story Of Blue Bird who
L went in search Of health and beauty.
She tried every milk cure, every rest
cure, every advanced form Of gymnas-
tic work, psyche analysis, every new
thought and new SCIENCE in an attempt
to regain her former hold on her nerves
and her figure and on her mind. Then,
coming home broken and disconsolnte,
her first duty was to dispense with the
maid and the cleaning woman and
manage along as best she could in a
smaller apartment.
And, like the other Blue Bird. she
found the work around the house and
the occupation of her mind with plan
ming and scheming to make ends meet
and the successful accomplishment
thereof the very thing that brought
roses back to her cheeks and a smile
back in hcr heart ana eyes.
II don't even regret the money 7
spent" she confided. for ] probably
never would have found my happiness
at all il had not paid for my lesson
dearly.
'But here I am, after n six months
honest labor making beds and sweeping
out rooms. busting and mopping floors,
wnlkin: miles around the house every
day. in better shape than | have been
for years.
\ noted physician is stanch be-
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-07

1T has been proved statistically that
in homework the percentage of acCi-
dents Is almost nil in comparison with
Office work. factory work and other lines
Of woman cndeavor. Where the men,
tality is normal it is the ideal work for
wOmen's health. AS compared with
Office work the hours may seem longer.
but the exercise advantages make II an
infinitely healthier kind of work. There
are occasional cases Of great RESPONSE
bilities and extreme poverty which in
vOlve much mental suffering But the
average woman with an average home
to look after is to be cnvicd and not
pitied.
''Half the avoirdupois in the woman
world could be worked off with home
exercise and dispensing with the maid
around the house. The bending and
stretching involved IN making beds and
tidying up and dusting would shake of
many a clinging pound and ward of
many n threatening ono.
This physician urges business women
and men whose vOcations are scdcntary
to keep moving during the day as much
as possible-tO get up to answer the
phone. TO walk across the room to get
a drink Of water. to dispense with the
office boy around the building and TO do
the moving about himself or herself on
the well proved theory that a sedentary
body provokes sedentary mind. The
housewife has this advantage in plenty.
whereas her sister in business is limited
in opportunity for the daily play of the
muscles.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-07
CHAPTER MI
Freedom,

THEO "a through the day somehow.
L Afterward she was hardly conscious
Of how she had spent the time, except
ing that the day had been one long
agony OF waiting. She knew IL would
do no good to be out when Jimmy
came back. There was no other wav
out of It but 10 see him and make
him understand that she no longer loved
him.
At 80 she snapped on the electric
lights in the living room and waited for
him to ring the bell, but it was after 8
before he arrived. Theo opened the
door in silence, and followed him into
the living room He seemed subdued
his attitude OF the morning was no
longer with him. Evidently he had
given some thought 10 the affair dur
ing the day, and was eager az last TO
: be reasonable.
''If be had been like this when he
came this morning. I'd still be bound
TO him." Theo thought suddenly, and
an exultant little thrill ran through
her. She realized. for the first time,
that she was no longer bound to Jimmy
that by his own actions he had freed
her, that she owed him nothing. The
thought gave her confidence. her chin
wont up and color crept into her face,
"Theo," he said, turning to her sud .
denly, "Theo. can you forgive me?' II
was the old Jimmy speaking the Jimmy
che had once promised 70 marry, aud
in the glory of her new found freedom
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-07
The Servant Question

Dear Cynthla--I have just read the
letter by "Greenhorn," of Germantown,
and II so stirred me that I am impelIed
to rush into print"
Tn" main reason why the servant
question in these days is so acute is
that uiHe-tenths OF the employers do
not know (or If perChancc they do fail
to practice iD how 10 treat help as
though they were human. when thrown
upon my own resources | a, once ap-
piled for a position as housckeeper.
partly because of fondness for the work
and then because unless one has special
mental or business qual fcat!ons the re-
muneraNon IS better than in other lines
Of work; J pNrrose,ly avoided, places
where other help was kept, realizing that
7 was less likely to be placed in the
ordinary servant class
| will gve one littIc instance Of the
consideration 90 which received 7
Uas expected 10 eat my meals in the
kitchen. Whero there was a coal Are
going day and night. on several ocCa .
Of the house saw me taking my meals on
the back porch. seated Oh a box " III
chair seat for table explained 70 her
that the heat had driven me from the
kitchen. but never once did she suggest
that 7 cat in tho dining room when the
ram!l" werr through.
| reiterate my former Statement that
until employers reCogn q" thai servants
arc human and treat them as such con-
ditions will be no better.
Thank fortune, all are not Nat way.
and I nov have a position would be
very loath to leave However. II one
little word OF mine will help some one
20 sec the rank injustice which many OF
the servant class suffer at the hands
or the vast majority Of housewives |
shall feel have not lived IN vain.
ONE WHO HAS BEEN THERE.
II ls true that some persons arc not
Considerate Of the maids II should be a
case OF ffty-fFty.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-07

Free your system from consti-
patton! Kick out of the covers in
the morning feeling like lark,
with your mind sparkling keen and
true! It's great to get that way!
And, you can!
BRAN Kelloggs Bran,
cooked and krumbted - unlike
cathartics, will relieve constipa
tion permanently! 1t is natures
food-and a natural cleanser!
Eat Kellogg's Bran regularly
with your favorite cereal or in
countless other enticing ways
such as III bran bread, mullins,
pancakes, cookies, macaroons,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-07
The Heart Pirate
By HAZEL DEYO BACHELOR
Copvrtoht. 1891. by Public Ledcer Conpus,

Theo could afford TO be generous. "Ot
course, I forgive you.
Then. it's all right, You're going 10
be sensible?" he said eagerly. "God
knows. I'm glad lived through hell
today" In the excess of his relief
he went on speaking quickly. II did
nothing but thrash things over in my
mind. and / came TO the conclusion
that. no matter what happened, ] had
to have you, that ! could forgive you
everything. and thar you needn't be
afraid to tell me- the truth"
ThAo felt a wild impulse to laugh.
The situation was so utterly absurd and
Jimmy had no longer any power to
hurt her. She wondered now why she
had suffered so much over what he
rad said 70 her that morning. and
decided that il must have been because
she had seen him then for the first
time a. hc really was and not as ~h"
had believed him TO be.
But she was sorry for him and she
wanted TO he kind. In his way be
cared for her. and there vas no need
And 30 she told him exactly what
had happened. from the time she had
called him up on the day Richard
Blakeslpe had carried her of to her
arrival in the city from Savannah. Tn
consciously as she talked of Richard
Blakeslee. her voice sottened. She
could not utter MS name without re-
memberng him wildly. without seeing
him. his slim dark face, his granite
chin and stern mouth. the fash of his
teeth whom he smiled. the proud i'm
perioua set Of his head on his shoulders.
And from seeing him in he thoughts
it was such a little step 70 other mem
oripS. His voice when he had told her
he wanted her. the crushing warmth Of
his Gus on hers. his nrms like steel
bands around her. his heart lCaptug
against hers. Involuntarily she caught
her breath realized where she was
drifting. and brought herself up short,
That's all, she said suddenly. and
then sho gNmpsNd Jimmy's face, II
wore a mask Of iRtcus" fury.
$50 thur's all, is il" he snapped
out. Don't you suppose ! can soc
through everything you say You're in
love with this man, I can see It In the
very way you mention his name. I
thought you we're going 70 tell me the
truth.
II did tell you the truth, ThCo re-
turned quickly. Il tod you this morn .
ing that I loved him and you didn't be.
lcve me
CTomorTow-The final TaunN