Omaha daily bee., 1922-04-24

gresscd, he said: "State Engineer
Johnson and others, by accusing
county officials Of local mismanagc.
ment, have sought to draw attention
from the, gigantic mistakes of state
officials. Apparent indifference was
paid to the mistakes of the state
and federal governments, or they
were excused on the ground that the
head office could not be held respon-
sible for the mistakes of subordi-
mates. The whole committee had rea-
sonable fairness in mind, but the ef-
ficiently organized effort of Mr.. John
son and his engineers was put up
against the unorganized efforts OF
the various counties. The general
public will regret after it is over that
more interest was not taken. Richard
son county put up the strongest fight.
MIR. Johnson now interprets the law
to mean that he can spend more than
5 per cent for engineering expense
on any project, providing the engi-
neering expense for all projects in the
state do not average more than per
cent. In some counties the engineer
ing expense has run as high as Is
per cent"
Organize New Local.
BPomheld.-A new local of the
farmers union was organized north
west Of here by H. c. Elwood,
whose home is in Antelope county,
south of Creighton. Mr.. Elwood
was one of the first organizers of
the farmers union when it started
in this part of the state more than
10 years ago, and he is still in the
harness. The number of the new
local is 1484. The early locals in
this county have numbers much un-
der 100.
Discuss Phone Rates.
Dorchester.-About $50 farmers
attended the convention of the Saline
County Farmers union held here.
This was considered very large at
tendance for this season of the year
when farmers are so busy with
their field work. One>cause for the
lively interest in this meeting was
the discussion of telephone rates
and service, question now being
agitated among the farmers of the
county. A. L. Ullstrom, one of the
directors of the state organization,
was present part of the day. 1t was
an all-day convention.
Burt County Meeting.
Oakland.-A meeting of the Burt
County Farmers union will be held
in this city April 20. President c.
]. Osborn of the state union will be
present and give an address. This
is rally meeting for the county
following a series of local meetings
held throughout the county recently
by J. O. Shroyer of the stae or
ganizing force. The call is signed
by A. H. Gilbert, county president,
and Lester Lott, county secretary.
Plan Wider Margin.
Murdock.-The board of directors
of the farmers union elevator. here
has decided to operate on some
what wider margin on grain. 1t
finds that the margin has not been
wide enough to cover shrinkage
and protect against possible fluctua-
tons in market prices. The COM
pany is cooperative, so if :, any
profit accumulates from the wider
marrying it will be paid back to the
patrons in proposition to their patron
age. The board believes that it will
be better to make dividends at the
end of the year, after depreciation
and reserves have been provided for,
than to make dividends "over the
scales"
Osborn at Allen.
Allen.-President Osborn OF the
state farmers union addressed a spe-
cial meeting of the Dixon County
Farmers union on the subject of the
finance corporation now being or
ganized Owing to the ideal weather
for field work. following snow and
rain which delayed seeding and plow-
ing, the attendance was not so
large as was expected. Mr.. Osborn
expressed pleasure at the interest
shown in the subject he presented
as we'll as in farmers union work in
general. Arrangements were made
with Andrew Mathiesen of Wakefield
to do some organizing work in this
county, which already has a large
farmers union membership,