The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1930-05-02

It's getting about the time that another one of
those illconsidered ordinances passed by the city
council last year, takes effect.
That is the dog tax, which this year will be $500
fer male and $500 for females.
1t seems that the past year the City Council has
devoted great part of its time devising ways
and means to creating greater taxes upon the peo-
pie, most of which measures have been scrapped
because of the vigorous protest against the same
by the now over-burdened taxpayers.
Here are a few that have gone by the board
two cent tax on all gasoline purchased in the
City of Plentywood; a license fee of $500 for all
Plentywood citizens driving automobiles, which in
many cases would cost family $1,000 per family
And now comes the dog tax.
The first two taxes mentioned concerned the
elders of the family the last mentioned is the
kiddies problem. Perhaps that will be enforced
The kiddies have not much means to protest
OF fight for their pets-they have not yet learned
the ways of the world.
The Councilmen and Mayor in defense of their
action in passing the ordinance with its confisca-
tory fee, say that Plentywood has got too many
dogs and they have got to be gotten rid Of
This may be true, but the dog lover also ans
wers this charge by saying that no effort was
made to get rid of these dogs under the 81 90 Ii
cense ordinance, and that if such dogs had been
taken care of that carried no license the CITY of
brentwood would not be bothered with SO many
ownerless dogs.
The new ordinance, simmered down, means this:
that families owning yellow cur dog, not worth
zoe as value goes but worth its weight in gold
to the children of the family with whom it has
oeen piaymates since puppy, will be taken to
the dump grounds and shot, bringing heartbreaks
and tears to the little owners
But the big he-men on the council gravelv saw
that If the family thinks so much of the dog thew
can dig up the $500. YEAH Maybe Not everv
one in Plentywood is blessed with DOCTORS fees
good salaries and positions as are most of the
City Council men. Dad was willing to come across
with $1OO for the sake of the kiddies, although
the dog might be quite nuisance to him. and
perhaps cause him much trouble But $500. No
Can't afford it. Haven't been working all winter
and have hard time getting enough to eat and
clothe you. If it is going to cost me $500 inst
can't pay it, because I haven't got it.
WE'LL its too bad for the kiddies of the Civ Of
Plentywood that the taxes have at last come to
them to destroy their young dreams. It's too had
that the children of the city couldn't have been
given little consideration when this ordinance
was being hoisted upon the people bv apparently
dog-hater, and it's too bad that some effort was
not made to enforce the dog ordinance under the
sloo license fee system, when the present ordin-
ance would have been unnecessary.
AT the present time there is much indignation
over the actions of fiend who is placing poisoned
dog meat about the town and taking the lives Of
Whatever dog may be so unfortunate as get that
particular piece of meat The poison is taking a
large toll, and many children as well as grown
ups are mourning the loss of their pets, but how
much different is it than taking the family pct by
law because the family larder viii not allow the