Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-02-06
THE TAXPAYERS FRIEND

Ever since the nrSI ISSUE VI tHS
News, the taxpayers have been harrangued by this no
torious organ Of misrepresentation, as the SELF &C.
claimed "friend of the taxpayers, and has raised russ
after fuss over taxes, until their gang got control OF
our Court house From then on the brakes have been
applied to cover up their gangs direlectlons. How
ever, even during those many years OF taxpayers
serfdom, any official who was not controlled by the
Producers News, was pictured to the public as a TYP
cial brigand, robbing the taxpayers. This smoke
screen has awaited them again and again to NIL that
paper with dope to lull the farmers into really be-
lievine the News was a friend of the taxpayers. They
have pictured many of these farmers as gong with
out absolute necessities; their clothing threadbare; the
farmers wives working as hired men, etc. ETC., so as
to be able to keep up their taxes.
MANY methods have been resorted TO in order
that the Producers News would not have to suspend
publication, and to provide fat and juicy meal tickets
for the horde of hangers-on Of that organ. You nave
never heard of any of their gang starving, or gong
without necessities have you? Of course, right now
it is getting to be mighty tough going for them, with
everything apparently mortgaged, except the stove
poker. With $760000 in mortgages against the plant,
the lot and building going on record IN Octooer'
1929: with a federal lien for nearly ~$2OOOOo which
NAV be foreclosed anytime-the Producers News is not
having very much fun trying to keep its doors from
closing, and to keep the employees coming back 10
work when the payroll does not function as well as In
the past.
Besides these mortgages, liens, tailor accounts,
and so on, the people should just bark back a short
while to the period from July 1925 to June 1927 when
the Producers News must have made over ~$16,OOO.0O
net profits from the county printing contract. This
profit has been all wiped away through fat salaries,
jaunts hither and yon; Ireland, Washington, Mlnnea-
polls. Helena all coming under the head of news get
ting, etc.
The stockholders should have had 100 per cent
80, 1I-.- -. J-,-~ {hsc roriod
but what did they get? Nothing, absolutely nothing.
There was the Sod-busters edition that brought them
in all kinds of money for paid in advance advertising,
and extra copies; but the Sod-buster never went to
press. The money was not returned-they kept It.
But they maintain they are the "friend Of the
taxpayers"
Here is a fair sample of their friendship:
Back in 1920 when the Producers News was
printed in the old livery barn, County Assessor Harry
Hill called on Charles E. Taylor to assess the property
of the Peoples Publishing Co. Mr.. Taylor informed
assessor Hill that the Company had purchased Lots 10
and IL, in Block z, just north Of the old livery barn,
and that he wanted the machinery and other personal
property assessed against these two lots. Under
oath the Honorable Charles E. Taylor gave in this as
sessment and signed the list as manager for the
Peoples Publishing Company, reporting chattes Tor
100000 and cash and negotiable instruments and Sc
curities at 100000.
lutSc WIS WNAC db bhAS SAAN NhA~
by Henry Ator and Sheriff's Certificate was not issued
until June 10th or so. The former owner had one year
in which to redeem if he so desired. No deed to the
Peoples Publishing Company was or has been recorded
showing them to have one scintilla of interest IN the
title to these lots. That year the Peoples Publishing
Company failed 0 pay their taxes which now amounts
to $914.94 for that year.
These friends of the taxpayers" got all this
personal property assessed against real estate which
thay did not or navpr have owned according to the
County records here. True, they did have a contract
for deed from Henry Ator on which they made a small
payment, but which contract was never paid up and
never recorded, and Sheriffs Deed has never been is
sued according to the records here. No personal prop
erty can be legally assessed against land where it has
been purchased on Contract for Deed and Charley
Taylor knows this very well.
When Ole Aspelund became assessor in 1921,
the records of that office indicated the Peoples Pub
fishing Company owned these lots and they were as
sessed accordingly. These records are taken from the
previous years assessment, unless the Clerk & Record
err notifies the assessors office of any transfer of title.
Again Charles E. Taylor, under oath, claimed owner
ship Of these two lots for the Publishing Company, and
again evaded payment Of taxes against the chattles of
that company which now amounts to $86496. In 1922
the same thing happened, but through some fuke, but
under protest, the Peoples Publishing Company paid
the taxes that year. Again in 1923 the Honorable
Charles f.. Taylor resorted to the same method of
turning in assessments for the Peoples Publishing
Company and again evaded payment Of taxes which
now amount to $368.80. Since then they purchased
the property where they are now located and as Bill
Hass was heavily interested with the Producers News
for some years after that he saw to it that they paid
their taxes promptly.
These two lots were sold by the County for
taxes over a year ago and are now owned by other
parties.
Many people may think these delinquent taxes
are therefore a closed chapter in the hectic career of
the Producers News, but where it can be clearly prov
en- that they never had a deed, mot merely a Com