davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-08
FARM LOANS TOTAL
35 MILLION DOLLARS

Washington, d. c. Relief loans,
approved in behalf Of farmers, ont
OF federal appropriations made dur
Ing the drought emergency, totaled
$35,3o2,9 44 on April IA, the depart
ment of agriculture stated on that
DAY. This amount was allotted in
254,162 loans and included all ad-
vances made from the total of the
appropriations of As million dollars
OF 20 million and OF two million.
respectively, made available by the
last session OF congress.
Crop production loans to farmers
advanced from the As million dol.
lar appropriation, numbered 209, I2e
on April "A and involved an APPROX.
ed amount of S31, 761 IT'S, accord.
ing to the department. Loans to II.
nance agricultural credit corpora.
lions amounted to 1897, $50.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-08

Tho new city administration
.oot over the reigns of govern
r U Monday night, May 4th when
~ Storkan commenced his second
torm as mayor of PlentywoOd and
tSa recently elected officials took
their offices.
The old council met and COM
nleted all unfinished business, au-
g;ted and paid all the bills, ETC.,
ord when the slate was clean,
armed over the government to the
administration for the ensuing BIZ
Mavor Storkan called the new
council together, composed of the
Soidnver. c. w. Peterson for Ward
! and Frank Guenther for Ward 2
and the newly elected councilmen:
1oe Redmond for Ward 1 and Hen
~ Barner for Ward 2, who sue
os0ded Elmer Gooder and Phil.
Tebarth. the retiring cOuncilmen.
The incoming officers who had
malified some time ago were call
ID to order by the mayor and the
council was organized. The mayor
onnointed the standing committees
as follows:
Street lighting, streets and al
lows Joe Redmond; licenses and
nriyileges, audit and financial. c.
W Peterson; public safety, fire
hall and fire apparatus, H. W.
Bamer; water anr sewer, Frank
Guenther.
After the standing committees
had been appointed Mayor Stork.
an appointed Robert Rookie, chief
of uolice to succeed Oscar ]. Col
Inns. and water superintendent ano
street commissioner to succeed
himself, thus combining the three
offices.
Blaine Robinson was then ap
pointed city clerk to succeed Joh1
Debing who was requested to take
the work for SIS a month which wa:
refused. Arthur Erickson was ap
pointed city attorney at salary o.
$40 per month and Jake Reigel
was appointed pound master tt
succeed himself.
The mayor referred the appoint
ment as fire chief to the fire com
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-08
y y - * y * 81 y y * - y * y
* * * y = y y * y y y y y y
LATE REPORT

Special to The Producer srTews:
Helena, May Sin 1,1o2 out of
1893 precincts in the state, repre-
senting all counties the vote on the
debenture bond issue and 10-cent gas
tax stands 55,725 for the measure to
17,O76 against. The remaining 391
precincts are rural where the vote is
ures, and will tend to reduce the
present majority materially.
The 1,1o2 precincts reporting cast
a total of 72,9o1 votes or an aver
age of Sc votes to the precincts. II
the remaining precincts ACREAGE 66,
there are 25,806 votes yet to hear
from, which at the rate the opposi-
ton is gaining, will probably reduce
the majority for the measure from
over to to little better than 2
o 1, and make the total vote about
Sc, 531, out of a total registered vote
of over 10000.
Counties reporting a majority a.
gainst the bond issue and extra tax
den Valley, Judith Basin, Liberty,
Prairie and Treasure or eight coun-
ties.
It appears that Big Horn Blaine
Chouteau, Fergus, Madison, Pondera
Rosebud, saltwater and Toole VIII
Like cast majorities against the
measure on final returns.
The returns are very disappointing
to the sponsors of the measure, be-
cause of the light vote cast and the
big showing against it in rural pre-
cincts. Politicians are weakening
and taking to coved and it is feared
that the supreme court Will not bt
: enthusiastic in sustaining the act II
litigation that is looming in the fac'
of the light vote cast and tn:
strength developed against it.
Daniels county gave the referen.
dunn SO majority, and the issue il
close in Roosevelt.
* y - y * y y y * = y y y v
y y y = y y y y = y y y s. y
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-08
TO LEVY One MILL
TAX ON LIVESTOCK

Helena.-Dr. w. ]. Butler, state
veterinarian, last week announced
that the state board of examiners
will be requested to levy a tax OF
one mill against livestock for addi-
tional support of the livestocE
board in it's endeavors
DIR. Butler said he had been in
structed to make the request by
the board of which he is secretary
He also was asked to carry out
provisions of state meat inspection
and grading bills, passed by thu
last legislature, as rapidly as II
nances will permit.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-08
CHANGES MADE IN
MONTANA SCHOOL
BUDCETLAW IN 81

A number of changes were made
in the school budget law by the
recent session of the legislature,
one of which was the creation of a
board of school budget supervisors.
Printed copies of the law in the
final form have not yet been re-
ceived by the county superintend-
ents and the boards of trustees,
but at a recent conference at Hell
ena the state superintendent Of
public instruction presented a syn
OpSiS of the new law which shows
the principal requirements and the
main procedure. 1t is as follows:
l. In March the county super
mtendent inserts actual expendi-
lures for last completed school
term on budget forms.
2 Not later than April 10th,
county superintendent must send
budget forms to each school dis
met with estimate of probable rev.
enues.
3. Before May 81, county super
mtendent must publish notice of
trustees meetings to adopt prelim-
mary budgets on second Monday
in June.
4. Second Monday in June, trus-
tees meet, consider, prepare anG
ADOPT preliminary budget.
.. On or about July 1, prelim.
mary budgets must be sent to thu
county superintendent.
&. If 1O-mill levy is not suffi
gent special election must be hell
before July l
L. Between July 10 and 20 no
Hee Of meetings of board of schoo
budget supervisors on fourth Mon
Jay In July, must be published a
least once.
3. Immediately after June sc
county superintendent must attac,
70 Preliminary budgets the est
mate of receipts, etc.
J. Before July 10 the count
treasurer must prepare statement
tOf each district, showing the cas-
IN hand at end of year. Thes
must be attached to preliminar
H. Before the third Monday
suy' the county clerk must pr
pSIe certificates for each distric
s %aie9 county superintendent mu
SsIacn 20 budgets, showing taxab
value of districts.
II. Fourth Monday in Jul
meeting of board of school budg
supervisors.
st. -, Budget board must prepa
Ss.ement showing the amount
% %. raised by tax levies, after bu
o.. IS approved and adopted.
10. Second Monday in Augu,
e county superintendent shall Il
Eo Osets before the county comm
b n, who must fix the tax le'
fDpp'f produce duo amount required by t
a budget sum.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-08
Aid to Mooney Campaign
Precedent" Dramatic Club

New York-FP- Precedent will
be the basis of a new appeal for
the release from Jail of Tom Moon
ey, San Francisco labor leader,
convicted Is years ago of the bomb
ing of preparedness parade, since
proved innocent, still prisoner.
Precedent = which is a play by
/. J. Golden, st. Louis lawyer and
playwright-is also the villain in
the piece. The author spent three
years studying the Mooney case.
The result of his labors will be
produced for the first time at the
Provincetown Playhouse in New
York. The play is a part of the
new nationwide movement to seek
the release of Mooney and Bill
ings
The play not only dramatizes the
Mooney trial, but universities the
theme by showing how, despite adj
mitted perjury. refuted testimony
and proved alibis, Mooney is kept
in Jail The butt of the play is the
law, in California and several 9TH
er states, under which no verdict
can be set aside after it has been
rendered, except upon the basis Of
technical legal flaws during the
conduct of the trial.
Golden wildly pictures Charlie
Fickert, the district attorney; Ton
Mooney, Irish labor leader framed
on the charge of mass murder
Rena Mooney, co-defendant; Els
telle Smith, whom the prosecution
tried to bride; former supreme
court justice, Henshaw. brains o.
the Fickert prosecution; Honest
Judge Griffin, MONEYS lawyers
and newspaper men.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-08
Tax Rebate Fund Receipts
Well Over April Claims

Helena, May claims against
the gasoline tax drawback fund
for April were well under re-
ceipts, records of the state treas
Ury show.
Gasoline tax collections for the
montr were $281,941. OF the a
mount $50 or $70,4S5, autOmat-
ically goes into the drawback
fund for return of taxes paid for
gasoline used for 1dustrial pur-
poses. Claims far the month
were $18,559.
Ninety days is allowed to make
application for refund so it is be-
lieved when the spring field work
is completed requests for refunds
will come in and greatly reduce
the margin of the receipts.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-08
COMMISSIONERS
ARE IN SESSION

Tn eboard of county commission
ers met in regular session Monday,
May 9Th. Chairman French and
Commissioners Anker and Hansen
and Clerk and Recorder Niels Mad
sen were present.
The board attended to routine
matters Monday, going over road
plans for the period between now
and June Both, the end Of the fis-
cal year. The road fund is nearly
depleted for the year so the board
is going to do only such work as
must be done until the beginning
of the next fiscal year.
On Tuesday the board recessed
because of the special election so
that the commissioners could vote
to convene again on Wednesday.
Wednesday the board continued
its session. 1t canvassed the re-
turns of the special election, and
took up the matter of the publica-
ton of assessment returns which
was ordered done and a special ar
rangement was made with Joe Do
lin for the Medicine Lake Wave
for publishing and mailing the
same.
Thursday the board audited anC
allowed the current bills and be
fore adjournment, upon motion o.
Com. Hansen, it was decided to dis
pense with the services of tn
county surveyor for the rest o
the year, except the three days IL
each month when the commission
ers are in session unless orderet
to do work by the commissioners
Thus a policy of economy wa
started. Hansen remarked that h
could not see what the surveyo
was doing to earn his money!
fact he could not see that he wa
doing anything, and that as tn
board inspected the roads and su
pervised the work in their ow
several districts, it was not neceS
sary for the surveyor to dupllcat
the work. The motion was carrie
unanimously
The matter of the contract fc
; the county printing will come u
: at the next session as Dolin's col
! tract expires July LIST. The boal
7 will probably call for bids tn
|, time as the idea of awarding
contract of this kind involving
y much money as it does witho'
. calling for competitive bids is NJ
popular with the taxpayers SO it
expected that bids will be Gale
: for next week. There is howeve
y a campaign being pressed to gi7
o It to Dolin again without bids f
o about 20 per cent less than b
" contract just expiring for a perl'
of one year. Whether this is dol
% or not depends upon whether tV
y members can agree upon the idea
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-08
Red Cross Nurse VIII Be
On New Two-Cent Stamp

Washington, MAY g. The SYM
bolic figure of a Red Cross nurse
will appear on 2-cent stamps on
May 81, marking the fiftieth an
niversary of that organization.
Postmaster General Brown today
announced the first days sale
would be limited TO two historic
places, Dansville, N. Y, where
Clara Barton was born, and this
city, where she organized the ma
tonal Red Cross in 1881.
In two colors, black and red, the
new stamp wit hits kneeling fig
ure was pronounced by post office
officials one of the most attractive
ever issued.
Fifty million of the new stamps
have been made.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-08
THE UBIQUITOUS Esch Cum
ms Railroad Protection Act Of

= a Republican congress, the
merciless grinding of the
farmers by the Interstate Com
merce Commission, the servility of
the Montana Railroad Commission,
the idocy of our legislature, the
weakness of our Board of Equali-
cation, have borne bumper crops
for ten years. Each one seems
larger than the one before.
The surplus of a railroad is
what remains after paying all OPP
Grating expenses, taxes, interest
an ddividends. The figures for
stocks listed on the New York
Stock Exchange are lodged annual
ly with the governors of that au-
gust body. Using these reports:
On aJnuary 1, 1927, when the
Esch-Cummins law had been oper-
ating six years or more the accu-
mulated surplus-cash on hand-o1
the Northern Pacific Railway Com
pany was $170,120,809.0O. On Jan
uary 1, 1928, this surplus haC
grown to $175,242 $4,000. On Jan.
uary 1, 1929, this surplus was
$18O,S66, 100000. On January /
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-08
Great Falls, Montana, May 9th, 1881

Great Falls, Montana, May 9th, 1887.
Senator Charles E. Taylor.
Plentywood Montana. !.
Apparently lost but actually won for the governor
board of equalization, highway commission, Lieutenant
Governor speaker of the house and Automobile Associa
ton have all to and said they did not mean
Their predicaent is decide under which bill they
will try to collect the five tax whether under house
bill ninety house bill 49, Suggest Producers News
help raise funds carry fight and knock referendum
out in court. JESS H. STEVENS 9:O5 am
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-08
Wheat tOSeH
BeLou Cost

Washington-FP- In the opin-
ion of the Wheat Advisory Com
mittee, established by the grain
co-operatives under the provisions
of the federal agricultural market
ing act, this years wheat crop will
be sold by American farmers at a
price far below their actual cost
of production.
Announcement of this view has
been made by the federal farm
board, which has been appealing to
farmers to reduce their crop acre
age to stop the slump in prices.
The present indications are
said resolutions adopted by the adj
visory committee, chat with an
average wheat crop this year pric-
es obtainable will be far below the
cost of production, causing great
loss and, hardship to American
farmers"
The resolutions declared that i
would be impracticable for tn,
farm board to continue, year aftel
year, to control a surplus thru thu
Grain Sterilization Corporation
unless the farmers woulr make al
effort 10 control production.
They urged the Farmers Nation
al Grain Corp, its stockholders an,
all other wheat producers "to car
ry on a definite and forceful cam
paign not only toward the reduC
ton of wheat acreage but also TO
the limitation and control of tn
marketing of the 1881 crop"
This announcement follows
warning that potato acreage mus
be reduced and complaint fror
the federal dairy cooperative
that the dairy industry is no'
threatened with huge over-produC
tion thru the movement 10 replaC
grain, cotton and potato farmin
with the keeping of dairy cows.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-08
SHOW MAY 2O-2l
AT FL TEMPLE

Leroy, the wizard, and his COM
pany will show at the Farmer-La-
Dor Temple on Wednesday and
Thursday nights, May 20 and ri.
This is the nineteenth annual tour
OF the company and comes to Plen-
tywood highly recommended. 1t is
claimed by the newspapers of the
state that Leroy puts on AN exhi-
bition of magic second only TO the
famous Houdini. There are fifty
startling mysteries including the
flight of time, Chinese Pagoda,
japanese Cylinders and dwelling
of Spiritualism.
The prices of admission are Is
cents for children and 35 cents for
adults.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-08
WORK PROGRESSING
ON LOCAL AIRPORT

The municipal air port east of
town is being put into first class
shape. The work is being done by
the local American Legion post.
For the past week men have been
clearing the field. which contains
about 100 acres, of rocks and all
bumps and bitches have been lev
eled out.
Six runways have been graded
from central point and these will
be cindered. Each runway is about
100 feet wide. The point where the
runways meet viii be oiled. This
gives Plentywood one of the finest
landing fields in this section of
the state If not In the northwest.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-08

The big bond issue and the 10
cent gas tax was defeated in Sher-
idan county Tuesday by a ma0nifi-
cent majority of $40 or by a vote
of 1,O37 against to 697 for, with
1734 votes out of total registered
vote of 1921 cast, few more than
one half of the vote of the county.
Nearly every farming precinct
went almost solidly against the
road bonds, while the village pre-
cincts went as solidly for them
the exception being the two Out
look precincts which voted them
down.
STATE FOR 1T 2 TOT
! However the state of Montana
appears to have gone for the bond
issue by a two to one vote, with
about third of the registered lists
voting-being probably the small
est vote ever cast in the state and
very disappointing to the sponsors
of the debenture bond idea and the
4 extra scent gas tax, whS had
hoped for a large vote to bolster
them up with the supreme court
and to back their claims that they
must make that the vote of the
people gave legal sanction to the
many illegal elements of Referen-
dunn No. 35. Several counties in
the state gave majorities against
the referendum. ..,
The referendum campaign put
on by the sponsors was accOmpan-
lied by every trick known to polit-
ical charlatan and was the worst
example of such methods in the
state famous for political shenan-
igan. The slogans set up were
false, the arguments were based on
pure speculation and cOnjectures
involving the widest claims, the
opponents of the measure were
played down as the enemies of So
ciety and all news of and argu-
ments against the measure were
suppressed by a press so cOntroll-
ed that only four papers m the
entire state, out of over two hun
dred publications, opposed the
/ measure for which there was no
4 justification. The sponsors by
: reason of the fact, and by constant
: denial of the extra Scent gas tax
which the law plainly provides, and
by constant contention that the
measure was unemployment relief
!, legislation, that it would save ST.
100000 federal money that the
state would otherwise lose, which
Il was pure bunk, the people were
persuaded to vote for the measure,
: that is two-thirds of the One-third
: of the voters of the state who took
Z the trouble to vote.
: The sponsors of the measure
> composed of road contractors, no
tel owners, bankers and the high
way gang, are reported to have
y had a slush fund of over $500, C0(
= to finance the campaign IN behalf
= of the measure, while the oppOsi
g ton to it did not have a cent Of
. an organization besides the press
i bill boards and posters, the spon
\ sors of the measure also spent
! much money with the radio sta
+ tons of the state, had speakers OF
) the air every day in behalf of tn,
> measure.
Ia The sponsors of the bond issue
and the extra 5-cent gas tax By
the above tactics and by putting
- over the Overwhelming sentiment
Continued on last page.)
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-08

Plentywood, May T. Sheridan
county voters refused to approve
referendum 35 by casting a major
ity of $40 against it. The vote was
light, many being in doubt owing
to stories circulated by the opposi-
ton that it would mean a 10-cent
gas tax. Plentywood voted 214 for
and so against the measure, de-
feating Charles E. Taylor, it's prin-
cipal opponent, by a 8 to 1 vote in
his own precinct. The measure also
carried at Medicine Lake, Antelope
Redstone and Westby. Business
men are angry over the outcome
as they had devoted considerable
time sponsoring the measure and
fear the negative vote will cast re-
Elections upon the county as not
favoring good roads. Most of those
who voted against it believed stor-
of the opposition that it would
double the present gas tax.
Work is progressing steadily or
the Malta-Vandalia road.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-08
COUNTIES GIVEN
LICENSE MONEY

Helena, May s. A total Of
$179,774.50 receipts from automo-
bile registrations during April is
to be distributed to Montana coun-
ties, the monthly report of Austin
B. Middleton, registrar of motor
vehicles, reveals.
Silver Bow county is TO receive
the largest amount, $18,581. Vel
lowstone is second with $3.50 and
Cascade is third with Stat.
Valley county receives $6,292.50;
Roosevelt 1886; Daniels 1882 and
Sheridan county $500.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-08
DROUTH THREATENS.
The SPRING WHEAT.
AREAS OF U. STATES
No Real Rain in this Section for
Year Wheat in Ground two
Weeks Still Not Terminated
High Winds Blow Out Seeded
Fields.

St. Paul, May g. Continued
dry weather, particularly in west
ern North Dakota and Eastern
Montana, with only fair soil con-
ditions in eastern North Dakota
and Minnesota has caused a wave
of pessimism as regards the spring
wheat outlook in the northwest,
the Farmers Union says in its
weekly review.
Seeding of wheat is from one
half completed in the northern
part of the territory TO practically
finished in the southern districts, "
says the review. ''The planting OF
barley and feed crops is expected
to start in few days.
"The spring wheat crop is now
entering the critical period of the
growing year. Moisture conditions
are far from satisfactory and
grain planted for two weeks is
hardly showing above the ground
Rain is needed in every territory
The crop outlook can improve rap
. idly if rain comes within a weel
but light showers will bring onl!
temporary relief.
with the crop already into May
, there is not a visible evidence o.
termination above the surface anC
spring grains will be starting und
er handicap, a report from Shey
; enne, North Dakota says.
| "From Forbes and Hope, N. d.
come reports that there is no re
r ductjon in wheat acreage in thos'
) areas, but generally indication
: are that the area seeded will be 2
1 per cent below the 1880 total. Fes
s sendend, Bismarck and nearly eve
a cry point in North Dakota an
S Montana report that rain is Dadl
t needed.
III "On May 9 it will be a yea
S since we have had any real rain
d an elevator manager at Sanish, \
!, D. writes. High winds re rapid
e drying out the top soil. Stanley
r Plaza, Wilhston and Minot repor
IS extremely dry soil.
d "In the territory from Gran
e Forks to Devils Lake and in south
o ern North Dakota the outlook
excellent. The northern counties g
South Dakta report conditions fl
vorable.
"The lack of moisture also Ia
injured pastures, which are maxim
Y slow growth turnout the northweS
= delayed also by continued col
y weather.
"The condition of winter rye
l. southern North Dakota and Sout
q Dakota is reported well above az
I erage and very little damaged b
L winter killing.
Excessively high winds hav
q, caused considerable soil BLOWN
81 and have damaged winter whe;
re in the Great Falls area by 80 pr
p cent, according to estimates. Mo-
81 of these fields will be reseeded
ei spring wheat. There is some moi
60 ture in this territory to start Il
SIS crop. Wolf Point reports TIL
re wind has done considerable dar
r age IN that part of Montana, al
C that rain is needed badly. Billin,
reDorts grains and pastures su
n' fering from drouth. Richland r
es ports dry soil, but states that the
an has been no damage as vet tn
". cannot be alleviated by rain"