davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1955-06-04
4 County Entronts in Derby
ToHoId Shokedown Run

from soap boxes. Some ran or
baby carriage wheels. Early
models were held together by
Everything from railroad spikes
to strips of tire inner-tubes
Typical of the effort and in
lgenuity of current cars was the
beauty John Moore ran two years
ago. The black speedster was
the best constructed and best
looking car in the National race
lat Akron.
Johnny had painted his car,
and waxed it to such perfection
that water beaded on its finish.
Inside, the car was painted ma
room and had a pleated maroon
leather seat and back rest. The
Steering assembly drew enthusi-
IaStic praise at Akron.
But Derby fans know that
ugly-duckling entries, however
ungainly in appearance, often
win races. Put it down to luck,
or maybe the wind direction:
Still, some very strange creations
have run at Akron.
DERBY GUIDE
The event-A coaster race for
boys, II through Is.
The date-July 8.
The place-Pennsylvania ave-
Evening star., 1955-06-04

Arlington and Alexandria boy.
entered in the Washington SoaT
Box Derby tomorrow viii hold 3
"shake-down" session on Brad
dock road between North Early
street and Quaker lane. Alex
Iandria.
The boys will have a chance
to find faults in their coaster
cars and acquaint themselves
with the actual feel of a car al
speed.
The event will be repeated
June 10 for boys, including those
from other areas who do moi
show up tomorrow. Emphasis
has been put on the tttrials" ma
ture of the eyent-no races viii
be run.
The hill, over four blocks long,
will be barricaded by Alexandria
police. The trials will get under
way at 2 pm.
To Conduct Test
John Moore, ST., and Karl
Watts. ST.. both fathers OF
Washington and Arlington derby
veterans, will conduct the meet
Mr.. Watts son won the Ar.
|lington derby last year and also
placed well in the Washington
Derby. There is no connection
between the two races.
Young Johnny Moore won the
Washington Derby two years age
and then went on to place 10th
in a field of ISL at the ALL
American Soap Box Derby in
Akron, Ohio.
Both Mr.. Moore and Mr.. Watts
will act as advisers and safety
inspectors. No car will be al
lowed down the hill tomorrow
unless the two men feel it is in
safe running condition.
Howard p. Bailey, Derby gen.
eral chairman and assistant to
the managing editor Of The Star,
said there was no connection be-
tween the trials tomorrow and
the official Washington Soap Box
Derby, and that Washington Soar
Box Derby, Inc. will not be re-
sponsible for events that occur
at the trials.
The Washington race, to be
held July 8 on Pennsylvania
avenue Sc, is sponsored by The
Star in association with the
Chevrolet dealers of Metropoli-
tan Washington and the District
Department Of the American
Legion.
Record Field Entered
Registration for the Washing
ton Derby is well over the 200
mark, indicating a record field
Of boys. Derby officials predicted
more applicants would sign when
school is dismissed for the
summer.
Coaster cars Of widely varied
form are taking shape in base
ments and garages all over the
area. Some boys are using IRON
ing boards, floor joists, barrels
and old stair treads for their
cars. One is even shaping a tree
trunk for use as a f1oorboard.
The Derby cars Of today are
much better and safer than those
built when the first Derby was
run Is years ago. Then, many
OF the cars actually were made
Evening star., 1955-06-04
Diplomas Go to ~
lat Muckin High

Twenty nine graduates oi
FMackin High School yesterday
received diplomas from Rev. Ed
mond j. Fontaine, pastor Of st
Paul's Catholic Church.
Evening star., 1955-06-04

Inue Sc, between Alabama ane
Branch avenues.
Sponsors-The Star, in asso-
citation with the Chevrolet Deal
ers of Metropolitan Washington
and the District Department OF
the American Legion.
Registration:
Addison, 14th and Florida ayenu,
NV: Aero Auto Co.. Inc. ll0I Kinf
street Alexandria; Barry-Pate. I131
Connecticut avenue NV: Hicks, I24i
upshur street NV; Kenyon-Peck. 2S2i
wilson boulevard. Arlington: Lustine.
Nicholson. 5710 Baltimore avenue, Hy.
attsyille: Mandei. 1900 Nichols ayenu,
Sc: Ourisman, $40 H street NE
Rockmont. 110 North WASHINGTON street
Rockville: Stohlman. 1907 NJ street NV.
Toms, 2427 Reedie drive, wheaton
Williams, 1882 -East-West highway. Sil'
yer Spring: Wissinser, Seven Corners
Falls Church.
Evening star., 1955-06-04
OPEN SUNDAY. 1 TO 8
CHEVY CHASE, D. c.
61zl SIND 81. NV.

Attractive small three bedroom home enclosed sleeping porch,
den and z bath first floor; oooee loyoyee School and
Blessed Socroent Porh Unusual buy for $le50o Mr..
Berry tWO. 6-o2434 the premises
Directions
Aue to RHtenhouse St. to Send st, lett to "opeH"
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18
LIBERTY COUNTY is
Disseminated AGAINST

Liberty county, because the county
commissioners and the county as
SCISSOR have done a good job, is dis
eliminated against, said Rep. Fred
Barrett (D-Liberty) who is chairman
of the House Education Committee.
Because his county is penalized due
to efficient assessing, Barrett said
he had a personal interest in seeing
corrective legislation passed Barrett
also quoted Section Is, Article XII
of the State Constitution which pre-
scribes that all property must be as
sessed at its "full cash value. Coun-
ties which are attempting to live up
to the constitutional mandate are
penalized, Barrett pointed out in in
sisting that additional legislation is
needed.
This legislation fis a means to an
end for a successful foundation pro-
gram by achieving some quality be-
tween counties on assessments" Bar
rett concluded.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18
III. :. TRAVIS RESIGNS
FROM MINE-MILL
SECRETARY POST

Maurice E. Travis, long a contro-
versial-though extremely able-of-
fetal of the International Union of
Mine, Mill & Shelter Workers, re-
signed his post as International Sec
rotary of the union, eff
fective Monday, February Ia.
Travis at one time also served a
hitch as President of Mine-Mill.
Recently the storm clouds thicken-
ed around Travis head when the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board ruled
that Mine-Mill could not avail itself
of NLRB services due to Travis al
legedly false swearing to "non-Com-
munist" oath required under the Taft
Hartley Act. The order of the board
has been temporarily enjoined pend
ing appeal by the union to the courts.
In at least two other cases federal
lower courts or the U. S. Supreme
Court have over-ruled the NLRB
when similar rulings were handed
down barring NLRB services to unions
whose officers had allegedly sworn
falsely in signing the required Taft
Hartley oath.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18
House Approves "variabIe
Ratio On Welfare Funds

Distribution of state Public Wei
fare funds on basis determined by
whether the recipient county's as
sessments were on a par or below
statewide averages would be written
into law if House Bill 325 makes the
grade in the Senate and receives
gubernatorial approval.
(F'or more details on variable
ratio" see first part of story on Uni
form Classification of Property
Editor.
The roll call on HB 1926 follows:
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18
BROADWATER COUNTY HIT
HARD BY HIGH ASSESSMENTS

Rep. Pat Hooks (D-Broadwater)
and member of the special tax in
vestigating committee, on rebuttal
by proponents of the bills, pointed
out that his county is one of the
highest assessed counties in the state,
yet, the county commissioners in his
county were not opposed to the pro-
posed variable ratio" measures, re-
CARELESS of the position of the state
association of county commissioners.
He also asserted that a pre-scheduled
"cold war" had been declared on this
type of legislation even before the
1866 Legislature convened.
Contrary to some opinions ex-
pressed, Hooks said that these bills in
no wise implement the setting up of
state assessor. Hooks also stated that
the variable ratio" bills aren't "going
to create any new ogre, or raise a
dagger" as some would have people
believe.
Concluding, he told the Senate
committee if these bills are ode
feated I can see no reason why high
assessed counties shouldn't lower
their valuations"
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18
EVERY CHILD ENTITLED TO
A GOOD EDUCATION

D. d. Cooper, executive secretary
of Montana Education Association, in
speaking on the Importance of
strengthening the school foundation
program, told the committee "the
philosophy is that every child is en-
titled to a good education, whether
he lives in poor district, or wealthy
district"
The inequalities of education, he
said can be taken care of by state
equalization of funds, but "the phil
osophy can never function until there
is equality of contribution per dol
lar value of property :"
Citing examples, he called atten-
ton to Board of Equalization fig
ures showing that in one county
personal property assessments av-
erage $21 per capita, while in an
other the figure is over $2O5 per
capita. 1t is apparent, he said, that
one county is doing far more eff
ficient job of assessing than is the
other, and the latter therefore is
penalized.
eve must have a true apportion-
ment of the BURDEN" Cooper empha-
sized, Sin order to secure true equali-
cation :"
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18
UNIFORM CLASSIFICATION GETS
GOING over AT HEARING

disposal. Then, although contending
the board "has the authority, Berge-
son cautioned that enactment of the
proposed variable ratio" and CLASH
fication legislation would be ga bad
precedent" in giving the board pow
er it should not have"
Bergeson stated that when he was
on the board they did compel counties
to assess property at full cash value
and he cited an example of some farm
land lying across county lines in
Lewis & Clark and Cascade. In one
county the land was classed at graz
ing and assessed at So an acre; in the
other as farm land at $40 an acre.
ION rebuttal, Ed ]. Byrnes, MEM
Der of the Board of Equalization, said
he was surprised that Bergeson
thought 1--WE do not need any more
law" Brynes said the board does have
the authority, but, under present law
it must be applied "piecemeal".)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18

only criteria to be used. For ex-
ample, SD 129 states that in addi-
ton to that value, commissioners
shall assemble all further data
which it shall deem necessary for
the entertainment and determine
ton of the market value of such
property .''-Editor).
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18

Working said that although more
than five million dollars is contrib
uted by the state to aid the schools,
the amount of money involved under
inequities in county assessments is
surprisingly low-only $166,545.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18
CONTINUED from Page One)

SCISSORS to reclassify all like property
on similar assessed value base, under
general regulations set down by the
State Board of Equalization. Under
SD 1913 the commissioners would have
"to maintain current, the classified
ton of all taxable lands, and APP
praisal of city and town lots, and
rural an d urban improvements.
Under terms of the bill, the board
of equalization would have to have
classification specifications prepared
and ready for the various counties to
begin reclassifying by July /, 1855.
AS presently drawn, the commission
ers would have three years in which
to complete the job.
PROPERTY OWNER HAS RIGHT
OF REVIEW
Should "the owner of any land and
improvements be dissatisfied with the
classification of his land or the ap-
praisal of the improvements" under
SD 1913, "the board of county COM
missioners shall make such investi-
cation as they deem necessary to de-
termine the true and correct CLASH
fication of such land or appraisal of
improvements and when so deter
mined, the land shall be classified
and improvements appraised in the
manner ordered by the board of
county commissioners"
Pointing up the necessity for
variable ratio" legislation, Work
ing contended that some counties
have considerably lower assess
ments than others. These low valu-
alton counties benefit in two ways,
he said: /. They do not contribute
their share to the University mill
age, welfare or school equalization
funds; 2. Because they do not con-
tribute their share, they get more
than their fair share of state equal
ization and welfare funds.
"All counties must be gotten on
an even basis so far as levying taxes
is concerned" Working told Sen
ator Padbury's Taxation Committee,
if the school foundation program IS
to be a success.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18
"a LEVER TO PRY MORE
MONEY FROM TAXPAYERS"

Mrs. Bertha Streeter, longtime
Lake County assessor, in opposing the
five bills, flatly contended that "these
bills are lever to pry more money
from our taxpayers" She also con-
tended that federal revenue stamps
on property deeds do not constitute
a good gage of market value" since
many times the recorded amount of
sale is only token figure, and in
instances of contract for sale", no
stamps are purchased until contract
is fully paid off, no matter how much
the leash value" may be on such a
sale.
Mrs. Streeter said that in her coun-
ty there were many INDECENT Indians
who, along with aged other people,
caused Lake county to have an I'M
usually high welfare burden; that
she was assessing property in her
county for every last dollar it is
worth, and that because Lake county
is ''poor" county it would be most
unfair to cut state welfare funds
apportioned to that county because
of the lack of taxable valuation.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18
SB 1913 WILL GIVE
COMMISSIONERS THE TOOLS"

w. A. Brown, Helena, counsel for
Montana County Commissioners as
ISOLATION, stated that that association
was opposed to the proposed 'vari-
able ratio" bills, but that the COM
missioners for the last decade have
been asking the Legislature to enact
uniform classification legislation to
assist in doing better job of assess
ments in the various counties.
Brown asserted that the variable
ratio" bills, instead of being ga
needle" as Working contended, are
actually "a dagger at the throat of
county commissioners and their peo-
ple". If such bills were enacted, he
emphasized the board of equaliza-
ton could say eff you don't do as
we say, we'll take away your school
funds and your welfare funds :"
Brown also questioned the basis
proposed for determining "full
market value, under the "vari-
able ratio" bills, and said the sale
value of property is not necessarily
the "full market value. (NOTE:
A close reading of these bills re-
veals that "sale value" is not the
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18
SB s-MACHINERY FOR THE
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Senator Dave James (D-Liberty)
one of the three bipartisan sponsors
of SD 1913, stated that "Montanans
resent being called" tax evaders, and
that "Montanans also resent being
penalized by" inequalities in assess
ments.
The aim of SD 1913, said James, is
to provide machinery for county COM
missioners to, through their own peo-
pie and own assessors, to assess prop
erty according to uniform classified
tons.
The obligation, he continued, is on
county commissioners and not the
Boad of Equalization to bring about
uniform assessments, under SB 128.
Pointing up the need for uni
form classifications from yet an
other angle, James cited an in
stance of a piece of farm land ly-
ing in two counties. In one county
the land was assessed at $6 an acre,
while identical property just across
IAN imaginary line" was assessed
at $11 an acre. "Our biggest prob
lem," he asserted, sis the lack of
'yardstick' whereby county COM
missioners can properly classify
the land. Until we know what kind
of land we are talking about we
can't criticise the assessments
placed on it," he concluded.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18
PRICE PAID, A GOOD
"MARKET VALUE"

Equalization Board Member Ec
Byrnes stated that over period OF
time the price paid for a piece Of
property averaged out into a gooe
market value.
year in and year out" Byrnes
continued, "the price people are
willing to put dom in hard money
is "a. tangible-the most tangible
method we can find to make equali-
cation a reality in Montana :"
In this connection, Byrne said he
was surprised that one-time board
member Bergeson should disparage
the price paid" theory as a good
means of determining 'full market
value" He then proceeded to read
from statement put out in 1926
by the Board of Equalization when
Bergeson was a member, which
recommended "sale value as a good
gage of market value"
Byrnes said the board "would like
full, helpful cooperation, and that
&c. there's no thought of cutting
anybody's throat ;"
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18
BOARD OF EQUALIZATION HAS
NECESSARY AUTHORITY

Leading off for opponents to part
or all of the proposed bills was 0. A..
Bergeson, Dillon, one-time member
of the State Board of Equalization.
Bergeson, now a rancher in Beaver
head county, was member of the
board in the mid-twenties. He con-
tended that the board already not
only has the authority but also the
duty to see that all property in the
state is assessed at its "full cash
value"
All the board needs to do the job,
he said, is to have more funds at its
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18

year, as proposed by some fellow ;"
Stevens said that the Farm Bureau
he represents has an enrolled mem
bership of SO per cent of all eligible
landowners in Wheatland county and
we're unanimously opposed to these
bills s.. :"
Later, under questioning by
Sen. J. P. Bremen (R-Beaverhead)
Stevens admitted that neither he
nor his local Farm Bureau had read
the bills they are so strongly OPP
posed to.-Editor.)
P. C. Bulen, Great Falls Building
& Loan manager, questioned the
validity of "sale values" as means
of determining "full market value.
Bulen also opined that; Somebody
has been carrying the ball for the
Board of Equalization" in attempting
to get these bills passed, 'and it
hasn't been the Republicans"
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18
house Approves "variable
Ratio" On School Funds

House approval for HB 268 came
by way of a $3.50 cross-party line
vote. lib 268 would, if it becomes
law, determine amount of state school
equalization funds each county would
receive based on whether county as
sessments are on par or below state
wide average assessments. (F'or more
details see first part of story on
Uniform Classification.-Editor).
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18
FARM BUREAU SEES NO NEED
FOR PROPOSED LAWS

William Howard, speaking for Mon
tana Farm Bureau, stated that the
annual State Farm Bureau conven-
ton had expressed the opinion via
resolution that no additional CLASH
fication legislation is needed"
Ed Adams of Sweetgrass County
Farm Bureau, said these bills are
predicated on the contention that
more money is needed for the schools
and for welfare. Adams asserted that
Montana has the highest education
costs in the entire northwest and
then emphasized:
81 can't see where there is any
basis for the cry of more money for
our schools :"
Thayer Stevens, Harlowton, an
other Farm Bureau spokesman, in
opposing enactment of these bills
which are so important Co the continu-
alton of the school equalization pro-
gram stated: tits a nuisance to
come up here every two years to kill
some of this legislation let alone each
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18
MAHONEY NOW SUPPORTS
CLASSIFICATION LEGISLATION

derson (D-Pondera) asked Sen.
Charles Mahoney (R-Garfield) what
he thought of the proposed legisla-
ton. Mahoney, who in previous SEES
sions led successful fights to kill clas-
sification legislation, told the COM
mittee that since this session opened
he had been a member of the joint
Senate House special tax investigat-
ing committee. That, he said, SIS the
worst thing that ever happened to
mep'
Cup until the start of this session,
| thought | was doing pretty well"
he continued. 81 would definitely OPP
pose variable ratio bills if | hadn't
sat on that special committee and
seen the terrible inequalities in as
sessments among the counties
"The first thing we're going to
have to do" the Garfield solon stat
ed. sis to make counties whose values
are low, bring up their assessments,
or soon, we'll not be able to equallze
even up to rs per cent of what we
should on the schools :" He, too,
spoke out on the unfairness of highly
assessed counties having to carry part
of the statewide tax load of counties
whose values are under-assessed
Mahoney did recommend that the
counties be permitted five instead OF
three years in which to complete re-
classification since he believed that
many of the counties simply could
not get the job done in the shorter
period of time.
He also insisted that with re-
classification of farm lands must
go rehabilitation of city and
town properties, including business
and residential -
Finally, he expressed the opinion
that all during the years he had been
fighting reclassification the county
commissioners and assessors let me
down" by not beginning to put their
tax houses in order.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18
For Using cratic" in Funds

For Using cratic" in Funds
(54)
Anderson Juedeman
(Yellowstone) Lee
Barrett Leuthold
Baumgartner McInnis
Beck McOmber
Bick Mahoney
Bricker Mangan
Breeder Michels
Chaffin Minette
Clark Nelson
Crist Nichols
Durkee Norby
Felt Nybo
Fry Parker
Gebhardt (Pondera)
Grant Phillips
Graybill Picotte
Gunderson Pierce
Haines Reed
(Flathead) Rieder
Haines Ringing
(Prairie) Sales
Haines Schumacher
(Missou1a) Siderius
Hancock Tango
Hess Walton
Holecek Wetzsteon
Holtz Wilson
Hooks Wood
Howard
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18

For Using Charitable Ratio"
In Distributing School Funds
(53)
Anderson Hancock
(Cascade) Hess
Anderson Holecek
(Yellowstone) Holtz
Armstrong Hooks
Barnard Juedeman
Barrett Lee
Beck Leutho1d
Rentz McInniS
Bick McOmber
Bricker Mahoney
Breeder Mangan
Chaffin M1nette
Clark Nichols
Cloves Norby
Conrad Parker
Crist (Pondera)
Durkee Picotte
Felt Pierce
Fry Reardon
Fulton Reed
Gebhardt Rieder
Goan Ringing
Grant Sales
Graybill Siderius
Gunderson Tango
Haines Walton
(Flathead) Wetzsteon
Haines
(Prairie)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-18

Against Using Ratio"
(32)
Anderson Jensen
(Cascade) Loughran
Baxter Mountain
BentZ MySSe
Cloves Nelstead
Conrad Nixon
Cumming Parker
Cunningham CWibaux)
Daniels Powell
Dempsey Purdy
EmmonS Reardon
Fulton Regain
Gerard Sax
Gershmel Sippel
Gleed Smith
Goodgame Taylor
Hawks Tobin
EXCUSED: Allen, Cerovski.
ABSENT: Armstrong, BarnaI
Goan, Hagenston, Macdonald, M
Andrews.
Evening star., 1955-11-07

Montgomery County's newest
Junior high school, North Be-
Ithesda. win be dedicated Sun
day.
The Si.l million structure, Of
isplit-leyel design, has o current
lenrollment of $50 pupils. with
80 teachers. Plans allow for the
addition Of q fine arts wing and
IAN auditorium.
Scheduled to appear at the
dedication. set for 3::25 pm. al
THE gymnasium at johnson ave-
niue and Ewing drive. are:
DR.. Thomas @. Pullen. State
superintendent Of schools: Or
Earle T. Hawkins, president oi
Towson Teachers College; Or
Forbes N. Norris, Montgomery
County school superintendent,
willard q. McGraw, County
Board Of Education president
and representatives from re.
liigious denominations. PTAs
civic associations and the county
delegation In the State Legis.
1lature.