davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-10-05
HOLDIT, GOVERNOR!

Wait a minute Hugo, in a speech at Shelby Tuesday
sad according to reports that Wouldn
think of riding roughshod over the will of the legislature
That all sounds very good Governor but maybe should
qualify such remark just little bit in order to make
it ring little true in view of the record.
will Governor that least two important
passed by the 1856 Legislature did ride rough
hod the will of Republican and Democratic members
of the Legislature alike.
There Hum s. for example, which requested the
tional Congress individual income exemptions
from $500 $500 that the ordinary might also
by the Republican SD Congress corporations and
citizens of wealth. The legislature the record will show
considered such tax relief justified and only fair yet did
Ego along? The obvious The record shows
vetoed this memorial which of utmost Importance to the
mounting budgeary problems of the Montana house
wife.
Then, there an important passed
by the Legislature which fit to Veto That Senate
Bill 81 the bill permit the State of Montana to accept
federal aid to schools c construction etc. and when
such assistance made available by the Congress- The Leg
islaure Governor intimately of pressing school
passed SD 81 with scarcely dissenting vote In fact there
wasn't single opposition in the House, and only five
the Senate Wasn't veto of SD 81 just little rough
Sh0d', Governor?
Do you realize, Governor that the legislation you vetoed
also Thoroughly studied and overwhelmingly passed by
the LEGISLATURE?
The-feIledswoop of Governors signature more fatal
Governor watch that don't fall into the trap of for
getting historically democratic system of checks and bal
which used entirely within the concepts of the
democratic system, when you vetoed HUH SD 81 didn't
with your vetos but would suggest weren't
within rights Governor of this state to do it.
his rights question the legality of any passed by the
Legislature.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-10-05

CATION At that time he espoused the opin-
ion that higher royalty is justified on some
lands which present favorable opportunity
Of producing oil :" Royalty minimums in
unproven areas certainly should be at the
minimum ~ Il per cent because of the risk
and expense involved in Indicating" How
ever, 1t makes no sense whatsoever that a
state lease adjacent to or in immediate vicin-
1ty of producing wells should have a legal
ceiling of 212 per cent royalty on first 8 900
barrels per month of production To ensure
the state getting the Observation-Disclosures
full market value" royalty on production of
state leases in proven areas should be nego-
tiated on an individual tract basis. as stated
by the Governor in his MONTANA EDJJCA-
TON article.
8. lib $50 of the 1855 Legislature. in addi-
zion to other changes in the leasing law noted
above, also set annual rentals on state school
OIL land leases at $1.00 per acre. Previously,
the minimum was rs cents an acre and the
Land Board had the discretionary authority
10 set higher annual acreage rentals if iusti-
lied by the location of the lease The minimum
maximum $1.OO rental may presently be re-
sultlng IN the schools getting a few thousands
OF dollars year more income. but. il also
1orecloses substantially more revenue from
state tracts which may come under lease as
new proven areas are developed. This is $1OO
1lat royalty doesn't make economic sense.
certainly, state lease in a proven area Of
the "llllston Basin should bring higher an
nual rental than state lease in the Glacier
loole county area because production per well
IN Inc Basin is so much greater than is pro-
ducuon per we'll in the older northern Mon
lana Fields. In other words not only does
thls Sl.OO maximum foreclose the schools
from obtaining their rghtful share from leases
IN proven major producing areas such as the
basln' but it is an injustice to the holders
Oh state leases in smaller production areas.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-10-05

fundamental change in the leasing law in that
it took from the Land Board the discretion
airy authority to cancel or continue a lease,
In addition, HB $50 extended the period a
leaseholder could "sit on" lease from two
years to SIX years, and at delay drilling
rental schedule set by the Legislature which
is much lower than the 81 per acre annual
delay rental previously set by the Land Board.
HB $50 greatly enhanced state leases for
speculative purposes, and, conversely, lessened
the chances of production being brought in
on such leases before expiration of the first
six years.
a. The history of leasing under the 1868
forever" lease law does not bear out the
assertion that oil men bid higher for such
leass than they did for the old 2O-year lease
At biddings since the 1853 law was validated
by the courts, the average successful bid per
acre ON tracts put up for sale by the Land
Board on request of various oil operators is
considerably lower than the per acre signing
bonuses bid prior to 1853 In addition. the
1858 law makes it impossible for the state to
renegotate a new lease with the leaseholder
at any time in the future, matter how much
such renegotiation might be in order for the
state TO secure The full market value" de-
creed by the State Constitution. This piece
of legislation, lobbied through the 1863 ses-
sion by the oil industry and signed into law
by the Governor CATER two previous vetoes
of similar legislation by Republican and Demo
cratic governors) accomplishes just exactly
what it was meant to accomplish reduces
the financial returns the schools can expect
from all such leases let under the 1853 law.
5. Oil men contend that 12% cents out of
every S1.OO worth of oil we'll production value
IS a "fair" return to the state Olsen and
Condor disagree, and, last year, the Governor
vas in accord with them, as was shown in an
article under his name in MONTANA EDTT
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-10-05
LET'S Keep School Oil Issue In Proper Perspective

AS the campaign draws closer to its No
vember climax at the polls, many voters are
probably becoming just little confused over
the loose treatment being accorded school
oil land leasing policies by some politicians
and their more enthusiastic hackers.
This "loose treatment" covers several i'm
portant points at issue:
l The prolonged controversy cost the state
Sc million, $40 million, S25 million in
lost revenues take your choice all three
figures have been banded about time and
again.
2. Olsen and Condor instituted the court
actions which brought two-year delay in
leasing.
3. Oil leaseholders can't "sit on" leases in
Montana.
a. The forever" lease law passed by 1853
Legislature and signed into law by Governor
Aronson, gives added incentive to oil men
to bid higher signing bonuses on school tracts
than did the old 2O-year lease law.
5. A base royalty of 1914 per cent on first
5000 barrels month production per well is
"fair" share for the state.
6. The 1855 law setting annual rental at
$1.00 an acre is of major economic value to
the school income and interest fund.
Are these partisan contentious true
false?
1. Who is to say whether the schools have
"lost" Or gained because of the controversy?
The records of the State Land Board show
that the 'fbloom" was off speculatively high
signing bonus bidding before the 1853 "for-
ever" lease law was even placed on the books.
Such drivil "the schools have lost
Sc, $40, or $25 million is sheer nonsense
and | challenge the Governor his oil men
friends to conclusively prove otherwise.
The facts are: In fiscal year 1951-52 the
schools realized s5,734,265.48 on all annual
entails in addition to first year signing bon
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-10-05

uses. In fiscal year 1928, they received
less than third of that amount or $1,617,
075.08. Of that SIG million, about one fourth
came from annual rentals and delay drilling
penalties on previously let leases.
The balance came from signing bonuses
received in the last half of 1852 before the
1853 law was enacted. When Governor Aron-
son admitted at the March 1855 Land Board
meeting that "there probably was no loss
to the schools" because of the controversy
he was about 9944 per cent correct.
No matter how much some partisans may
now pirate about the Closes suffered by the
schools because of the controversy, the facts
show that the "easy money" of the months
Immediately following the Tioga discovery
just wasn't around after 1862.
2. "Olsen and Condor instituted the court
actions - Rubbish! Olsen and Condor
did not institute any court actions against oil
legislation passed by the Legislature. The
truth of this is to be found in the record.
The record also shows: (a) The oil interests
and the Governor instituted the court actions,
(b) Every delay placed in the way of speedy
determination Of the constitutionality of the
1853 forever" lease law was caused either
by the Governor and MS attorneys or at
torneys for the oil interests.
3. "Oil Ieaseholders can't sit on - The
answer is yes and no. Before HB $50 was
passed by the 1866 Legislature and signed
into law by the Governor, leaseholders had to
have drilling operations underway by the
end of the second year of the lease or face
lease cancellation by the Land Board. The
board before HB $50 had authority (although
rarely used) to cancel lease at the end of
the first two years. Or, in lieu thereof, if
schools best interests would be served, permit
easeholder to continue holding lease by pay
ment of a board set "delay drilling penalty.
HB $780, among other things, made very
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-10-05
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
BY GRETCHEN G. BILLINGS

stander, didn't even know what it was
all about.
1t is low blow to use these tactics
to try and make it look like some
one else did something under some
one else's name. 1t is one thing to
disagree on the issues, quite another
to suggest sham.
1t would just be a shame if
"Sweetie" ole pie would get too bitter
in his political ventures on his new
coming into Montana. He should take
it from old war horses, and relax.
He'll live longer . if that is vir-
tue!
| would like to gather you round
my soap box while l make an ora
ton. Soap boxing comes in handy
when you aren't sure enough people
are interested to make it worth while
to hire hall, and about this grafton
I'm not sure if anyone has done any
thinking, really, about the issue at
hand.
Ladies and gentlemen, this Grafton
is about a fundamental issue, and
questions involving fundamental is
sues are about the most dull of poll
teal activities. Just looking into the
question in the state law library
brought me out with headache.
But, my friends, after all this eff
fort maybe it would be worthwhile
to let you know what l found out.
Believe me, the stand l am going to
AXE is not popular-tsk, ask, | must
De inflicted with terrible Illustrations
because I'm always taking an IN
popular stand on things, and this
ime l am so unpopular even Harry
sn't on my side.
Ny dad always says to me, Don't
pologize, don't apologize, and l
wouldn't want anyone to think l
7as-I just want it understood that ;
m under no illusions about the COM
Heated question before US, and the
ttitude of many wonderful people. ,
am wondering if the people of
Tontana are really ready to accept
constitutional provision like the
anti-diversion" amendment that is
n the ballot November 6?
Briefly the amendment will Sc
Ire to the highway department, for
ghway purposes, the money being
aid in gasoline license taxes.
The people of the state, via the
allot, have a right to legislate in any
amer they see fit-Im all for it
1T in the constitutional amendment
e we starting a divergence from ;,
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-10-05

accepted principles we may have diff
ficulty stopping? And if we are is
that bad?
The popular concept of the gaso-
line tax is that it is tax you and T
paw for use of the highway. That is
the first mis-apprehension we must
clear up.
The gas tax is license on the
gasoline station for doing business.
The license taxes we pay for use
of the highway are our drivers IL
cense Ga license on ourselves for the
privilege of driving), a registration
fee on our car and license plates. At
one time we paid an automobile use
tax, which has been repealed.
So there is no direct relationship
between the license tax paid by gaso-
line stations for the privilege of doing
business and the use you and | make
of the highways.
This legal determination was made
by the state supreme court. SO in
the case laws of the state of Mon
tana you and | are not paying the
gas tax for highway use, the gasoline
station is paying a license for the
of doing business, which is
passed on to you and me, as are all
license fees paid by any licensed
group in the state.
The courts also determined that a
license tax levied on gas stations
,ould be used for the purpose of
paying off highway debenture bonds.
These license fees have brought in
great deal of money. The debenture
,onds will be paid, probably, about
958.
SO, a lucrative source of income
an be at the disposal of the legisla-
ure for general tax use after that
ime, if continuance of the license
ak can be justified.
The Anti-Diversion amendment will
ut into the constitution a basis and
Justification for the use of the gas
Ak monies for purpose other than
he retirement of bonds, for as soon
5 it pays the bonds the tax is no
Continued On Page Three)
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-10-05

Are you interested in a tale o.
real jorge journalism? 1t isn't especi
ally important, so if you haven't time
to really consider the implications
move along to the next unimportant
item.
This is an election year, and tenn
pers are apt to fly and words get a
little harsh, which is expected, but
sometimes it is difficult to under
stand the lengths people will go to
discredit others.
A while back, up Flathead way,
an editor name of Sweetland took
off on the situation within the Demo-
cratic party. He admitted he didn't
know much, being a newcomer to
Montana, but he went ahead and put
his ignorance into print anyhow. The
following week the VOICE (Sept. 14)
confirmed the gentleman's ignorance
via an editorial, pointing up the facts.
And boy, was Sweetland sore.
Now he considered it all right to
print unpleasant things about people
in his paper, but when the VOICE
tried to straighten out his misrepre-
sensations he took to sackcloth and
ashes and yelled "scurrilious attack.
That the VOICE is used to! Mon
tana's Republican press has for many
years attempted to leave the impress
sion that we aren't exactly mice" be-
cause we have the darndest time fol-
lowing anybody's Cline.
So to be called names didn't both
Or US. The pay-off came when Sweet
and tried to tie a perfectly innocent |
oystander into the VOICE editorial.
Harry sent Sweetland a copy of |
he VOICE that had remarks about
lim in it, but he didn't do US the
lonor, so it has taken a couple of
weeks for US to catch up to the
scurrilious attacks" on us-please
Ass the sackcloth-now the ashes,
hank you.
THE VOICE isn't in business to
e popular, and our success is evil
ent by the reaction of the Flathead
ditor. He said he was "happy" to
e attacked" by us. You know
hen you have to be unpopular it is
God once in a while to make some
ody happy, so we now glow with the
armth of one of life's little pleasures c
in spite of it all
So from our standpoint Sweetland 7
aged well-worn hides. The rotten
lex he pulled was to involve Mel b
uder, editor of the Columbia Falls n
eekly =. suggesting he had written b
If editorial. Ruder, innocent by a
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-10-05
The Academic Freedom Case Of Or. Myron Trip :.

Recently VOICE, article
freedom violated Mountain
College, Billings, article
discussion the subject We have M
Peterson of Poison E. permitting
will appear next VOICE-Edtor.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-01
Rockville Jail
|Tiqhtens Rules

Extra precautions have beer
ordered at the Montgomery
County Jail in Rockville to avoid
. repeat Of the near tailbreak
that occurred there Saturday
night.
County Manager M. L. Reese
said that four steps are being
taken to tighten security:
/. Jailers are under orders not
to take more than one prisoner
from @ cell at q time.
2. Clothes changing periods
are being staggered throughout
the week instead Of all prisoners
receiving changes on Saturday
night.
8. All kitchen knives must be
locked in a cabinet by the guard
on duty when the kitchen Is
closed at 6 pm.
4. Corridor doors between the
cell block and the rest Of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-01
Custody Story Erred
On Mothers Petition

A story about custody Of q
child in last Saturdays Star said
a habeas corpus petition states
that the infant was placed with
a family named Griffith by the
father and Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Nichols. 1924 South Sixteenth
road. Arlington.
This statement was in error.
The petition filed by the un-
married mother, Barbara Lee
Hughes. 90. says that the father
took the child from the pos
session Of" Mrs. Nichols and
placed the baby girl with Mr..
and Mrs. Jack Griffith of Vi
emma, Va.
The child's father, named by
Miss Hughes as Wallace r. How
ard, 2701 South Fern street,
Arlington, told reporters that
he, Mr.. and Mrs. Nichols and
Mr.. and Mrs. Griffith all were
present when the Griffiths took
the child from the Nichols
home.
Mrs. Nichols told The Star
she did not give anyone custody
Of the child.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-01
Fire Disaster to Bring
Sitter County Inspection

eral Assembly seek to override
vetoes of three bills affecting the
Maryland-N National Capital Park
and Planning Commission. The
bills would provide for reorgani-
zation Of the commission. ex-
tension Of its jurisdiction
throughout the county and es-
Establishment Of q revolving fund
for advance purchases Of school
sites and major road rights-of-
way.
The Council yesterday set a
public hearing for 2:45 pm.
March IS, in Rockville on q pro-
posed ordinance granting a franz
chise to a private water COM
pany to use public rights Of
way in the Damascus Election
! District.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-01

Montgomery County FIRE In
spectors. who keep a systematic
check on public assembly halls.
will step UP their inspections
as a result of the Sunday fire
lat Brooklyn. Md, in which 10
persons lost their lives.
Montgomery County Manager
M. L. Reese said he will direct
the inspectors to keep a close
check on halls after the subject
was preached yesterday by
Councilwoman Stella B. Werner.
Mrs. Werner said special in
lterest should be given to "ac-
cesses and exits. particularly
with regard to churches
The council also voted to stand
by its recommendation that the
Icounty's delegation at the Gen.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-01

FallS Cnurcn district; Samuel >,
Solomon. Dranesville district;
Merton S. Parsons, Providence
district; Theodore Stark Heriot.
Centreville district. and Hills
Lory, Lee district, who formerly
served on the School Board In
1851.
The outgoing members re-
placed by the supervisors are:
Fred w. Robinson, who has been
q member of the School Board
for % years; Mrs. H. C. Crow
ther, a member for seven years;
Richard Stands, a member for
IL years: Robert w. Darr, Floyd
Kirby and Harry Lee.
Shakeup Forecast
The shakeup is q result of the
general county election last No
vember. in which I'VE out Of
seven seats on the Board of
County Supervisors changed
hands.
The only surviving member,
Mr.. Davis, was renominated by
Mrs. Anne Wilkins, Mason Dis
trict Supervisor. who put him on
the former board. Mrs. wilkins
and Supervisor Stuart T. DeBell
Of Centreville District are the
only two incumbent supervisors
on the new board. Both are
Democrats. Mr.. DeBell did not
reappoint the former school
board member from his district,
Mr.. Darr. but named Mr.. Heriot
instead.
The other five Supervisors who
picked the new school board
members In their respective dis
tricts are: Brig. Gen. Richard p.
Ovenshine. Republican Of Mount
Vernon: William n. Moss, Re-
publican Of Lee; A. Claiborne
Leigh. Republican of Dranesville;
Chairman Joseph H. Freehiil,
Democrat Of Falls Church, and
James Keith, Democrat Of Provi-
dence.
High Educational Background
Like the new Board Of Super
visors. the new School Board
comes equipped with an impress
sive list Of college degrees and
professional backgrounds. Three
are graduate lawyers, two are
educators. one is an economist
and one is an electrical engineer.
All have been active in civic and
PTA work in the county.
Mr.. Lory, SIS. has degrees from
Morningside College, the Univer-
sity of Michigan and Columbia
University. He once was a school
superintendent in Iowa and has
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-01

taught at four universities. He
has been active in several county
PTA and civic groups. He has
been listed in Who's Who in
America since 1897. His wife also
is an educator. They have a
daughter attending Mount Ver-
non High School. The Lorys
live on OK road near Burke. Mr.,
Lory works for the State De-
partment.
Mr.. Gleason, Sc, has been as
ISOLATED with the vocational re-
Mobilization program of the Vet
Grams Administration for the
last IL years.
He is q graduate Of the Uni
Iversity of Wisconsin and has a
doctor Of philosophy degree from
Ohio State University.
Mr.. Hudgins, Al, an attorney,
lis an officer in the investment
department Of the Acacia Mu-
ltual Life Insurance Co. He was
Ia member of the law faculty of
Benjamin Franklin University
for seven years. A native of Vir-
lginia, he attended public schools
lat Mathews. Va. and received
his law degree from National
University in Washington.
Electrical Engineer
Mr.. Heriot, ~, an electrical
engineer. is wire chief Of the
| Chestnut ONCE for the c. & p.
Telephone Co. Of Virginia. He
attended schools in Puerto Rico,
where he was born Of American
parents. He attended Lehigh
University and Georgia Institute
LOT Technology.
Mr.. and Mrs. Heriot have
lived In Herndon since 1914
and before that lived in Alexan-
dria. A daughter attends the
Herndon Elementary School and
"a son attends the Langley school.
MIR. Solomon. 80. Is an attor-
ney with Offices in Washington.
He organized the Haycock Road
PTA and currently is Its vice
president. He is past president
of the Sigmona Park Citizens
Association and is Dranesyille
district chairman for the Fairfax
County Federation Of Citizens
Associations. Mr.. Solomon is
married and has two young chill
dren. The Solomons live at 3405
Emily's lane, Falls Church.
Agricultural Economist
Mr.. Parsons. 4e. is an agricul.
tural economist with the Agri-
cultural Research Service Of the
Agriculture Department. He Is q
graduate Of Maine University
and obtained a doctor Of philoso-
ply degree from Cornell UNI
versity. Mr.. Parsons is married
and has three children In Fairfax
County schools. The family lives
in the town Of Fairfax. Mr.. Par
sons belongs to the Fairfax Ele-
mentary High School PTA and
the Southeast Fairfax Civic AS
ISOLATION.
Mr.. Davis. so, q member Of the
Fairfax County School Board
since 1852. Is an attorney with
Offices in Washington. He holds
degrees-iHcluding that Of doc
tor Of MISREPRESENTATION In
diana, George Washington and
American Universities. Mr.. and
Mrs. Davis and their two sons
live at GAIT Braddock road. Pine
crest. The sons attend the Lin
colnia Elementary School.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-01

Two men overpowered the
guards Saturday night as they
were being returned to the cell
block after getting clean
clothes. They were joined BY
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-01

jail must be opened oniy one at
q time.
Mr.. Reese said that the
county also is trying TO establish
. better alarm system TO tie In
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-01

two Others and attempted to Zee
but got the wrong key from the
guards and became trapped In
the jailer's apartment.