The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1962-11-02


preme Court decision resulting iron
a case brought before it on the bill
merely says co-operatives should pa.
taxes on patronage refunds if thu
legislature says they should.
Gilfeather said the Supreme Cour
decision settled nothing as far a!
: establishing the exempt status of pa
tronage dividends. The recent SUI
preme Court decision, he stated, sale
the Legislature failed to write the
legislation properly if they intended
to tax patronage dividends, "there-
fore Montana law should be brought
UP to date" he said.
He told Farmers Union delegates
their stand during the 1861 session
that HB 131 was not proper or good
legislation was certainly right about
what, in fact, this legislation was
| supposed TO accomplish. 44Cl
at was deceptive legislation,
according to Gilfeather, "and no
sooner was the ink dry on the Gov
tempted to enforce it through ad-
ministrative determination.
1862 WHEAT REFERENDUM
LACKED UNDERSTANDING
Robert McKenna, popular and spir-
tied chairman of the Agriculture
Sterilization Committee, noted that
in Montana the recent Wheat Refer
endum received only a 500 vote but
'any politician that gets 500 of the
vote wouldn't have anything to worry
about. The Wheat Referendum re-
quires a two-thirds vote to pass and
he pointed out there were many rea-
sons why it didn't get the necessary
percentage in Montana, including
lack of understanding and much con-
fusion.
The biggest industry in Montana is
agriculture, he told his audience.
Agriculture supports the small
towns in this state, yet how many
small newspapers supported the
Wheat Referendum"
During the Ezra Benson era of
1858 when wheat dropped 40 cents
a bushel Montana lost 40 million dol
airs, according to the ASC chairman.
Forty million dollars means a
lot of things to the little towns
and there are many things we could
have had if we had that 40 million
dollars in 1858, but did you see
anything in the papers about it?"
McKenna asked.
He explained the mechanics of the
963 wheat program and cautioned
armers, Before you sign up for the
Program be sure you understand it."
COOP ORGANIZATIONS HOLD
ANNUAL MEETINGS
Among the cooperative organiza-
ions holding annual meetings during
he Farmers Union convention in
treat Falls last week were the Edu-
ational Cooperative Publishing
company, Montana Farmers Union
Tutual Insurance Company, and the
armers Union Livestock Associa-
on.
The Coop Publishing Company
leeting, held Tuesday evening be-
ore the convention reelected to its
oard George Frank of Shelby, and
larence Stoltz of Sunburst.
The Montana Farmers Union Mu-
lal Insurance Company reelected
rectors Lester Rutledge, Big Sandy,
I'D Paul Rice, Bynum.
Peter Bokma, secretary of Flu Mu-
Ial Fire, announced he would retire
the near future. Tributes werej
nd to the years of dedicated service
r. Bokma has given to the COM
my, and to the "unheard Off bal
ice sheet attributed to the guidance
Mr.. Bokma. The retiring secretary
rs given rising vote of apprecia-
IN for his service to the company.
At a breakfast meeting called by
ldolph Lutts, board member of the
rmers Union Livestock Associa-
n, Melvin Good, Great Falls, was
,cted delegate to the organizations
nual meeting and George Frank,
elby, was elected alternate.