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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 1953)
® Prairieland Talk . . . Ike Aide Good Lawyer, Can91 Fish By ROMAINE SAUNDERS LINCOLN—Newspaper, radio, political and ‘ legal circles in the capital city were in a ditter over one of Lincoln’s native sons being called to a place in the Eisenhower cabi net as assistant to the attorney general, James Lee Rankin be ing the “victim.” And added to this, Gov. Val Peterson is soon to be on his way to India as representative of Uncle Sam in diplomatic do ings. Lincoln fell for Ike like a ton of brick during the late lamented campaign. Here is some of the payoff dropped into the laps of two of the most agressive expon- Romaine ents of the general for president. And we can say two clean, capable men. When fellows go fishing together they get acquainted. I fished in the Cedar up above Eric son with Lee Rankin when he was a mere kid and also in Cherry county lakes. Lee couldn’t catch a fish if one jumped in his lap, but he is a capable lawyer, clean-cut and will be an orna ment to the job. Eisenhower as president needs such as he and Val Peterson in government serv ice. Personally, I have no illusions. The military is in the saddle. Like many other Nebraskans I voted for General Eisenhower as second choice for the job of housecleaning at the nation’s capi tal; yet aware that the hand of man can do but little to restore order to a troubled world. • • * “Where’s the money?” A boy asked his mother this morning. That mother had directed her child to go and get something where you buy things. She had the money available in the first place. Life’s highway is beset with the problem of money! You need a bit of nourishment— where’s the money? You need the help of a physician—where’s the money? You require to be clothed, a place to lay your head, a home— where’s the money? You want culture, you want to read, to know what life hands to others — where’s the money? Is nothing to be had to glad den the heart of man without money? Yes, life’s lovely things are laid before us without money and without price. The blue above aflame at high noon and at sunset tinted with the gold of Ophir, studded at night with numberless stars; the earth beneath robed in velvet under lingering shadows of summer, clothed with ermine and jeweled with glittering diamonds on frosty mornings; family ties, friends and a gracious hand from out of the depths of eternity to lead on. Life has mult iplied blessings beyond the reach of bank ac counts. * * * Holt county has contributed two dry holes to the oil drilling industry. Now it is being tried out down in Wheeler county and over in * Pierce. * * * Is a mower a vehicle or a machine? On that question hung a lawsuit in the district court of Holt county and ruled upon by the supreme court. That was in 1932. A mower had been conveyed down the road attached to a wagon. Did that make it a vehicle? Judge Dickson presiding in the trial of the case in district court and who prob ably knew more about the functions of vehicles and mowing machines than any judge sitting with the supreme court held that a mower was a mower and not a wagon. The supreme court reversed the findings of the trial court on the theory that a mower was not a mower but a ve hicle and sent the case back to Holt county for retrial. Doctor Webster defines a vehicle as “any kind of carriage or conveyance.” It would require an astute judicial mind to see a mowing machine in that. m * * A grain farmer told me today that he shelled and sold 4,200 bushels of corn last week at $1.48 a bushel; also sold 2,000 bushels of wheat and still has untouched cribs and granaries of grain. ‘ Look out! the assessor will get you yet. P. J. McManus as president, Dave Stannard as vice-president, John Weekes as secretary and Jim O’Donnell to act as treasurer, Ed F. Gallagh er, O. F. Biglin, D. J. Cronin, John Carr and Will Graver to perform the functions of a board of directors constituted the setup in 1906 known as the Holt County Agricultural Society, and their meeting was held a night in May in the office of another who knew more about politics than agri culture, Art Mullen. But there were three mem bers of the board of directors, Messrs. Cronin, Carr and Graver, who had something of an agri cultural background. However, it was not an organization incorporated to engage in agricultur al pursuits but more properly to provide a good race track for “Shady O’Neill'” and “White Wings” to trot the mile, as well as to see that Denny Cronin’s ball club was given a place to swing the bats. There was a shed built with the view of livestock exhibits, but nothing much showed up but Pete Duff’s running nags. It turned out to be a lively race meet under the nom-de-plume of Agricultural Society. * • » If you have three hundred in your hip pocket that gent at the mike will let you keep a dollar and a nickel, his marvelous creation to add to your home furnishings only $298.95. • * * Probably believing that the business of the church is not confined to forms and ceremonies gone through with once a week, one church group collected and sent to needy in distant lands dur ing the past two years 3,411,170 pounds of cloth ing and bedding. This is a reminder of the help ing hand in ministering to the needy of Rt. Rev. M. F. Cassidy the famine year of 1894, when a lot of prairieland patriots- took a handout or went hungry and barefoot. Famine visited us again to some extent in ’32. The scarcity, or none at all, of the stuff we eat, was by no means gen eral in this county, the northeast section being the most illfavored spot that season. Eastern centers of population spewed out hords of hungry gents out of work and some of them found this was a good place to get help, and thus became an added load on the community. O’Neill’s supply of “relief flour” was exhausted when Stuart sent down loO sacks. One O’Neill merchant 'learned of a needy family and gave that family $67 worth of provisions. * * • You fellows who drive motorized vehicles tossed in a little short of 25-million-dollars in 1952 state gas tax. Are you satisfied with what that pile of tens and twenties has accomplished in the state? The tax load has accomplished and with multiplied government functions there seems to be no relief. The newly-endowed gover nor is on record for tax reduction. First there will have to be curtailment in spending. It may be possible to do something to cut down state ex penses, eliminate some superlatives and maybe replace some high salaried experts with old timers with a practical slant on things who know what a day’s work should be—and go ahead and do it if it takes ’til midnight. * * m Anyway, the marine corps scorns the “red herring” stuff and comes up with a lot of dec orations for that fighting Wisconsin Irish senator for his part in winning World War II. I don’t know just why that fracas is to be known as II, in view of the fact that war has raged across the world for nearly six thousand years. Senator McCarthy now has a weather eye on the country’s colleges with a view of sifting out subversive ele ments if any. Nebraska institutions of learning have opened their doors to the senator and invite him to come on. Of course, no college faculty that harbors none of the kind Mr. McCarthy is after fears investigation. Only those coming up with protests are under suspicion. * * * A Spanish Falangist says, "We love war, yearn for the feel of a gun in our hand." Senor Giron better watch out—he might find a taker. •Editorial . ... You Can Save on Tax • Farmers were given a valuable opportunity to cut taxes when congress amended the income-tax law in October, 1951. Tax authorities and farmers have waited for more than a year to see how the treasury de partment would interpret the law. The interpre tation will save many farmers money. The law states that profit from sale of livestock, regard less of age, held by the taxpayer for draft, breed ing or dairy purposes, and held by him for 12 months or more, will be eligible for long-term capital-gains treatment. Poultry will not qualify. O The January issue of Successful Fanning magazine points oui that the attractiveness of the new law is that when you report profit from the sale of livestock as a capital gain, you pay income lax on only one-half the profit. © 9 Capital gain is the profit over the adjusted cost of the property sold. If you raise your own animals, the cost is zero, because you are permitted to deduct the cost of feed, vaccines and labor used to raise the animals. That’s the adjusting part. Therefore, all proceeds from their sale is considered profit. If you have purchased animals, your profit is the difference between sale price, less any reasonable depreciation that you have taken from the animals. You subtract depreciation to adjust the cost. The new income tax deductions will be of the greatest benefit to farmers who report their income on a cash basis. If the farmer reports his income on the inventory basis, he will stand less chance to benefit. The interpretation of the law by the treasury department has been made for the farmer’s bene fit. The only thing the farmer needs to do is to take advantage of it. You May Be On Condemned List * A great many people in the United States are condemned to imprisonment each year al though they have never committed a crime. They are the iron lung victims of polio. At the height of the polio epidemic last September, a survey of Nebraska hospitals showed that 84 persons were dependent upop respirators for their lives. And these iron lung patients spent on the average 16 hours a day in their iron homes. One out of four relied partially upon a chest respir ator or a rocking bed for a portion of the breath ing assistance he needed. At the beginning of last year's epidemic 32 iron lungs and about 26 portable chest respir ators were located in the state. But when the epidemic hit its full stride, this number was far short. The National Foundation for Infantile Para lysis was called upon to furnish an additional 41 iron lungs and 16 additional chest units. And the Foundation also provided four rocking beds, and 19 hot pack units in addition to numerous suction machines, wheel chairs, and various other items. Many Nebraska cities aided in the emerg ency. Iron lungs were obtained from Lewellen, Ogallala, North Platte, Norfolk, David City, Fre mont, Columbus, Kearney, Broken Bow, Fair bury, Falls City, Nebraska City, Sidney and Beatrice. Portable lungs were recruited from Rush ville, ChpJ~on, Kearney, North Platte, Minden, Lyons, Pender, Oakland, Ralston and York. While some of the iron lung cases, especially those who require 24-hour nursing service, cost the march of dimes as much as $50 per day, the average is, $18 every 24 hours. A respirator weighs © 600 pounds and, without extras, costs $1,500. Increasing the chances of escape for more iron lung victims is one of the prime targets of the march of dimes drive now being conducted in Nebraska and throughout the country. Twenty-four Holt county persons suffered from polio during 1952 and 15 of these .cases be came the financial responsibility of the Holt chapter of the National Foundation. It would seem only proper that all quotas and goals be ignored at this moment, and folks open their hearts—and purses—for a noble cause. The fund drive would be easy if all people might have a conducted tour of a hospital where polio patients are being treated. There’s not a heart on this cold earth that wouldn’t melt and bleed. The need for funds is imperative to erase a big deficit and to provide a substantial reserve for those who may be condemned in 1953. You may be one of them. Editorial & Business Offices: 122 South Fourth St. CARROLL W. STEWART, Editor and Publisher Established in 1880—Published Each Thursday t Entered at the postoffice in O’Neill, Holt county, Nebraska, as second-class mail matter under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. This news paper is a member of the Nebraska Press Associa tion, National Editorial Association and the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Terms of Subscription: In Nebraska $2.50 per year; elsewhere in the United States, $3 per year; abroad, rates provided on request. All subscriptions are strictly paid-in-advance. Ewing News Mr. and (Mrs. James Ruby, Mar vin and Susan were overnight guests at the home of her sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Peters, in Albion on Satur day, January 3. They left the following day for their home at Norman, Okla., where Mr. Ruby is also stationed in the navy. During the holidays, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Young and family of Omaha, accompanied by Mrs. Young’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wylie of Shreveport, La., visited at the home of his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Ar thur Kropp and family. Mrs. J. Q. Archer heads the 1953 march of dimes fund drive in Ew ing. She will be assisted by the American Legion auxilary mem bers, who will canvass the resi dential district. Mrs. Archer and Miss Francis Rotherham will contact the business places. Coin boxes have also been placed at all places of business. The drive will continue through January. Mrs. Martha Hill, who spent the past week at Harshalltown, la., returned home on Tuesday af ternoon, January 6. Mr. and Mrs. Earl Billings en tertained Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Ab ney of Inman at their home on new year’s eve. An oyster sup per was served and cards were played while they waited for the new year to arrive. Tuesday evening, January 6, the Cub scouts met at the Clif ford Halhbeck home. There were nine present. After the formal opening and roll call, there was a review of all memory work which includes the scout promise, their motto and rules. Each cub also give the handclasp and the cub sign. Instructions were giv en for making a cigarbox toy which will be made at home dur ing the week and brought to the next meeting. Refreshments were served. The group members were surprised when each was given a package of gum, a treat of Kermit Jefferies of the K-B Mar ket. The Altar society of St. Peter’s church postponed the meeting on Tuesday evening, January 6, due to cold weather and bad roads. On Wednesday evening, Jan uary 7, Mrs. Edna Lofquist and Miss Alta Lou Miller were 6 o’clock dinner guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Fink, given in honor of the birthday anniver sary of Howard Miller, brother of Mrs. Lofquist. Other guests were Mrs. Howard Miller and family and Mrs. Walter Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Bergstrom and daughter, Gay, accompanied by Mrs. Jessie Angus, spent Sun day at the home of Mrs. Berg strom’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Turner at Neligh. Mrs. Francis Shaw, Jerry and Grover spent new year’s day at O’Neill where they were guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. K. C. Hunt. Mrs. Arthur Funk and children left Tuesday, January 6, for San Diego, Calif., where they will make their home. Mr. Funk has spent the past few months in de fense work. Mrs. Funk’s broth er, Frank Shrad, and Martin Van Conet took the family to Omaha from where they continued on their way by train to California. GETS TRANSFER EWING—Louis Latzel, who re cently spent a 20-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Adoph Latzel, and other rela tives, has been sent to a camp in the state of Washington. He was taking training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. Family Party — EWING—Mr. and Mrs. Loyd Angus, Mr. and Mrs. Watson Mc Donald and daughters, Rozetta and Virginia, drove to Hastings on new year’s day where they were dinner guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Merle Angus. Max Angus of Hastings joined the family party. Mrs. William G. Kraft spent Sunday afternoon visiting in the Albert Klinger home. State Capitol News . . . ‘Role of State Government in 1953 One of Restraint’ — Governor Crosby LINCOLN—The 65th Nebraska legislature settled down to sen- ‘ ous business this week after see ing its first several days occupied, with pomp and ceremony of its own inauguration, a budget mes sage from outgoing Gov. Val Peterson, and the colorful induc tions of the state’s 27th chief exe cutive, Robert Berkey Crosby, 42, of North Platte. Despite all the ceremony, the lawmakers managed to introduce in the abbreviated period, two more bills than at the same time two years ago. Storm signals that this is like ly to be a long session with a bumper crop of bills began fly ing when a motion by Sen. Hal Bridenbaugh of Dakota City was voted down. He proposed that the rules committee act as a sift ing group to toss out unworthy bills. The general feeling among the lawmakers seems to be: “That’s OK to weed out other senators’ stinkers, but leave mine alone." « * * Crosby— The new governor won the plaudits of most senators with an inaugural speech in which he said he regarded “the proper role of state government in 1953 as being one of restraint—state of ficers and the legislature should exercise a restraint far beyond what we have seen in other states or in Washington.” He told lawmakers: “In common sense, we cannot now afford any frills. In all but the most fundamental govern ment services we can certainly endure at least a moratorium on expansion of state government. The budget which I shall submit to you will be considered by some as unduly restrictive. I am con vinced, however, that most people want reduced government.” Editorial comment on the in augural speech was divided. The Omaha World-Herald cheered. The Lincoln Star accused the new governor of trying to walk along both sides of the economy fence by calling for reduced expendi tures on one hand and the crea tion of new agencies on the oth er. The Lincoln Journal called the speech disappointing and said it represented the thinking of the rightwing Omaha branch of the GOP. * * # Pelerson — Gov. Val Peterson was on hand to bid the legislators goodbye but he really sang his swan song a day earlier in an 8,000-word, budget message. He proposed that the state spend $170,830,874 to pay the cost of operating over the two year period beginning July 1, 1953. The figure is more than million under the amount ap propriated for the current bien nium. State Tax Commissioner Philip K. Johnson told newsmen that based on the 1952 valuations, the budget would require a 1953 state general fund property tax levy of 5. "5 mills. This compares to a cum^it .levy of 5.88. Governor Crosby had said earlier that he hoped to have a part in reducing the levy to at least 5.5. Crosby is almost certain to prune Mr. Peterson’s figures. The new governor’s budget message will be sent to the legislature late this month. Peterson recommended that the University of Nebraska be given $2 million of the $2.2 mil lion it had asked to continue its present program but turned over to the legislature the institution’s request for an additional $1.6 million for expansion. Ha called upon tne lawmakers to do something drastic to over haul the state’s property tax sys tem which he said “still stinks.” * * * Accent — As though to accent the out going governor’s word, the state supreme court two days later re versed the action of the state board of equalization in the squabble over the valuation of farm land in Johnson county. No one at the statehouse was prepared to say just how far reaching the elects of the court’s ruling might be, but the implica tion were tremendous. The court, in an opinion writ- ; ten by Judge Edward Carter, “Whether or not the valuations of Johnson county can be prop erly equalized and assessed witn out compensating corrections in the remaining counties of the state is not for this court 10 de termine.” Some officials saw i n the court’s rejection of the 20-year average sales price as a yardstick for determining valuations the strong possibility that at long last Nebraska tax officials—and the legislature—would have to come to grips with the property tax problem and do something about it. The court’s decision—ordering the board of equalization to meet again to consider the Johnson county case—will undoubtedly exert a strong influence on the chances of passage of a sales tax bill in this session of the legisla ture. * * * Roads — Along with taxation, highways rank as one of the toughest prob lems of this legislature. Many of the groups which sponsored the successful referen dum in 1950 to knock out the gas tax and registration fee increases, have said they would never back another road revenue measure un til the administration of the state highway department is turned over to a highway commission. A bill to provide just that—and also to split the irrigation bu reau from the highway depart ment—will get one of the session’s earliest hearings—January 22. !M3eanwhile, Sen. Terry Carpen ter of Scottsbluff readied for in troduction this week a two per cent sales tax proposal, with the estimated $10 million a year in come to go for highways. Still another piece of road leg islation is being proposed by two freshman members—Tom Coffey of Alma and William McHenry of Nelson. They want a law |—--1 which would prevent county boards from spending more than 20 percent of their Schroeder mail route graveling funds for machinery. Another bill would allocate the Schroeder money on a basis of mail route mileage in each county rather than on the basis of population as at present. Court-of-Honor Set for Ewing Spouts — EWING—Twenty Boy Scouts of troop 181 gathered at the head quarters last Thursday evening for a regular session. H. R. Harris, scoutmaster, called the meeting to order. The oath and laws were repeated in uni son. Allen Peterson, troop scribe, gave roll call and collected dues This was followed by board of re view consisting of Gail Boies, Durward Loughrey, E. L. Welke and John D. Walker. Fifteen scouts passed the second-class tests and two new members passed the tenderfoot test. On January 22, the court of honor will be held for all those who have passed tests and other advancements will be made at that time. Council men and par ents are invited to attend. On adjournment the scouts were given a treat at the Green Lantern cafe by E. L. Welke. O'NEILL LOCALS Mrs. P. B. Harty returned last Thursday from Los Angeles, Calif., where she had spent three weeks visiting her son, Airman Thomas C. Harty, and her sister, Miss Geraldine Cronin. Thomas departed December 27 for Japan where he will be assigned to duty in the Far East. Army Pvt. Ralph Lindberg left this week from Camp Stone man, Calif., for Far East duty. He had received his recruit and basic field artillery training at Ft. Sill, Okla. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Gehring moved last week to Albion where Mr. Gehring will be employed as a mechanic by an implement firm. The Gehrings will reside temporarily in their trailer house. Mr. and Mrs. Ted Loukota of Gross were Saturday overnight guests in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fora Knight. On Sunday they continued to Omaha on busi ness and returned Monday. ROYAL WATER O’Neill Thurs. Jan. 15 Family Night Daring! Revealing! Timely! THE UNKNOWN MAN Starring Walter Pidgeon, Ann Harding, Barry Sullivan. Family Night, $1; Adult 50c; Children 12c. Fri. & Sat. Jan. 16-17 Big Double Bill Starring Richard Conte, Audrey Totter with John Mclntire, Sam Jaffe, Shepperd Strudwick UNDER THE GUN — also — Roy Rogers and Trigger PALS OF THE GOLDEN WEST Danger on the Mexican border, as Roy trails a gang of killers to their fortress hideout! Adult 50c; Children 12c. Matinee Sell. 2:30. Children under 12 free when accompanied by parent. Sun.-Mon. & Tues. Jan. 18-19-20 The happiest musical ever made! JUST FOR YOU Is a must for you! Color by technicolor. Bing Crosby, Jane Wyman, Ethel Barrymore. Adult 50c; Children 12c. Matinee Sun. 2:30. Children under 12 free when accompanied by parent. For INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE S06 * CARL R, MAX at Page Co-op. Credit Association 1 * ji » •t t> * * * i i ,_^ -- ELKHORN FLOWER SHOP i i 405 E. DOUGLAS ST. O’NEILL, NEBR. j Night Phone 530W Day Phone 579 We Telegraph Flowers [ Flowers For All Occasions f •—. .——J DEAD ANIMALS REMOVED “ONE HOG OR MORE!” CATTLE - HOGS - HORSES Prompt Sanitary Service j Call Long Distance and Ask for ENTERPRISE 1000 (No Toll Charge for Enterprise Calls) ATKINSON - O’NEILL RENDERING SERVICE (Owned by Valley Rendering, Ord, Nebr.) DANCE Sunday, Jan. 18th BUTTE LEGION BALLROOM Music By DELL CLAYTON and His ORCHESTRA . .... • • . Come ix axd see this great kew GENERAL MOTORS MASTERPIECE! THE BEAUTIFUL 1833 JJual-Stneak MiljfC, Bigger and f'••fer in Every Way and NO INCREASE IM PRICES Completely New Dual-Streak Styling New Longer Wheelbase Longer, Lovelier, Roomier Bodies Spectacular New Over-all Performance New One-Piece Windshield—Panoramic Rear Window' Pontiac's Wonderful New Power Steering* *Optional at extra cost. Beautifully new in styling from bumper to bumper, the great new 1953 Pontiac represents an outstanding value in many ways: It gives you a longer 122-inch wheelbase—and roomier, more luxurious bodies. Pontiac’s over-all per formance is even more spectacular for 1953— with remarkable steering and parking ease. For performance, economy and deep-down value, the 1953 Pontiac is indeed an auto mobile masterpiece well worth inspecting. ENTER CM S $194,000 BETTER HIGHWAY AW ARDS CONTEST •*' New and Beautiful Proof That Dollar for Dollar You Can't Beat a Pontiac! WM. KROTTER CO. Phone 531___O’Neill, Nebr.
