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Editorial
February 25, 1932
Plentywood Herald
Plentywood, Sheridan County, Montana
What is this article about?
An editorial defends the Sheridan County Agent's office against a petition signed by 541 residents seeking its dismissal. It argues the petitioners do not represent the majority of taxpayers, as they contribute only 8.5% of the office's maintenance costs and benefit from its services, including the pure seed program.
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A petition containing the names of Sheridan county residents favoring the dismissal of the County Agent was presented to the County Commissioners at the last meeting of the Board. This petition was signed by but 541 people, yet the claim was made that it represented the majority or at least the larger share of taxpayers.
A careful checkup of the names reveals the fact that only 258 of the signers pay taxes on real estate, 121 on personal property while 162 are not taxed at all. Yet the petition was claimed by its brilliant sponsors that it represented the majority of the taxpayers!
Further startling facts show that this group pays but $344.43 annually to the maintenance of the county agent's office, or approximately 8½ percent of the cost of this office. Wherein, then is their claim that this group represents the true consensus of opinion as to whether or not the county agent's office should be dispensed with? The group which pays the remaining 91½ percent of the maintenance cost has evidently not been taken into consideration. Certainly they have been given a chance to sign—why then haven't they sided in with the rest of the crowd? Or probably they realize that the small percentage of their taxes which goes to the maintenance of this office is money well spent.
A number of the people whose names appear on the petition have been regular callers at the County Agent's office, and the agent has been called to the farms of many of them. The cost of making these calls has far exceeded the amount paid by this entire group toward the agent's office.
Maintenance of the pure seed program in this county is only one of the many tasks carried out by the County Agent's office.
Yet the office gets little credit for carrying out this program because of the fact that many of the farmers do not come in direct contact with the agent. They do, however, get their seed from other farmers who have been getting seed through this office. Practically all the seed used during the past five years has been registered seed, due to the program which has been maintained by the County Agent's office.
A careful checkup of the names reveals the fact that only 258 of the signers pay taxes on real estate, 121 on personal property while 162 are not taxed at all. Yet the petition was claimed by its brilliant sponsors that it represented the majority of the taxpayers!
Further startling facts show that this group pays but $344.43 annually to the maintenance of the county agent's office, or approximately 8½ percent of the cost of this office. Wherein, then is their claim that this group represents the true consensus of opinion as to whether or not the county agent's office should be dispensed with? The group which pays the remaining 91½ percent of the maintenance cost has evidently not been taken into consideration. Certainly they have been given a chance to sign—why then haven't they sided in with the rest of the crowd? Or probably they realize that the small percentage of their taxes which goes to the maintenance of this office is money well spent.
A number of the people whose names appear on the petition have been regular callers at the County Agent's office, and the agent has been called to the farms of many of them. The cost of making these calls has far exceeded the amount paid by this entire group toward the agent's office.
Maintenance of the pure seed program in this county is only one of the many tasks carried out by the County Agent's office.
Yet the office gets little credit for carrying out this program because of the fact that many of the farmers do not come in direct contact with the agent. They do, however, get their seed from other farmers who have been getting seed through this office. Practically all the seed used during the past five years has been registered seed, due to the program which has been maintained by the County Agent's office.
What sub-type of article is it?
Agriculture
Taxation
What keywords are associated?
County Agent
Petition
Taxpayers
Sheridan County
Pure Seed Program
Agricultural Services
What entities or persons were involved?
Sheridan County Residents
County Commissioners
County Agent's Office
Petition Sponsors
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Defense Of County Agent's Office Against Dismissal Petition
Stance / Tone
Strongly Supportive Of County Agent's Office, Critical Of Petition
Key Figures
Sheridan County Residents
County Commissioners
County Agent's Office
Petition Sponsors
Key Arguments
Petition Signed By 541 But Claims To Represent Majority Taxpayers
Only 258 Signers Pay Real Estate Taxes, 121 Personal Property, 162 None
Group Pays $344.43 Annually, 8.5% Of Office Maintenance Cost
Non Signers Pay 91.5% And Likely Support The Office
Petitioners Benefit From Office Services Like Farm Calls
Pure Seed Program Benefits Farmers Indirectly Through The Office