Montana farmer-stockman. [volume], November 15, 1949, Page 9, Image 9

About Montana farmer-stockman. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1947-1993

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
The Editor's Page
Dealing With the Careless Hunter
r
rpHE current hunting season has brought
-L its full share of reports of damage done
to farm and ranch property by hunters.
Gates have been left open causing livestock
to wander away. Fences have been broken
down. Livestock and domestic fowls have
been shot. Human lives have been en
dangered by careless shooting. It is little
wonder that many rural people dread the
opening of the annual hunting seasons. Or
that the cause of better relations between
town and country suffers at this time of
the year.
As more and more farmers and ranchers
have costly experiences due to the care
lessness or indifference of hunters, more
"No Trespassing" signs go up. This causes ■
resentment among sportsmen. Some pay lit
tle attention to signs and hunt where they
please until driven off the premises. Others
avoid the farms that are posted and flock
into the fields of farmers who have not
posted their places, with a resulting concen
tration of damage and danger to the rural
families that have tried to be friendly.
There are two sides to this troublesome
question, it is true. City dwellers like to
visit the country on hunting and fishing ex
peditions just as rural people enjoy an oc
casional trip to the city to take advantage
of parks and recreational centers there.
Many hunters, fishermen and campers
conduct themselves like gentlemen when
they go out to farming and ranching dis
tricts. They are careful to close gates and to
ask permission before they hunt or fish.
If they are on a camping trip they clean
things up before they leave.
Checking Up on Income Tax Returns
I NCOME tax returns are coming in for
more careful scrutiny now that the gov
ernment tax collection offices have been
given additional manpower. A number of
cases of deliberate tax evasion have been
heavily penalized. In other instances, tax
payers who have made mistakes due to
misunderstanding of tax regulations, or un
intentional errors in reporting income, have
had to pay substantial amounts in back
taxes and interest.
While the government tax officials and
deputy collectors mean business in dis
charging their duty to collect all that is
due under the income tax laws there is no
intention on the part of responsible offi
cials to insist that the taxpayer agree to a
settlement without having every reasonable
opportunity to present all the facts.
If a taxpayer feels that the settlement
suggested by the collector is incorrect he
has every right to consult a tax expert or
a tax lawyer if he wishes to do so. And he
may also appeal his case to the state in
ternal revenue office at Helena.
Tax evasion is a serious offense. The
government agents have many ways of
checking up bn the income of a taxpayer
whose return is under suspicion. A person
may be able to conceal part of his income
for a time but the odds are heavily in favor
of the government that he will be discov
ered sooner or later.
Most taxpayers are honest in reporting
Some ranchers have had comparatively
little trouble with hunters. Those who have
come to their places have been careful and
considerate. But too often the reverse is
true.
In some districts in Montana and Wyo
,, , , , ,
mmg, as well as in other states, farmers and
ranchers have come to the conclusion that
the best answer is to offer to be friendly
and considerate toward town visitors but
to take definite action when such hospital
ity is imposed upon. In following this pro
gram they post their places with signs read
ing, "No Trespassing Without Permission,"
or "No Hunting or Fishing Without Per
premises, the farmer sizes the party. If
When a group asks for the privilege of
hunting or fishing, or is observed on the
mission.
they appear to be responsible they are cau
tioned about gates, livestock, etc., and are
told to go ahead and enjoy themselves if
they agree to be careful. The farmer makes
note of the names and car license. Then if
they damage property they are called upon
to make good the loss. If they refuse, a
complaint is filed with the local law en
forcement officers and the case is brought
to court,
When rural people in a community have
co-operated in following this general pol
icy it has usually brought satisfactory re
suits. It requires vigilance and a resolute
determination to follow through in case of
any violation of property rights. It en
courages the considerate sportsmen who
conduct themselves properly. And it helps
to educate the other kind.
their income and in claiming deductions,
Tax accountants find that there are many
more cases of overpayment through failure
to take advantage of all allowable deduc
tions that may properly be made, or through
carelessness in keeping complete records,
than there are of underpayment of income
axeS
Straws in the Wind
Outlook for new irrigation projects de
pends greatly upon the enactment of a bill
now before congress changing the reclama
tion law with respect to allocation of costs
of construction. The new bill would set up
a new classification of "non-reimbursable"
costs—project costs which irrigation farm
ers would not be called upon to repay. Be
sides flood control and navigation items al
ready in that category, they would include
costs for fish and wildlife conservation,
recreation, salinity and sediment control,
improvement of public transportation, pro
tection of public health and promotion of
the national defense. With most of the
"easy" projects already constructed, many
of the remaining projects would not be
feasible unless costs were distributed in this
way.
Federal crop insurance program will be
expanded under legislation enacted at the
last session of congress. A 50 percent in
crease is authorized each year 1950-53 in the
number of counties over the number author
ized in 1948-49. FCIC is also authorized to
expand the multiple crop insurance plan
which insures several crops under on«
policy.
"Of all the many advances of American
agriculture since the turn of the century,
one of the most significant has been the
development of the farmer-committee sys
tem for farm program planning and admin
istration," says Secretary of Agriculture
Brannan. "I can think of no more convincing
way for farmers to insure the continued
effectiveness of their democratic farmer
... , , . . , .
committee system, for local administration
of national farm pro grams, than for an over
whelming majority of them to participate
in their own community elections."
* * *
About 22 percent of the beef cattle pro
duced in Montana in 1940 were shipped west.
In 1948 about 47 percent moved in that di
rection. The rapidly increasing population in
the Pacific coast states is the reason. Mon
tana used to be at the end of the market line.
Now it is in a more favorable middle posi
tion with respect to meat and numerous
other products. This creates new opportuni
ties particularly for those who are in a
position to finish cattle and other livestock
for the slaughter market. The big west
coast demand is for finished stock, not for
feeders.
* * *
Industrial strikes hurt farmers. Urban
iVorkers cut down on the buying of meat,
eggs and other perishables when the pay
checks stop. Many farmers believe there
must be some better way to settle labor
disputes. Some farm leaders are inclined
to favor the setting up of a system of labor
courts designed to settle such controversies
on an equitable basis. Whether such courts
could be kept free from political or other
bias is another question.
* * *
Price outlook for'cattle and lambs during
1950 is relatively more favorable than for
most other farm products. Economists be
lieve prices of farm products on the average
will decline about 10 percent during the
coming year. Costs of goods and services
farmers buy will probably decline about 3
percent.
* ♦ *
Prices of most farm products will average
somewhat below loan rates during the 1950
season in the opinion of market observers.
Wheat prices may be 20 to 30 cents a bushel
below the loan rate depending upon the
extent of non-compliance with the acreage
allotment program.
* * *
Acreage allotments didn't reduce cotton
production in the deep south very much
in the 30s. Farmers just poured on more
commercial fertilizer and increased acre
yields.
Average feed costs have dropped more
than livestock prices in most instances,
affording favorable opportunities for feed
ers.
Montana Farmer-Stockman
—COVERS MONTANA AND NORTHERN WYOMING
OFFICE: 121 4th St. N.. Great Falls. Montana.
LESTER COLE - -
DON R. BOSLEY -
LARRY GILL - -
JERRY LESTER -
- - Editor and Manager
- - - Assistant Editor
• - - Livestock Editor
- - - - Roving Reporter
Department Editors; AMY MARTIN. Rural Homes Depart
ment; DR. HOWARD WELCH Veterinary Department:
RALPH D. MERCER. Soils and Crops; H E CUSHMAN.
Poultry; I W DICKERSON, Farm Mechanics; DR. JOHN
W HOLLAND. Thoughts on Life: GILBERT GUSLER,
Markét Analyst.
Advertising Representatives; Western Associated Farm
Papers—CHICAGO 4- Fred Toof National Adv Manager
28 E Jackson; NEW YORK IB John W Pox Manager
500 Fifth Avenue; SAN FRANCISCO 5: J. J. Mattus.
Manager. 707 Sharon Building
Member nt Associated Farm Papers, Audit Bureau of
Circulations and Agricultural Publishers Association
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE—S3 for five years. $2 for three
years. $1 for one year: Canadian, one year. *2.00.
RENEWALS AND CHANGES—It the date on your label
is not changed within three weeks after sending in
your remittance, please write us. If you wish a change
tn address, give both new and old postoffices
ADVERTISING—Pull information regarding advertising
rates, etc., sent on application. Subscribers are requested
to mention promptly to us any advertiser who falls to
live up to his advertising agreement.
Tal. $7. Ne. 6