The Columbus commercial., March 17, 1918, Image 2

About The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922

Image provided by: Mississippi Department of Archives and History

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TMF. COLUMBUS COMMERCIAL
i
GYM 0 St'.NTi:K - - - Editor nnj Manager
Telephone - 222
rii.Urd at IWoffli'c in Columbus, Miss, a second class
mail.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Semi-Weekly, ene yesr 8.00
Tliur.-iy or Sunday, one year .-- l.f'W
Member of
AMKRICAN I'RKSS ASSOC IATiON
New York City.
IMivred eithir by carrier or (out through mall.
TREATFD LIKE A STEP CHILD.
The M.ssirsipni hni'datun has certainly treated the
lndu?tr:al Institute and College in this city like a step
child, having parsimoniously failed to provide sufficient
money for the expansion of that institution so that it
can successfully carry forward the splendid work which
it has so auKpicously hepun.
The bill providing for certain improvements at the
college and for it? spport and maintenance during the
ensuing biennial period, which passed the Senate sev
eral weeks ago, came up for consideration in the House
last Tuesday, and was relentlessly pruned. The support
fund was cut from $80,000 to $75,000 per annum and
sweeping reductions were made in the amounts allowed
for improvements. The original appropriation was con
sidered decidedly meager, and the action of the House in
making such sweeping reductions is sincerely deplored
not only by officers and students of the college hut hy
friends of the instituton throughout the state.
The depleted condition of the state treasury is given
by members of the legislature as a reason for their ac
tion; but the Commercial is impressed with the idea that
this excuse lacks potency, for while the local college was
parsimoniously dealt with other state institutions receiv
ed fairly liberal treatment. The male colleges seem to
have received nearly every thing for which they asked,
and this policy certainly has the appearance of being un
fair and unjust; for while the war has naturally taken
a large number of students from these institutions the
. attendance at the local college is just as large as it ever
was.
The Industrial Institute and College was entitled
to a larger appropriation as a war measure if for no
other reason. The institution is aiding the federal gov
ernment in its effort to augment its fighting forces by
preparing its students to perform, work heretofore only
performed by men, and if sufficient money could be
obtained courses of this charucter would be open not
only to bonnfide students but to the women of the state
generally.
During the prerent administration a large amount
of money has been wantonly wasted, and the Commer
cial hopes that, the day will soon come when the affairs
of the state will be more efficiently administered and
there will be sufficient cash in her treasury to make
mnro o-enrrnus provisions for the educational and
eleemosynary institutions.
M H h h 14
FOOD ADMINISTRATION CRITICISED.
In a speech delivered on the floor of the Senate
last week Senator Reed, of Missouri, severely criticised
the Food Administration, having charged that never be
fore in the country's history has there been such waste
fulness in thte expenditure of public money as that in
dulged in by Herbert C. Hoover and his assistants.
The speech was made in connection with an amend
ment introduced by the Missouri senator which provided
with an appropriation of $1,750,000 for the Food and
Fuel Administrations be eliminated from the bill. The
amendment was rejected end Senator Reed demanded
that an investigation be instituted before the money is
made available .
Senator Reed vigorously attacked the price-fiixing
polity of the Food Administration.' He said Mr. Hoover
solemnly assured members of the agricultural committee
when it was considering the control bill that price-fix
ing under its provisions would be impossible. As soon
as the bill was passed, he declared, Mr. Hoover, sur
rounded by his "board of trade sharps," picked out
an obscure phrase authorizing voluntary agreements
and "proceeded to conceive u plan for fixing prices."
The business methods of the administration were
also criticised by Senator Reed, who said he wanted to
I .. ."!!. 1 .' i' . '.-''.''J M. I?.' !
know what had becom of f 12,000,000 received In
rntne from the rraln corporation and from other sources
H.nre the administration wai entaldished on August 10 j
lt, he added, $.fi,rf.,000 has been appropriated, of(
which, reports show, $l,flHfi,420 ha been expended.
The senator read telegram rertlvedby him from
F. W. Kellogg, publisher of th San Francisco Call, In
wheh he declares that the western state art at the mer-'
ry of the California Packers' corporation, of which
Charles Ilentley, a member of Mr. Hoover's staff, is
drawing an annual salary of $16,000.
"Now I can understand," Senator Reede remarked,
"why men work for $1 a year under those circumstances
r rid the country is beginning to understand it.
Senator Underwood, of Alabama, who waa in charg?
of the bill explained that the moiuy appropriated hy the
measure was to be ued in extending the administration's
work to the state and suggested that if the Senate was
dissatisfied with the food law it should repeal it.
ki m in m n
' BETTER SERVICE NEEDED.
There is need for better telegraph and telephone
service here. Hoth Mr. M. II. Yerby, manager of the
Postal Telegraph office, and Miss Mariah Smith, manager
of the Western Union, are exceedingly efficient and ac-
omodating, while the telephone operators, as a general
thing Bre polite and courteous but many mprovements
ire needed in both the telegraph and telephone service,
and these improvements should be made without delay.
The main objection to the telegraph service, is the
mited time at which it in available. The local telepraph
offices clone at 8 p. m. during the week, while on Sun-
lays they are open only two hours in the morning and
two hours in the afternoon. This entails considerable in-
onvenienee upon patrons, and a schedule should be ar
ranged whereby the offices would remain open until 10
o'clock ever night, Sundays included. Of course this
coubl not be done with the present forces, but an addi
tional operator should be employed at each office, and
pressure Bhould be brought to bear on the officials to in-
luce them to do this.
The trouble with the telephone service appears to
lue largely in the operating room. The treatment ac
corded calls seem to be depended almost entirely upon
the efficiency and the moods of the operators. We are not
personally acquainted with the young ladies employed at
the telephone exchange, and und.r no "ircumstances
would me "knock" any of them; but most members of
the fair sex are subject to moods, and the only wav ti
improve the service is for the executives to Veer strict
er watch over the switchboard and see that all calls re
ceive pvompt and efficent attention.
We notice in the daily papers that the Cumberland
Telephone and Telegraph Co., is making an appeal to its
subscribers for leniency on the ground that its service
has been seriously disturbed by the fact that many of its
employes have answered the call to arms. So far as the
Commercial can ascertain, however, no local employei
of the company have answered such a call, and there is
therefore no reason why the service here should be dis
rupted.
Buy torn war savings stamps.
' Pi
Smile, cheer up; don't be a grouch.
Ml
Pay your debts and laugh at wor.
ry.
FEDERAL INCOME
TAX IN BillEFj
wjr-r. Vnjojri. regular .ummtt Requirement j Boiled Down
ORDER UNSATISFACTORY.
The order recently issued by the War Department
providing that the addresses of American soldiers killed
or wounded on French battle fields be withheld from the
public has caused much dissatisf action, and pressure is
being brought to bear upon President Wilson with the
view of inducing him to have the order repealed.
It seems that the order was issued at the request
of officials of the French army, who some time ago
adopted a rule not to give out the addresses of men kill
ed or wounded while in action, claiming that to do so
conveyed to the enemy information regarding the loca
tions of certain commands which might prove valuable to
them.
The main objection to the order is that under its
provisions the casualty lists sent out from day to day
often cause unnecessary alarm among reatives and
friends of the American expeditionary forces. In these
forces there ure naturally many men bearing similar
cognomens, and when the lists of dead and wounded ap
pear there follows much confusion, as the absence
of addresses make it impossible to identify the victims,
Suppose, for instance, the casualty list for a certain day
contains the name of John W; Smith. There are proba
bly hundreds of Americans bearing this name now fight
in France, and relatives of them are filled with alarm
until it has been definitey ascertained which John Smith
was killed or wounded.
The dissatisfaction resulting from the order are
widespread and present indicatons are that it will be
repealed.
cciiient and Health Insurance
makes certain your income in the event of accident
or illness. Can you afford to go without this protec
tion? A lengthened term of disability might seri
ously inconvenience you, unless you have a disability
policy. Have you one of these policies? If not, get
one now
JESSE P. WOODWARD
General Agent
Maryland Assurance Corporation
Odd Fellows Building:
Phone 531 Columbus, Miss.
-
This is a nice pleasant little world
to live In.
j
An ugly temper is such a foolish
thing to ahow.
M
The Bolshevik! know how to trust
the Germans now.
-i
What has become of Kerensky?
Can he coma back now?
IN'
Sales of War Thrift Stamps now
total 2,000,000 a day
IH
One of the mysteries of business
life is how do they do it
m
One of these days we are going to
quit work we will be dead.
fc
If you have troubles don't brood
over them ; that will do no good.
Textile Industries in Japan are re
porting profits of 85 and 125 per
cent
IB
Russia seems to be chaotic this
much is 'all that is fixed and certain.
Misrepresentation is always a poor
weapon to use because it reacts dan
gerously.
IB
Many a man is a good man at
eart, and means well, but misses
the mark.
Mr. Hoover is sending wheat to
the allies, but we should worry
Cornbread is good.
- Mi-
Russia has made peace, and new
regions are practically surrendered
in Turkish proximity.
Pa-
Are you saving as much money
and much food as you can both
will help win the war.
Ml
Some people's ideas of their own
importance Is about""" the funniest
thing other people see.
P
Between the Bolsheviki and the
Japanese Siberia has what we com
monly term a "fat chance."
Ml
Our idea of a handicap is to over
sleep yourself , when you want to
catch an early morning train.
. .
We wonderSvhen we'll see street
lights aroint Goal shortage will
hardly keep them out forever!
Mt
Life is one temptation after an
other to buy what you can't pay for
except on the installment plan.
Ml
Bt5jshevic repudiation oftiational
indebtedness has caused much pro
test by diplomats at Petrograd.
IB
Don't notice the little things in
life; there is too much that is en
nobling if you only look for it.
Ml
Commercial agencies are reporting
a general improvement in business
conditions throughout the country
Ml -
Our idea of the food situation if
that everybody ought to be glad to
eat less in view of the present
prices.
B
If you own a private railroad car
you are in a bad fix, as the railroad;
can't haul it under government op
eratiorw.
Ml
We are not mad with anybody
life la pleasant enough for us to en
Joy and we wish everybody was just
ai happy.
Ml
New York banks presented the
failure of the lost issue of treasury
certificates by taking more than
their share.
Universal mileage books and in
terchangeable railroad tickets are
being contemplated by the railroad
administration.
Ml
Having fixed one price it will not
be long before the government will
regulate them all.
Ml
The government wants everybody
to buy their next winter's coal as
soon as possible but no hoarding
will be allowed.
for Busy Folks.
IS SITED BY TH&
UNITED STATES
C0VE3KMENT
Returns must he filed on or before
April 1, IMS.
Tas due may be paid now or on or
before June 13, 1918.
If you were single and your net o
come for 1017 was $1,000 or more you
must file a return.
If you were married and living with i
wife (or husband) and had a nut In
come of $2,000 or more for 1017 you
roust file a return.
Husband's ami wife's income nuat
he considered Jointly, plus Income of
minor chlldreu.
Income of a nilnor or Incompetent
derived from a separate estate, must
be reported by his legal representa
tive.
Severe penalties are provided for
those who neglect or evado the law.
For false or fraudulent return there
Is a penalty not exceeding $2,000 fine
or year's Imprisonment, or both, plus
100 per cent of tax.
For failure to make return on or
before April 1, 1918. fine Is from $20
to $1,000, plus 50 per cent of tax due.
Returns must be filed with the Col
lector of Internal Revenue of district
In which you live.
An agent may file return for a per
son who Is 111, absent from the country
or otherwise Incapacitated.
Each return must be signed and
sworn or affirmed by person execut
ing It
Single persons are allowed $1,000
exemption In computing normal tax.
A married person living with wife
(or husband) Is allowed $2,000 exemp
tion, plus $200 for each dependent
child under 18.
. A head of family, though single, Is
altowed $2,000 exemption If actually
supporting one or more relatives.
Returns muU show the entire
amount of earnings, gains and profits
received during the year.
Officials and employees are not taxa
ble on the salaries or wages received
from a state, county, city or town In
the United States.
Interest on state and municipal
bonds Issued within the U. S. Is ex
empt from federal Income tax and
should be omitted.
Interest on United States govern
ment bonds Is also exempt, except on
Individual holdings of Liberty Fours In
excess of $5,000 par value.
Dividends are not subject to normal
tax, but must be reported and Included
In net Income.
Gifts and legacies are not Income
and should not be Included on the re
turn of the beneficiary.
Life Insurance received as a bene
ficiary or as premiums paid back at
maturity or surrender of policy Is not
income.
Payments received for real or per
sonal property sold Is not Income, but
the profit realized thereon Is Income
for the year of sale.
Amounts received in payment . of
notes or mortgages is not Income, but
the Interest on such notes or mort
gages Is taxable Income.
From the entire gross Income cer
tain allowances are made In arriving
at the net Income.
Necessary expenses actually pnld In
the conduct of business, trade or pro
fession may be claimed.
A farmer can claim payments for
labor, seed, fertilizer, stock feed, re
pairs on buildings, except his dwelling;
repairs of fences anfl farm machinery,
materials nnd small tools for Immedi
ate use.
The amount of rent pnld for a farm
may also be claimed as a tenant farm
er's eTpense.
Payments for tJve stock are allowa
ble If bought f r resale. But If bought
for breeding purposes cattle ore no In
vestment, not an expense, and caunot
be allowed.
A storekeeper ran rlnlm amounts
paid for advertising, clerk hire, (oto
phone, water, light nnd fuel, also lniy
age and freight bills and cost of op
eratlng and repairing wagons and
trucks.
A phyBlclan can claim cost of his
professional supplies, rent, office help,
telephone, expense of team or automo
bile used In making professional calls
and expenses attending medical con
ventions. A dentist can claim similar Items';
except , team or auto expense, which
are not necessary In his profession.
Expenses that are personal or con
nected In any way with the support or
well being of a person or family are
not allowable.
The costs of machines, Instruments,
vehicles or Implements that are more
or less permanent In character are not
allowable as an expense. They are In
vestments. Interest paid on a mortgage or other
personal Indebtedness Is allowable on
a personal return.
All taxes paid within the year can
te taken out on a federal return, ex
cept federal Income taxes, Inheritance
taxes and assessments for local Im
provements. Losses sustained In business or
through fire, storm or shipwreck or by
theft, except when compensated by ln
mrauce or otherwise.
We Never Guess
Thousands of satisfied patients will
tell you of the merits of our skill.
GOODWIN-GOODELL
Optical Co.
Optometrists Opticians
Memphis Columbus
31 S. Main St. ' 505 Main St.
Specialists in prescribing and making glass
es for those who appreciate perfect eyesight.
Statement of the Financial Condition of the
BANK OF CRAWFORD,
Located at Crawford, in the County of Lowndes, Strte of Mississippi, at
the close of business March 4, 1918, made to to the Hoard of Bank Ex
aminers. .
RESOURCES
Loans nnd discounts . $31,030.78
Overdrafts, unsecured . 18.90
Bonds, securities, etc. , . 296.81
Guaranty Fund with State Treasurer 500.00
Banking house and lot . 1,500.00
Other real estate owned . 284.63
Furniture and fixtures ; 1,534.30
Due from other Banks commercial or reserve funds . 17,350.91
Currency ,. 1,112.00
Gold coin" 460.00
Silver Coin, Nickels and Cents .1 904.28
War Revenue Stamps , " 13.00
U. S. Government Certificates of Indebtedness 7,000,00
Total ...I.. $62,605.61
LIABILITIES
Capital stock - $10,000.00
Surplus fund 2,000.00
Undivided profits, less amount paid for interest, taxes
and current expenses . . - 955.21,
Dividends unpaid 1 70.00
Individual deposits subject to check 41,011.27
Time certificates of deposit 8,355.31
Cashier's checks outstanding 213.82
Total $62,605.61
I, M. W. Ervin, Cashier do solemnly swear that the above is a true
statement of the financial condition of Bank of Crawford, located at Craw
ford in the County of Lowndes, State of Mississippi, at the close of business
on the 4th day of March, 1918, to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Correct Attest
M. W. ERVIN, Cashier
D. P. BROOKS,
W. E. ERVIN, Directors.
State of Mississippi, County of Lownd.'s.
Sworn to and subscribed before me A. J. Ervin, Jr., this 18th day of
March, 1918. A. J. ERVIN, JR.
My commission expires January 31, 1921. Notary Publi.-.
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TheMerchants&FannersBank
Columbus Miss.
Liberal Treatment
Prompt and Efficient Service
Solicits Accounts of Firms and
Individuals
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THOUGHTS FOR TODAY.
It takes a heap o' livin in a house
t' make it home,
A heap o' sun an shdde. an' ye
sometimes have t' roam,
Afore ye really 'preciate the thinp
ye left behind, '
An' hunger for 'em somehow,, with
, 'em alius on yer mind.
It don't make any difference how
rich ye get t be,
How much yer chairs and .tables
cost, how great yer luxury;
It ain't home t ye, though it be the
palace of a kintc,
Until somehow tr sou! is ssrt o
wrapped round everything.
Selected.
Cook With
and Save Coal
COLUMBUS RAILWAY, LIGHT & POWER GO
Commercial Dept. Phone 197
Read our advertisements.