The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, April 21, 1931, Page 4

CONFERENCES MIGHT HELP GRAIN FARMER Farmers Have Raised More; Than Can Be Used, But Many Still Go Hungry URGE LIMITED PRODUCTION Next World Wheat Conference Will Be Held in 1932, Prob- ably in Canada London, April 21.— (NEA) -— “Give us this day our daily bread.” For 1,931 years this prayer has risen from the lips of all Christian peoples. And, in a lesser degree, from non- Christian folk as well. And the striking fact in the world of the present hour is that the busy farmers of the grain-raising countries of the world have raised so much wheat that the supply exceeds the demand, although in many places on the globe thousands are hungry for lack of just this daily bread. The wheat farmers of the United States, Canada, Australia, India and the Ar- gentine cannot dispose of all their supply. On the other hand, in a country like England, wheat is down 40 per cent compared with pre-war prices, while flour is 15 per cent above those prices, and bread 25 per cent above. Everywhere the wheat - producing countries are vastly troubled by the plight of their farmers and every- where some solution is being sought Already three great international conferences have been held and two more of importance are on the sched- ule. There has been much eloquence. much production of figures—but so far nothing in the way of a solution has been found. Danubian Nations Confer In the first place, some months ugo the Danubian wheat-raising countries held a conference. It was stated that the combined debts of the small grain exporters of the Baltic states, Poland Hungary and the Balkan countries amounted to nearly # billion and a half dollars. These countries lived mainly by agriculture. Their confer- ence wound up by an appeal to the other European countries to give them preferential treatment .n their purchase of grain. Next, a European conference was held at Paris under the indirect aus- pices of the League of Nations. It really was part of the series of con- ferences started by Aristide Briand, Foreign Minister of France, in his scheme for a United States of Europe. All European countries except Russia were represented. The plea of the Danubian conferefice was listened to. but it was at once objected that preferential treatment could not given the Danubian countries, cause many of the European nations, in their commercial treaties with the world, had clauses for the must fa- vored nation. Thus, if Belgium had such a clause in a treaty with the Ar- gentine, it could not bar Argentine wheat for the benefit of Danubian wheat. The conference wound up by adopting some pious <esolutions. Next, a conference was held at Rome under the auspices of the In- ternational Institute of Agriculture an institution which grew out of the money, the dreams and the life-long work of an American, the late David Lubin. This conference was far more representative than the one in Paris, because not only was Russia eavily represented, but so were three of the four countries which account for about 90 per cent of the surplus wheat now in the market—Canada, Australia and the Argentine. The United States had an observer. AS ‘was caustically said—“The American attended, but did not pay for his seat.” Limited Production Urged The Rome conference immediately showed the cnormous diffculties to be encountered in seeking a remedy for a world situation. The French thesis . ‘was stated by M. Masse, who said that dumping and similar evils could only be solved by limiting wheat vroduc- tion, beginning by stabilizing it in the great producing countries. He ‘was immediately put in his place when other delegates pointed out the insuperable difficulties of getting wheat countries to agree on a fixed program. Each would want the max- imum allotment of acreage for its own country. M. Perez, representing the Argen- tine, said one of the great troubles was that Russia was dumping in the ‘world market wheat at a price lower its system of forced labor. Kritzman, chief of the Bolshevik delegation, at once took up this chal- lenge. He denied that there was forced labor on Russian wheat farms. ‘He said wheat was suffering from a While broad acreages like these in the Sacramento Valley (above) and the Missouri Valley (below) gorge the world’s markets with wheat, statesmen of many countries ponder the increasingly difficult problem of surplus production. Howard Ferguson (upper left), Canada’s High Commissioner to Great Britain, has sponsored @ con- ference of wheat-producing countries. to be held in London in May in an effort to obtain regulation of the wheat market and exports. of this. Added to this, what Russia could spare for sale would make a to- | tal of 25 per cent of the needs, there | remaining 75 per cent to be divided between the United States, Canada | and Australia. The obvious :dea of presenting these figures was that the great wheat-producing cvuntries should reduce their acreage and pro- duction accordingly. Russia, Argen- tine, Canada and Australia tnrough their delegates said this would be im-; possible. But one big thing did come out of the conference, sponsored by Howard | Ferguson, head of the Canadian dele- gation. It was agreed that a confer- ence of the wheat-exporting countries should be held in London on May 18 to try to reach an agreement for the regulation of the wheat market and wheat exports. The conference wil! be held under the chairmanship of Ferguson, who is the Canadain High Commissioner to Great Britain. The goal aimed at will be some sort of world wheat pool, participated in by the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentine and Russia. The main points of the agenda will be based | upon five proposals by the Hungarian delegation to the Rome meeting: 1—That each exporting country create a body of experts to control ‘ all-wheat exports. 2—That annual estimates of re- quirements be reported to exnort- ing countries. 3—That there shall be an inter- national commission to appertion quotas for each exporting vcun- try. 4—Exporting countries to agree to prevent, any increase in wheat acreage. $—Superfluous grain shail be used as fodder. May Confer in Canada The London conference wil carry its decisions—whatever they may be— to the next world wheat congress to be held in 1932 and in all probability in Canada. ‘The wheat question, amonz other agricultural problems, will a'so be tackled in still another conferenec tc begin June 5 at Prague in Czechoslo- vakia, when the 15th International Congress of Agriculture will hold its sessions. Ninety-two agricultural as- sociations, representing 27 countries, will have delegates there. SENTENCED FOR NON-SUPPORT Fargo, N. D,, April 21.—(7)—L. L. Hanson, Cottonwood, Minn., found guilty in Cass county district court on a charge of non-support of his wife, was sentenced to two years in the staie prison by Judge A. T. Cole. Sentence will be deferred on condi- tion that Hanson support his wife. —A Series Explaining the Contract Bridge System— By WM. E. McKENNEY Scoretary American Bridge Lesgue In our preceding articles we have | explained the pitch count for valuing | no trump hands. When this system is employed, it will be found that three points will average to take a trick. Of course you will note that a combined count of 24 generally produces game and | while we say that three ponts will average to take a trick, then a count of 24 should produce only eight tricks but our readers must remember that they are entitled always to count one trick for the play of the hand up to and including a game going declara- | tion. In other words, if there are five | probable tricks in your hand and three in partner’s—tivat is eight prob- {able tricks which will, in the larger Percentage of cases, produce nine tricks. It has often been stated that a | dummy without a trick is at least two | tricks worse off than a dummy with \@ possible in-card. The in-card will | take @ trick and will then allow the | declarer to take a finesse which may | assist him to establish his suit before | opposition gets theirs established. | The count system of valuing no | trumps is perhaps the most popular | system in the country today. While it is used entirely for valuing hands for no trump bidding in the quanti- tative showing of tricks, our readers must not attempt to use the count system in valuing hands for suit bids which naturally are played under | totally different nocd sone Suit Bids When the quantitative showing of tricks system is being used, original suit bids should convey the following information to follower: 1—That your hand contains a cer- tain number of probable tricks if the | hand is played at the suit declaration you name. 2—That your hand contains a cer- tain number of high cards or quick tricks, The most important of the two re- quirements for original suit bids are 1 the quick tricks. This information is absolutely necessary to your partner in case he wishes to bid another suit and can therefore count on these high cards to assist his hand, or in case partner wishes to make @ busi- ness double. He will then know that your hand can be counted on to take a certain number of tricks against the opponents. ‘Another important reason is that supposing the opponents play the hand at no trump, he can feel rea- sonably sure that there is a possibility of quickly establishing the suit that you originally bid, or he can make an advantageous lead against a suit dec- Jaration. Card valuation is always u mutter of common sense and naturally the value of your hand will increase or decrease depending upon the bids, of your opponents. ‘When you open with a suit declaras tion of one, you contract to take seven tricks, but it is not expected that you take all of these tricks your- self. Your hand is supposed to fur- nish only four or five of the tricks contracted for. Supposing that your hand is likely to take four tricks. This will give you four probable tricks, There are nine tricks left to be dis- tributed in the other three hands, With a normal distribution, your partner will hold three of these and if he holds three tricks and normal sup- port in your trump, he is entitled to give you one raise as there is one trick allowed for the play of the hand, Quick tricks are high cards that can be depended upon to take a trick the first or second round. Probable tricks are long cards that can be counted on to take tricks. (Copyright, 1831, NEA Service, Inc.) BETTORS ARE TAXED A 10 per cent tax will be levied on all race track bets in Australia this year. It is estimated that the meas- ure will net $10,000,000 a year to the government. WANT NEW SCHOOL Grand Forks, N. D., April 31.—(7)}— The Grand Forks city commission will be presented Wednesday with a request by the board of educaticn for a special bonding election May 12 for a new junior high school build- ing. The plea will be made as a re- sult of action taken Monday night at a board meeting. The total of the proposed bond issue is $200,000. The new building would be ready for oc- cupany by Feb. 1, 1982, and work would begin this summer, A Woodville, 8. C., bank which closed its doors in January has been liquidated and depositors received 100 per cent. OUT OUR WAY. By-Williams 4ES ._ WE DULG AND DUG AND DUG - BUT WE BROUGHT EOMETHING Back witrd us TO SHOW FoR 1T =~ Or. nO, ant SS PEOPLE’S FORUM Fditor’s Note.—The Tribune welcomes letters on subjects of f interest. Letters dealin: viduals unfairly, or which rota ed to othe Writers, aS sign the pseudo! wer wil reapct iach Peau We with controversial religious ‘of 008 bjects, Rhy attack ingle id fair iy, will yor hte tters as may be necessary to conform to this policy. ON PUBLIC OWNERSHIP Bismarck, N. D., April 20, 1931. Editor, Tribune: Thinking the following article may be of interest to your readers I ask that you kindly give it space in your valuable paper. In submitting this exceedingly in- teresting and instructive write-up for your consideration, I feel prompted to offer the following commentary: We are living in the machine age with its attendant problems of fo production; chains and mergers of huge corporations are the order of the day, all for the purpose of gain- ing supremacy over competitors. The public is suspicious and coy of mon- opoly, On the other hand, when the people demand state ownership in preference to private monopoly, some- one will cry “Socialism, Communism!” This is the burning question con- fronting our people today. Shall it te private monopoly or shall certain public utilities and all natural re- sources be operated and owned by the governments? Mr. Mason's article gives the answer, as do the state own- ed enterprises in North Dakota. Truly ag President Hecht says, “it is all a matter of education.” The article follows: « Great state owned enterprises operating successfully in New Orleans. Some facts concerning Louisiana's activities closely paralleling those of North Dako- ta. eee By NELSON A. MASON “Equal Opportunities to All; Special Privileges to None,” in a nutshell summarizes the plans, purposes and | policies of the Board of Commission- lers of the Port of New Orleans, charged with the responsibility of ad- ministering the affairs of public property valued at $100,000,000.00. Historical Background lt was away back in 1896, in the days of “Gold Standard and Free Sil- ver” that the legislature of the Com- monwealth of Louisiana created a commission of five to handle the business of the Port. The law read: “They shall be empowered to and it shall be their duty to take care of and administer the public wharves of the Port of New Orleans, to construct new wharves where necessary and to eir powers, were subsequently passed. In 1910 a constitutional amendment was pro- posed authorizing the Port 'Commis- ston to erect and operate warehouses and other structures necessary to the, commerce of the Port of New Or- Jeans; and granting the authority as continuing, so that the erecting of the first warehouses did not exhaust their power. The amendment became & part of the State Constitution in 1913. Upon the expiration of then existing leases the board commenced active administration of the Public Wharf System in May, 1914. Con- struction of the Public Cotton Ware- house commenced in January, 1915, and the plant. started operations August 1 of the same year. Public Grain Elevator Obcainamieh of the great Public Grain Elevator was undertaken Aug- ust 1, 1915, and the plant was form- ally opened February 1, 1917, exactly 29 days after. the launching of the Nonpartisan League administration cn a similar program in North Dako- ta. It is this enterprise with which we are particularly concerned. Situ- ated at the apex of the great bend of the mightly Mississippi fo1 the contour of the “Crescent City” the gigantic terminal occupies a com- manding position in what local boost- ers call “America’s Most Interesting City.” This elevator has a storage capacity of 2,622,000 bushels, and is a facility open to railroads and shippers on equal terms to all. The plant is served by a wharf 2100 feet tong. of- ii five berths for shipping—one the discharge of barges or ocean Joading at the mechanical sacking peat and three for loading under the Unloading capacity of ele- ag ‘is 200,000 bushels a day from rallroad cars, and 80,000 a day from ships or barges is performed at the rate of 100,000 bushels an hour. En- tering the elevator, which is of re- inforced concrete and absolutely fire- Proof and free from accumulations of dust, one is impressed with the neat- ness and order everywhere. The very basement is high, light and airy. Safety devices of most modern ‘wpe inspected both upon receipt and de- Avery. Financial A specific charge per bushel is made for each operation on grain handled, and a complete system of ac- counting checks up on these charges in relation to wages and other oper- ating costs, and should they fall to reconcile investigation started to learn why. Superintendent formerly of Saint Louis, is authority for the statement that the elevator recreation after hours for the em- ployes, of which there were about sixty in the main plant'in this slack season. The bulk of the grain comes down from as far north as Kansas. After all perhaps an elevator is not so complicated, for, as the foreman said, it was mostly bins, ‘belts, legs. and spouts. The writer acknowledges indebtedness to Mr. Carl Gilessow, executive general agent of the Board, Superintendent Sears and Foreman Cerise for the opportunity to inspect this wonderful plant and for the re- ceipt of needful data. Public Cotton Warehouse The Public Cotton Warehouse, built at a cost of over $6,000,000 and offer- ing 33 acres of covered warehouse space, just adjoining the grain eleva- tor grounds, is the largest cotton warehouse in the United States. Stor- age capacity is in excess of 400,000 high density bales, with concrete fire walls dividing each section, and there are gigantic compresses that reduce the original bales to less than half their former size for shipping. Like the elevator all machinery is elec-' trically operated. As many as 8,000 negotiable single bail warehouse re- ceipts are issued daily in the busy season, Coal Tipple ‘The Public Coal and Bulk Commod- ity Handling Plant also adjoins the elevator property and has a storage capacity of 25,000 tons. Its hourly loading rate into vessels is 400 tons. While primarily designed for ‘coal, muth ore, sulphur, sand, gravel and stone are handled. Wharf The Dock Department during the year ending August 31, 1930, reports more than 15,000 vessels arriving at the Port of New Orleans. The ba- nana conveyors unloaded 20,287,203 Uinches of bananas and 29,048 of plantain from: 729 vessels, 64 ship- Joads of coffee brought the equivalent of every third cup of coffee drunk in the United States. That terminal alone, newly completed, ‘cost 83,000,- 000.00. There is also a vegetable un- loading plant. Resides the original facilities there have been constructed by the Board seven miles of modern wharves and six miles of steel transit sheds. These facilities are open on equal terms to all and are reached by the services of ten trunk railroad lines which enter the port and have access principally through the New Orleans Public Belt Line Railroad, a municipal body which operates in close cooperation with the Port Com- mission. The present port limits un- der the jurisdiction of the Board in- clude a river frontage of 41.4 miles and an industrial canal frontage of 11 miles, leading to Lake Pontchar- train. On this canal is a lock to al- low for an approximately 15 foot drop from the river to the lake. Sites are leased for fac’ or other industrial purposes. A fire-tug, The Deluge, protects the dock properties of the commission. There is also leased from the United States Gov- ernment one of three Army Supply Base buildings-and from sub-leases a comfortable margin is obtained, and also has an option on the other bases when available. Insurance Department The Insurance Department of the Dock Board has accumulated a fund of $1,274,916.21 and last year’s profits exceeded $100,000.00. The Workmen’s Contpensation: fund is approximately $988,020.96. Financial Totals ‘The total gain as result of the oper- ation of utilities for 1929 amounted to $87,415.70 and for 1930 to $86,164.27. Total assets of the Board without reference to the lands occupied are $55,624,313.17. Its surplus is $6,362,- 025.32. What Other Ports Are Doing Public ownership and operation of docks is not new under the sun. In various forms the custom exists in many of the world’s largest ports in England, Germany and France. Deputy Head Tibbitts of the Mar- ine and Fisheries Department of the Dominion or Canada said: “My observation in an experience of over a decade as an officer of the Canadian government supervising the affairs of its Harbor Commission has convinced me beyond question that public ownership and operat of port areas and facilities is the most successful assurance of their Proper development in the public in- terest and I look on the conservation of harbor waters and frontage to the Public use as the most sacred duty of the country’s legislators.’ Mr. W. 8. Lincoln, president of the Port of Seattle, said: “The water front of a great seaport possession in the hands incoming commerce, moving to and from every corner of the world; hence the aggressive and ever insistent. effort gn the sed pl of transportation’ companies and other pfofit-seeking corporations and inter- ests to secure control of this valuable Property.”» « Louisiana Louisiana is so far from North Da- kota we are apt to overlook its pro- gressive features. Even in the days of the lottery. the act of a noble offi- cial is recalled. Governor Nich while vetoing in 1890 the proposed constitutional amendment extending the State Lottery Charter took occa- sion to say: “At no time and under no circum- stances will I permit one of my hinds to aid in degrading what the other was lost in seeking to uphold—the Honor of my: Native State.” tae athe of those charged with bbe these util- President R. 8. Hecht, speaking in 1935, for the full commission, said: “There have now been ten presi- dents of this Port Commission, and as you well know, they have belonged to various political factions,-and suc- ceeding officials frequently differed with their preaecessors on many suh- jects. But if someone would under- take to get every ex-president of this Board into @ meeting—and it is gratifying to be able to state that pine of the ten are alive and could Tespond to such a call—there would a oi least one subject on which they id unanimously agree, and that is that the undeflying chia arb of pub- lio ownership and public control gov- our port administration is sound and right today as ever, and should not be changed.” Attitude of the Public “And,” a prominent official of the Commission was asked, “What is the public re-action?” “Fine,” he said, “It's all a matter of education, It always pays to take tixe people into your confidence on public business.”—Respectfully sub- mitted, 8. A. OLSNESS, of Insurance. JUNIOR 2 COLLEGES Bismarck, April 20, 1931. Editor, Tribune: In a recent issue of the Junior Col- lege Journal there is an article en- College in fowa” by Clara Wallace. This article presents significant evi- dence concerning the growth and status of the junior college in Towa. It reveals that there are 28 junior colleges in Iowa. The largest of these enrolls 138 students, and the smallest enrolls 14 students. The median en- rollment is 47.5. Eight of the high schools in the systems of which these junior colleges are a part enroll less than three hun- dred pupils, and twenty enroll less than five hundred pupils. Seven of the junior colleges are lo- cated in cities of three thousand or less, and thirteen in cities of more than three thousand but less than six thousand. The rest are distributed among cities ranging from six thou- sand up to between twenty-four thou- sand and twenty-seven thousand. many of these junior colleges are too small and are located in cities of in- sufficient size to properly support them. But as many of them are of relatively recent establishment, they will probably grow to become stable units.. “The junior college,” the ar- ticle says, “is destined to affect pro- foyndly the organization ‘ot education in this country.” I hope that some ‘of this informa- tion is of interest to Bismarck people, . LEIFUR. INCUMBENTS BEELECTED None of the candidates had opposi- tion which accounted for the small- ness of the vote. HIT, BUN DRIVER CONFESSES Sioux Falls, 8. D., April 21.—(7)— ‘W. A. Coombs, proprietor of a lunch was the Se rt driver sought in connection with the death of Rose Habeger, si-year-cid saleswoman. Coombs said he thought it was @ acct? accident so he did not stop. BE SURE YOURE ad, f} SLOPE SINGERS 10 APPEAR AT CHICAGO Practice Monday Night for Parts in Gigantic Presenta- tion Next June More than 50 bers «cf the ee People’s Lui League from ¢ Missouri Slope area gathered at the Trinity Lutheran church in Bis- marck Monday night for a song ses- sion under the direction of Rev. Alvin calls |“ nating Chicago. The singing was in the nature of a rehearsal for @ gigantic choral enter- prise which will reach fruition at Chicago June 17 to 21 at the sixth in- ternational convention of the league. At that time 3,000 men will sing in a male chorus to be recruited from throughout the country. Rev. Snesrud, an organizer for the League, has been touring this part of room, confessed, police said, that he | fr the country, giving North Dakota singers instruction in the songs to be presented at Chicago in order that they may be properly prepared to da their part in making the great en- semble @ success. More than 1,000 children will serve as an accompaniment to th: male chorus at the convention, Rev. Snes- rud said. F. Melius Christiansen, di- rector of the St. Olaf choir, will di- Ringdahl, He by Rev. R. A. Getstedal, ¢ of Ve Valley City, who is touring the state with Rev. Snesrud. EiE,e te EK 8 practice. Delegates who attended the meet- ing are: Mrs. O, E. Mrs. titled “Development of the Junior! Mrs, and Miss Lydia Luhman, all of Dick- inson; E, N. Hedahl, Myron H. An- derson, A. N. Ellingson, Walter Ulmer, oc. renyg ts O. E. Johnson, Waldo Ellickson, Opie The, writer makes the point that . Earl Johnson, Clifford H. Fylling, O. O. Andvik, all of Mandan; and G, H. Plamann, Dale Deroun, Walter Eggers, Henry Skatvold and Ralph Luhmen, all of Dickinson. SEVEN PERSONS BELD Fargo, N. D., April 21.—(#)—Seven of nine persons held in connection with an alleged drinking posi ae day during which two severely wounded were being t held in in default of $1,000 bond each by Judge Paul Paulson. — See One of the seven hills upon which Cincinnati is built is being levelled to make room for the new 942,000,000 NOTICE TO bo pag t LDERS OF MUT' ANCE COMPANY. AN! 1D’ iT MUTUAL LIFE fi? Po arian COMPANY, AND TO nae) [AY CONCERN: re hereby notified that the pe Co! No! fdwest Mu ual Life Insurance Com: Bei of Farge: North b Dakote, ‘beth worpetes ions org a) Btate of North Da- Mgaged in the lite ina Basthess Sader 4 have filed with 0! ce te of North Da- a petition an prayine for an order ‘be Commissioner as rovided for under the provisions of Bection 4891, Compiled Laws of North Dakota for ints, authoriaing the con solidation of said Western Mutual Life Insurance Company with and transfer of all of the assets of said Western Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany to the sald Midwest Mutual Lite Insurance Company and the said Mutual Life Insurance Co oat Mutual Lite of "North ‘Dakota a contract set- u forth the terms and conditions of buch proposed consoligation id pro- viding for reinsurance by the sald Midwest Mutual Life Ins aie cne pany of the life insurance policies 1s- t id Western Mutual Lite Insurance Company, and further that upon the ap- name of the rek, 8 as Been fixed or ie petition pate fs commission 0 rr of Ly kote. “or. mn the @ ou som eran tee rantdent of the Bt inte to .. sp- point vernor), ¢ Asters ney ‘Genezal Nene, bye Insurance of t! of ot kota, and con are tart or notitied that, any Dolley so}der of the days a ee areal ter gl penreeos ome rt Midwest Mutuas fe Insurance Gow meters sald Co! ime lace des! pany mi minivsion at Sith by cranes pelenencny or reini ce. 0! ass Pas eene ee ( »