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Bv Ag. not guarante€d---Some Jock Dionne I have told jor 20 years---Some He Was Pale

The two colored porters were sitting and talking adventure, as is freguently the way with darkies when they can get someone to listen.

"Boy," said the first one, "whut was de mos' you evah scared in you life?"

"Niggah," said the second, "de wust Ah wuz evah scared wuz one time Ah wuz callin' on a married lady, an' her husband done come home."

"\Mell," insisted the questioner, "how bad wuz you scared?"

"Ah wuz scared so bad," said the second, "dat when de husband walked in he looked at me an' den he say to his wife, he vy 'Liza, who is dishere white man?'"

Contractors' Renewal Fee Reduced Appointed lnstitute Secretary

Sacramento-Legislation reducing the license renewal fee of California contractors fifty per cent and providing for tightening of the state contractors' act was enacted into law with the approval by Governor James Rolph Jr., of Assembly bill 780.

Under provisions of the measure, the fee for renewal of licenses for the new fiscal year beginning July 1, will be cut from $10 to $5.

This economy measure, it is expected, will result in a saving of more than $115,000 for California's army of 23,000 registered contractors. The measure ,carried an urgency clause, making it effective immediately upon approval by Governor Rolph.

In addition to providing a reduction in the fee, the measure provides for tightening the provisions of the act and also more stringent regulation of the unscrupulous or unethical fly-by-night contraator or "jerry builher," according to Col. Carlos W. Huntington, registrar of contractors and director of professional and vocational standards in the Governor's cabinet. The measure will in no way interfere with the legitimate operations'of the honest and reputable contractor, Registrar Huntington said.

Under the budget finally adopted by the legislature and approved by the governor, the registrar's office is apportioned fi270,W for support for the ensuing biennium. The original budget request provided for $314,000 for the department, but this was cut to $236,242 by the house ways and means committee, and subsequently raised to $270,000 in the final budget.

The measure retains the present $200 exemption clause. A move to reduce this to $50 having been defeated on the floor of the senate and assemblv.

Calls On Trade

Jim Farley, assistant Western sales manager, The cific Lumber Co., San Fran'cisco, returned to his desk 22 from a week's business trip in the Sonoma Valley.

Paul M. Parsons has been appointed secretary of the Inland Lumber Institute with headquarters at the Institute's offi,ces in San Bernardino, Calif. Mr. Parsons has been connected with the retail lumber business for a long period and was formerly with the Hammond Lumber Company at Riverside. Charlie Cheeseman, who is well known to the Southern California lumber trade, is field manager for the Institute in charge of the yards in the Redlands' district.

Finds Business Better

With an increase in their business of 3O per cent in May over last year, and an estimated increase of 40 per cent in June over June, 1932, M. A. Harris of the Van ArsdaleHarris Lumber Co., San Francisco, finds the present situation very encouraging. "We have been getting more inquiries and making more sales since the first of May, and although sales are not large there have been a good many of them," Mr. Harris said.

He attended the meeting of the directors of the California Retail Lumbermen's Asso,ciation held at Fresno for the purpose of considering the code formulated in accordance 'ivith the National Industrv Recoverv Act.

Fire Destroys Dinuba Yard

Fire, which started from spontaneous combustion from a sander, destroyed the yard of the Dinuba Lumber Co., Dinuba, June 28. The stock and buildings were a total loss, including the new office building recently completed Pa- which also housed their hardware and paint department. July The loss was fully covered by insurance, and Walter Hardwick, manager, said they would rebuild immediately.