The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-05-01
Only Merit of Debenture
Is Work for Idle of State
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
of the
STATE OF MONTANA
Helena
Leverne Hamilton, Representative
from Musselshell County
Musselshen, Mont,
April %, 1881.

April %, 1881.
Hon. Charles E. Taylor,
Plentywood, Montana.
Dear Sir:
Ihave read with considerable in
terest in the Producers News the
various opinions on Referendum
No. 35 which is to be voted upon
May 9Th.
While 1 can't agree that the bill
is entirely bad, l must neverthe-
less admit that it contains several
defects which render it a fit sub
ject for the most serious consider
alton by the voters.
H. B. No. $50 was rushed thru
both branches of the assembly in
the closing days of the session
with insufficient time to give it
adequate consideration. In fact
several measures were damned
thru" the House during the ses-
sion with little consideration, a.
mong them H. B. So, the CONSOLE
dation bill, which was recently de-
feated by the voters of Silver Bow
county.
In my opinion, the one advant-
age to be gained by the passage of
the measure is that some work
will be provided for the thousands
of idle men turnout the state, and
whether that advantage will be
sufficient to justify the passage OF
the measure is a matter for the
voters to decide.
That it was not the intent Of
the assembly to levy an addition.
al DC tax is certain, but it is also
certain that a repeating clause
should have been included in the
bill to prevent such a possibility.
In the event that the measure
; is defeated we will be confronted
by a serious condition with regard
to unemployment Tin fact that sit
uation confronts us at the present
time) which may even necessitat,
special session. 1t is quite pos
sible that even should the meas
ure be adopted it still will not af
ford sufficient relief.
1t is regretable that the assem-
bly, gave so little thought to tn,
unemployment situation, as tina
is the most serious condition whicI
the state has to meet at the pres
ent time. Possibly it appeals t
me more strongly because of tn
fact that it is most serious in tn
coal mining sections of the state
In these sections hundreds of me
: are without employment with littl
= hope of the condition improving
: with the advent of spring, for tn
reason that very few farmers ca
afford to hire help, many bein
: unable to put in a crop because @
lack of funds.
n This is the problem which cor
fronts the voter on May 9Th and
: is one which will in all probabilit
e be the deciding factor in the SCI
S tions which I have mentioned
Were it not for the question {
employment referendum No.
might be decided upon its merit
but with this crisis staring us
the face what will the averae
voter do?
If the bill fails of passage WI
the Governor call a special Sc
sion to deal with the situation?
doubt it. If a special session we,
called could we expect anythir
IS constructive from the assemb
n which failed to take note of Il
n condition, or to do anything to T
lieve it?
There is another feature of t
highway construction questio
which Iwould call to your attic
h ton in the hope that possibly Y
Of may be able to furnish some info
r;s nation which so far I have be
a. unable to secure.
ut On or about Dec. 20, It was
as ported that congress had enact
I a measure which would permit I
I'M states to borrow from the fede.
of government, money with which
sh match these Federal aid funds,
M money to be repaid from futl
ay Federal aid funds granted to 1
fit states.
Unfortunately my copies of (
Congressional Record have bt
IN. misplaced SO that l have been
able to verify that report. wo
suggest that you comment on e
feature if you have any defir
information CONCERNING If