Montana labor news., 1934-03-01
Joint Conference of All A. c. M. Company
Employees Protests New Proposed Code
HAPPENINGS
IN CONGRESS
(By Hon. Joseph P. Monaghan.)

(By Hon. Joseph T.. Monaghan.)
C. w. A.
EIGHTING, %clamoring, with the
Il speaker shouting for order, the
house suddenly, i'll considered, passed
a lone appropriation of $3.50, 100000 to
continue the c. W. A. This worthy
project would be discontinued on May
II, throwing four million Americans
Tout Of work. 1t is maintained that
industry should absorb these millions,
but how? and when? Until a thirty
hour week is effective, an adequate
old age pension enacted, and silver re-
monetized, little hope can be enter
tanned that this happy ending viii ter
inmate the so-called depression. The
government has a duty to provide
these millions with a job or compel
industry to absorb them. With a gag
rule prohibiting amendments the
house provided that injured c. w. A.
workers were not entitled to compen-
%sation; but, thank Godl the senate in
its wisdom amended the bill, elimin-
ating this most vicious provision. We
hope the House will accept the amend
ment.
Revenue Bill.
We all recall the searching investi-
gation into the affairs Of the great
financier Of Wall Street, ]. P. Nor
gan. The happy result Of this inves-
litigation was a clamor for a revision
of the income tax laws to prevent loss
of millions of dollars to the United
States government. The Ways and
Means committee drew up a lengthy
bill, the main object of which was to
block the loopholes to prevent those
with large incomes from forming cor
operations and from using other meth
DDS to avoid payment of income tax.
This m%eritorious bill was presented
February IA for consideration, with
another unmeritorious gag rule. l
favor the bill itself because it will net
a revenue of about 1898, 900, 900. How
ever, the gag rule preventing mem
bers of the House from presenting
amendments is always a dangerous
and undemocratic proposition. AS l
argued before the Rocky Mountain
Group, a vote for a gag rule is, in
effect, admitting that three-cent post
age is alright, since it would prevent
any amendment which would have the
effect Of reducing postage rates. It
would also prevent amendments for
taxation of securities and indirectly
thereby sanction the government pol
icy of borrowing from the information
al bankers at four per cent interest,
ignoring the power which congress
has to coin money and regulate the
value thereof, and the specific power
granted the executive to issue three
billion dollars in treasury notes for
the purpose of carrying on various
public works projects. While | shall
support the measure designed to pre-
vent Mellon, Morgan and Rockefeller
from avoiding their just payment of
taxes, | could not c%ountenance the
s~uffocating gag, since l believe the
power of free expression and amend
ment should exist above all in the
greatest legislative body in our land.
Sugar Considered.
The President has proposed that
sugar beets be made a basic agricul-
tural commodity and urged that our
production be reduced. We cannot
agree with this policy when it comes
before the House for consideration.
Yes, one must disagree with even the
President if one believes him to be
wrong. We produce in the United
States about two and one-fourth mil
lion tons of sugar but consum six
million tons. As long as America
produces an insufficiency, no adequate
reason exists for %curtailing produc-
ton.
Federal Land Bank.
A meeting was held at the office of
the House whip, Arthur Greenwood,
at which was discussed the possibility
of bringing some semblance of jus
tice into the Farm Loan Administra-
ton. Politics, sad to say, has enter
ed into this department and prevented
just appraisals. Montana farmers
have been among the first to COM
plain. As a result of this meeting
Mr.. w. |. Myers was summoned be-
fore the Rules Committee of the
House and received stern reprimands.
O'Connor of New York said that "
a congressman could not receive civil
treatment in Mr.. Myers department.
Mr.. Myers left looking somewhat dis
mayed; we hope reformed.
Air Mail Contracts.
The President at one fell stroke
cancelled all air mail contracts; more
power to him! Mr.. William P. Mac
Cracker, Jr., air line attorney, even
defied the Senate of the United
States and then dramatically surren-