Montana labor news., 1937-12-16
Mayor {. Hduswirih
and City Engineer
Address Labor Body

The parent body of unions of Sill
yer Bow County was treated to adj
dresses by Mayor Charles Hauswirth
of Butte and City Engineer Frank
Curran, at its session last Tuesday.
The Mayor was introduced by
James Combo, President of the Ira
DIES and Labor Council. The Mayor
in opening his remarks expressed
his pleasure at being permitted to
speak before the labor men and wo-
men. He then referred to a visit
that he had made to Helena to OPP
pose the application of the railroads
of Montana for increased freight
rates. He seems to feel that the
railroads do not need any increase in
their rates, and that if the Railroad
Commission granted such increase
it would only be a further exploita-
ton of the people.
He then remarked that at various
times he had heard criticisms from
officials of labor organizations in re-
gard to the policy and accomplish
ments of the city administration.
Mr.. Hauswirth then said that ii was
no secret that he had bitterly oppos-
ed what he considered worthless
projects being prosecuted by WPA
several years ago. He felt however,
that in the recent past, people in the
outlying districts, who had never
enjoyed the advantages of sanitary
service, had been given these facili-
ties through the WPA and the city.
The city has extensively cooperat-
ed with the WPA by furnishing
trucks and materials in the accom-
plishment of all projects, stated the
Mayor. Butte stands at the top of
all cities in the state of Montana in
its cooperation with this government
agency, declared Mr. Hauswirth.
Butte has often been complimented
by Mr.. Joseph Parker, State Direc-
tor of WPA. The speaker then ask
ed that the labor organizations, if
they had anything in mind to sug-
gest to the city in the way Of a pro-
ject to Immediately bring it to their
attention and it would be given due
consideration. Mr.. Hauswirth re-
peated several times that the city
administration is doing its level best
in every progressive way to make
the community better, and that
everything shall be done for the
welfare of the citizens. He again re-
iterated that not penny is being
wasted. He expressed his opinion
that the chat, as he called it, with
labor organization had been bene-
fetal.
Frank Curran, City Engineer, was
then introduced by Mr.. Combo. In
his opening remarks he stated that
it was the province of the city to
give conveniences to the people, and
that in respect to the WPA it was
their particular problem to give en-
ployment. The object is to COM
bine these two so that more can be
gotten out of them,
At the present time, Mr.. Curran
stated, there are about three hun
dred people working for the city
under WPA projects, involving sani-
tary sewers, storm sewers, and rec
reation plans. He then mentioned
that all of the people were not as
enthusiastic about some of the prof.
ects as they were about others, but
then that depended upon the family
outlook. If there are several grow
ing children in the family, naturally
that family would be interested in
parks and Fairgrounds, while a
childless couple would not be great
ly interested whether they had play
grounds or not. The engineer then
stated that the city was expanding
$33,000.00 to help the WPA. This
money was made available through
special legislation which permitted
a special tax upon public property
to help WPA projects. There are
more men now employed by the
city of Butte on public works than
in any period during the last ten
years.
In replying TO the two speakers,
President Comba made a remark
that the city had not shown much
promptness in bringing these beau
ty projects to the attention of the
Silver Bow Trades and Labor Coun-
Gil, that Kalispell and Great Falls
had already established remarkable
parks and that Butte was destitute
of any such thing.