Montana oil and mining journal., 1941-01-25
MINERS PROPOSE
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to provide for building Of roads,
trails and bridges to aid in the de-
velopment of mineralized areas
within the boundaries of national
forests.
Fayoring senate bill to grant
R.FC. loans of $5,0OO,O0O to small
mine operators.
Opposing further withdrawal of
public domain from mineral entry
and location.
Thanking the officers of the Mon
tana Mining association, the Last
Chance Mining association for "the
able, courteous and effective man
ner in which this convention has
been conducted.
About $50 people attended the
banquet, with Lars Carlson as
toastmaster.
Governor Ford declared the min
ing Industry had produced more
than three and one-third billion
dollars in the Treasure state. And
the most gratifying fact" he said
"is that of this money some three
billion has been spent in Montana
in taxes. salaries and expenses.
I'VE in Montana who are Opti-
mistic believe the surface has only
been scratched, he concluded,
rand we are looking TO you men
of vision and courage to continue.
We want you to know the state ad-
ministration is willing to help the
industry and will do everything it
can to help that group which has
meant so much to this state"
IntrOductiOns
Others who were introduced at
the banquet but who did not speak
were: Lieut. GOV. Ernest T. Eat
on; Carl Trauerman, president of
the Mining Association of Montana;
DR.. F. A. Thomson, president of
the Montana School of Mines; May
or Jack Haytin; Fred w. Bleck;
Anthony Strojan; State Auditor
John ]. Holmes; August Grunert,
secretary of the association; Jim
Kelly of the Beaverhead County
Mining association; Paul Smith OF
the Last Chance Mining associa-
ton; Sylvester Graham, state G.
l. o. chairman; James d. Graham,
president Of the Montana Fedora
tion of Labor and the mining com
mittees of the house and senate.
Speakers who took part in the
discussions included j. Burke Glenn |
ents. chairman of the industrial ac-
cident board; p. w. Mosier, Rad
ersburg; w. r. Galloway, Vir-
ginia City; DR.. Thomson; A. J.
Theis, Norris; Bill Bardon, Hell
ena; Stanley Moore, Wilborn; Jim
Roberts, Sheridan; Milton Leydig.
Zortman; Jim Kelly. Twin Bridges
and Val Deitz, Sheridan.
Compensation Law
A discussion of the Montana un
employment compensation law Oc-
cupied most of the morning session
with James D. Graham, president OF
the State Federation of Labor, as
main speaker.
Mr.. Graham. in his analysis OF |
the law declared the act taxes the
employers pay roll and is econ
ically unsound and called the law
"a grievous burden on the small
employer and one which is bound
to kick back on the workers"
THE law must be regulated"
he said, adding that if changes are
made. they must be national. my
intentions are not vindictiye, but
are meant to relieve the burden OF
he continued.
Blames Administration
THE whole fault of the act in
this state, ne explained, "lies in
its administration within Montana
borders"
The goal OF the Montana branch
of the a. F. OF L. is Ito get the
proper protection and re-
lieve the employers tax burden,
Graham said.
'"Great Britain has negotiated
labor difficulties for many years
with no strikes and strife-if
they can do that, we. in this coun
try. can do the same, he added.
Industrial Accidents
]. Burke Clements, chairman OF
the state industrial accident Doard
declared 'the compensation law
ought to be amended in many places
many OF the provisions of the
act, drawn up in 1915, are ar
-haic.
There ought to be a maximum
Of cooperation between the admin
istrators of the act, employers and
Clements continued.
Presenting brief explanation OF
the status of the compensation
fund Clements added, "A reserve
must be built up-we must raise
the rate paid by small operators.
1t is true that there are more ac-
cidents per employe as the size OF
the mining operation decreases.