The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-07-29
Theorists On
Way Out Says
Mansfield
Congress Provides For
Practical Men To Head
Price Administration.
MUST PUT WATER
TO BENEFICIAL USE

The college professors ana
young attorneys are on the way cut
from OPA," said Congressman Mike
Mansfield, while discussing with
the Western News Saturday the
present confusion in price control
and rationing in which the nation
now finds itself.
1.-The recent Congress enacted an
amendment to the OPA lay that
provides all heads of departments
in OPA must hereafter have five
years experience in the business
which they will be required to adj
minister under price and rationlng
legislation. There have been too
many theorists in important posi-
tons and this act by the Congress
means that the inexperienced COL
lege professor and young attorney
will soon be seeking for other
work"
The congressman was in Libby
for a short time Saturday after haN-
ing been at Kalispell to meet DR..
Raver and other government men
who were there to study the Flat
head lake storage problems and the
objections thereto.
Congressman Mansfield was also
greatly interested in the outcome
of the battle Montana people had
put up to prevent the using of Flat
head lake for a storage reservoir.
Il was assured by DR. Raver.' said
Mr.. Mansfield, that the Flathead
project was definitely out, that the
lake would not be raised, no Ian |
would be flooded, neither would
there be any dredging of the OFT
let. DR.. Raver did say, however,
that his department would look to
the construction of the Hungry
Horse dam on a branch of the Flat
head river for the storage of large
volume Of water This will require
an appropriation by congress and
that matter will be brought up It
the next session"
Put U Stiff Fight
Congressman Mansfield took a
great deal of interest in the fight
to keep Flathead lake from becofn-
ing used as a storage reservoir. Ho
took most active part in oppes-
ing it in the Congress, wrote the
President personal letter pleading
that the plan be rejected and to- k
particular pains to inform his col
leagues concerning the problems in
volved in the battle to preserve the
lake and the property interests that
would be destroyed had the original
plan gone through.
"But there is another matter
should like to impress on the pee
pie of Montana said the congress
man. I'VE cannot sit back here ir
Montana and do nothing to put oul
water to beneficial use and at the
same time insist that this water
shall not be used farther down fol
irrigation and power developments
We cannot take the position of {;
dog in the manger. Either we mus
put this water to beneficial use o.
some day in the not distant future
the interests farther west will in
sist that this water originating il
Montana be released for their use
That means that we must becom,
active in developing power. and II
rigation projects in Montana. Onl,
by putting this great resource G
ours to beneficial use can we b.
justified in insisting that we have
prior right to it.
Investigating Committee Coming
Right in line with this develop
ment of Montana projects is an &C
ton I was successful in getting tn
Congress to take. That was the ar
pointment of a congressional in
vestigating committee whose duty
will be to visit the Flathead an
study the problems that have bee
brought to the front by this pre-
posal to make a storage reservoi
of Flathead lake. If the Hungr
Horse dam is to be built it will ri
quire an appropriation by the Coz
gress. These men will look iEi
that project while here and becon
acquainted with its possibilitie
Continued on page 81