The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1943-03-19

/ measure VIII die IN committee DC
cause the NINA underestimate ou
strength in this state"
Everything considered, the expert
enced labor lobbyists conceded among
themselves that, the temper of the as
sembly considered, it was of no avail
to try for any gains; instead, efforts
should be directed to holding what W.
have This note, particularly, had tt
be adhered to in connection with oul
appropriation for silicosis payments
which, after all, was our chief con
Germ. 1t was apparent from the out
set that it was TO be a target
lobbyist calling himself the Montana
Taxpayers Association" (whoevel
they are-we are all taxpayers and
none of us elected him) was poten
tial opponent; also others who for
the moment have done us no harm SO
call for no comment. Then, too, in
a report of the reorganization com.
mittee, named two years ago, and who
employed the aid of Griffenhagen &
Associates of Chicago, "streamliners
of state government" the following
recommendation were made:
"That, in the interests of equity and
economy, the law be amended to pro-
vide for the discontinuance of pay
ments to persons suffering from sill
COSTS who are patients of the state
tuberculosis sanitarium.
THAT, if sufficient appropriations
are not made to cover the full cost of
the silicosis aid program, the law be
clarified to allow proportionate month
ly payments as means of spread
ing assistance payments uniformly
throughout the year"
The union was called upon to pro-
test to the governor. After all, the
recommendations were not entirely
his, but of committee which he pre-
viously requested. The amendments
were never introduced due to the use
of "smokeless powder"
Our appropriations were in House
Bill 272 for $4,000 until June 80 of
this year and in House Bill 152 provid-
ing $225,000 additional for the twoyear
period from there on. These meas
ures were kept clear of all squabbles
such as kept the gang" overtime
This called for some maneuvering
which was done in the best manner
at our command
The original idea of the house COM
mittee was $4,000 for the two-year
period. This, after hearings at which
our president, Stanley Babcock, ap-
peared with us, was raised to $780,
300; all without any bedlam from
The floor.
Two influential men on the house
appropriations committee who are
widely blasted showed us eevry con-
sideration. They are Frank Horrigan
and James Dougherty.> ed. note:--
Horrigan voted wrong on H. B. and
both of them played leading parts in
to increasing appropria-
ion to teachers retirement fund.-
The silicosis pension act, incident
lily, involves more than Butte as the
following will show: Beaverhead
county 2 cases; Broadwater 2; Car
BON; Carter L; Cascade 4; Chouteau
3; Deer Lodge II; Gallatin 1; Golden
Valley 1; Granite z; Jefferson s;
Lewis & Clark 5; Madison 10; Min
'ral /; Missoula 6; Musselshell 16; |
Park l. Phillips 1; Powder River 1
POWELL 4; Ravalli 5; Sanders 2; Sher-
dan 1 Silver Bow 2O1; Toole 1 Vel
owstone 2.
In our Silver Bow delegation there |
we're only two independent men, Jack
1ealy and Paul Cannon. Five of the |
'thers have comparatively comforta-
lie jobs with the ACM company, so
annot be expected when occasion de-
hands, to "bite the hand that feeds
hem"
Assuming that the status quo main
aims for two more years, not only
he miners but the voters of our coun-
y should make it a special order of
BUSINESS to see that eight men who
wn their own minds and act accord
ngly represent us.
oncerns us as union men, there is
90 much Indifference in Butte toward
he state government. The people do
OF realize what wrong set-up can
o. While we might have strong or
anizations on the economic field, we
an be handcuffed by legislation such
S has happened in many states. This
as been demonstrated in the past
vhen strong unions paid no atten-
on to the ballot, leaving it to others
} elect public officials who gave
lem bullets when a signal was given
1t is recommended that our legisla
We group appoint from themselves
each to become fam
lar with some law in which we have
main concern; thus be in a posi-
on to speak with some authority
hen called upon
This lobbying affair is not only ex-
ensive to the union but to the in
vidual concerned, so it is further
commended that the delegates to
lie forthcoming state Clio convention
,nsider the possibility of setting
tide some of the income from affil-
ted groups to defray the expenses
lobbyists from any union called
pom.
Finally, it is recommended that the
convention, by resolu- :
on, instigate the calling of a pre- s
gislative meeting of CLIO, AFL, Rail-
ad Brotherhoods, and others so that
,tes can be compared beforehand in
der to avoid conflicts such as occur (
every session