The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1944-12-01
A Legislative Program

A Legislative Program
We believe that there are certain definite legislative
in the interest of all of the people of the state whc
The people all counties should call to the attention OF the
elected representatives These have been discussed by
ganized groups in the state and list them below:
l. That the Montana legislative assembly of 1945,
adopt forward to the United States congress- JOINT
memorial urging the congress to enact legislation for the
creation Missouri Valley Authority proposed in the
bill introduced by Sen James E Murray.
conviction that only by such regional plan of
development, pickering and jealousy between govern
ment agencies be eliminated and progress in the develop
of water be attained that only by the
adoption of regional development plan can full utllza
ton of water for irrigation power navga
ton recreaonal facilities and for control of floods which
year bring disaster to the lower section of the Mis-
souri, valley be accomplished; that only by the adoption
of Missouri Valley Authority, the monopoly control
water be broken and
developed for greatest benefit to the people of Mon
tana and the industrial development of the state be
sured that the establishment of Missouri Valley Author
y for the development of this great water With
any abrdgmen of the interests of other states within
the Missouri river BASIN will bring to Montana, pop
ulaon establishment of new industries; great
unes for employment and fuller life for all OF the
people Of the state.
State Hospital
g. A demand for thorough investigation by the
Montana legislative assembly in 1915 of the State Hospital
for the insane at Warm Springs; that more medical care
better housing and food be provided by adequate appro
prations.
A committee of the 1913 legislative assembly, in its
report the assembly, pictured conditions obtaining at
this state institution which constituted Indictment of
the ordinary humaneness of the citizens of the state
Failure of that legislative assembly to make provision for
remedyng of the conditions found to exist then, and
the failure of the governor upon such provisions
places them in the position of considering the saving of
money important than the comfort and well
fare and indeed the lives of the unfortunates confined
in the institution. This must not happen again
Old Age Pensions
8. The passage of legislation which will insure
aged citizens security and comfort in the declining years
of their lives.
Ara
Pension law and finds itself at the bottom of the
list of all states in the of pensions paid Our aged
citizens have earned security by their services to society
during their working To grant this security not
charity it is the acknowledgment and payment of debt
owed by society.
Social Security
A. Action by the 1915 legislative assembly in the
form of joint memorial to the congress for the speedy
enactment of the Wagner MurrayDnge BILL with it's
broad provisions for social security.
1t is contention that every citizen of this, the
richest country in the world should want for med
ica adequate housing and food Pending the enact
ment of federal legislation assuring this it must be the
responsibility of the state to provide for it.
OccupationaI Diseases
s. That the 1915 legislative assembly, make all
cupationa diseases such sicosis compensate under
the provisions under which the Industrial Accident Board
operates
The totally inadequate compensation now paid by the
Public Welfare to sufferers from slicoss disgrace
aeviated by the fact that with customary political Chi
canery the Anaconda Copper Mining Company through
its influence succeeded in placing the burden of compen
it obviously belonged
Department of Labor
g. Legislation for the creation of separate depart
ment of labor with adequate appropriation for efficient
functioning.
Montana is at the bottom of the list of states provd
ing for protection of the interests of its aborng people
The Liquor Monopoly
7. That the 1916 legislative assembly, make thor
ough investigation of the states liquor monopoly and
make such amendments to the law will provide greater
of busnesske administration of this service to
the people of the state.
Under Interpretation of the law by decision of
the majority of the court to which Associate Justices Adar
and Erickson dssented the State Liquor Control Board
is in effect functionng private business using
state funds This condition not conducive to admins
tration for the good of the general public
Other Measures
We are living in rapidly changing times. We do not
bind ourselves to support of only the outlined
above We shall support any which designed
to advance the public good.
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