The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1944-12-08
A Legislative Program

We believe are definite legislative pr
posa in the interest of all of the people of the state wht
the people in 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:
1. That the Montana legislative assembly of 1916,
adopt and forward to the United States congress- joint
memorial urging the congress to legislation for the
creation of Missouri Valley Authority proposed the
bill introduced by Sen. James E. Murray
conviction that only by such regional plan of
development pickering and jealousy between
agencies be eliminated and in the develop
water be attained that only by
adoption of regional development plan full utliza-
ton for irrigation power naviga-
on recreatona facilities and for control of floods which
year bring disaster to the lower
valley, be accomplished that only by the adoption
Missouri Valley Authority the monopoly control
state be broken
developed for the greatest benefit to the people of Mon
tana and the industrial development of the
sured that the establishment of Missouri Valley Author
y the development of this great resource with
out abridgmen of the interests of other within
the Missouri river basn will bring Montana new pop
uation establishment of industries great oppor
tunities for employment and fuller life for all of the
people of the state.
State Hospital
q A demand for a thorough investigation by the
Montana legislative assembly in 1916 of the State Hospital
for the insane at Warm Springs; that medical care
better housing and food be provided by adequate appro
prations.
committee of the 1943 legislative assembly, in its
report to 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 make provision for
the remedying of the conditions found to exist then and
the failure of the to insist upon such provisions
places them 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
g. The passage of legislation which will insure our
aged citizens security and comfort in the declining
of their lives
Montana was the first state to have an "OId Age
Pension law and finds itself at the bottom of the
list of all in the amount of pensions paid Our aged
citizens have earned security by their society
during their working years To grant this security is not
charity it is the acknowledgment and payment of debt
owed by society.
Social Security
4. Action by the 1915 legislative assembly in the
form of joint memorial to the for the speedy
enactment of the Wagner urray-Dingel BILL with its
broad provisions for social security.
1t is contention that every citizen of this the
richest country in the world should med
cal care adequate housing and food Pending the enact
ment of federal legislation assuring this the
responsibility of the state to provide for it.
Occupational Diseases
5. That the 1916 legislative assembly, make all oc-
cupaonal diseases such scosis, compensate under
the provisions under which the Industrial Accident Board
operates.
The totally inadequate compensation paid by the
Public Welfare to sufferers from cosis disgrace
aevated by the fact that with customary political chi
canery, the Anaconda Copper Mining Company through
its influence succeeded in placing the burden of compen
saton the general public instead of upon itself where
it obviously belonged.
Department of Labor
g. Legislation the creation of a separate depart
of labor with adequate appropriation for efficient
functionng
Montana at the bottom of the list states provid
protection of the interests of it's aboring people
The Liquor Monopoly
T. That the 1915 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
of To
and Erickson dissened the State Liquor Control Board
is in effect funconing private business using
state funds This condition not conducive to admins
traton for the good of the general public.
Other Measures
We are living in rapidly changing times. We do not
to support of only the outlined
above. We shall support any which is designed
to advance the public good.