The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1944-12-22
A Legislative Program

A Legislative Program
We believe that there are certain definite legislative
posas in the interest of all of the people of the state viii
the people in all counties should call to the attention of tn
elected representatives These have been discussed by
ganzed groups in the state and list them below:
l. That the Montana legislative assembly of 1915,
adopt and forward to the United States joint
memorial urging the congress to enact legislation for the
creation of Missouri Valley Authority proposed in the
bill introduced by Sen. James E. Murray.
1t is 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 full utliza-
ton of water for irrigation power naviga-
on recreaona facilities and for control of floods which
each 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
of state water be broken and
developed for the greatest benefit to the people of Mon
tana and the industrial development of the state be
sured that the establishment of Missouri Valley Author
ty for the development of this great water with
out any abrdgmen of the interests of other states within
the Missouri river BASIN will bring to Montana pop
uation establishment of INDUSTRIES great oppor
tunities for employment and fuller life for all of the
people of the state.
State Hospital
2. A demand for thorough investigation by the
Montana legislative assembly in 1915 of the State Hospital
for the insane at Warm Springs that medical care
better housing and food be provided by adequate
priations
committee of the 1913 legislative assembly, in it's
report to the assembly, pictured conditions obtaining
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
the remedng of the conditions found to exist then and
the failure of the to insist 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 unforunaes confined
in the institution This must not happen again.
Old Age Pensions
8. The passage of legislation which will insure our
aged citizens security and comfort in the declining years
of their lives.
Montana was the first state to have an "Old Age
Pension" law and finds itself at the bottom of the
list of all in the pensions paid Our aged
citizens have earned security by their services to society
during their working years. To grant this security is
charity is the acknowledgment and payment of debt
owed by society.
Social Security
a. Action by the 1916 legislative assembly in the
form of joint memorial to the congress for the speedy
enactment of the Wagner MurrayDngel BILL with its
broad provisions for social security
1t is contention that every citizen of this the
richest country in the world should want for med
ical care adequate housing and food Pending the enact
men of federal legislation assuring this must be the
responsibility of the state to provide for it.
Occupational Diseases
5. That the 1915 legislative assembly, make all
cupational diseases such sicoss compensate under
the provisions under which the Industrial Accident Board
operates.
Public Welfare to sufferers from sicoss disgrace not
aeviated by the fact that with customary political
canery the Anaconda Copper Mining Company through
it's influence succeeded in placing the burden of compen
saon the general public instead of upon itself where
it obviously belonged.
Department of Labor
g. Legislation for the creation of separate depart
of labor with adequate appropriation for efficient
functioning
Montana is at the bottom of the list of states provd-
ing protection of the interests of its laborng people,
The Liquor Monopoly
7. That the 1915 legislative assembly, make a 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 which Associate Justices Adar
and Erickson dssented the State Liquor Control Board
is in effect functioning private business using
state funds. This condition is not conducive to admins
tration for the good of the general public.
Other Measures
We are living in rapidly changing times. We do not