The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1944-07-28
Statement to the United States Senate
Committee on Small Business:
Submitted by Montana Farmers Union

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to this incentive, direct public hous
ing program is required.
The Montana Farmers Union in
sists that rural people must have ade
quate health services and wholeheart
eddy supports the principles of social
security medical care embodied in the
Wagner-Murray-D ingell bill We be
lieve that immediate application OF
those principles as relating to medical
care can be effected in the postwar
period by the utilization in this and
other states of the unquestionably
great stores of medical equipment and
materials which the government will
have on hand at that time. From in
formation available it would appear
that there will probably be enough to
equip a hospital in every county in the
Nation and there will also be a large
number of physicians, now in the
army, who will be seeking ntw loca-
lions for practice. Many of these
without means to establish themselves
and provide themselves with modern,
necessary equipment for their prac-
tice would be available for employ
ment in hospitals established with the
aid of the government surplus equip
ment
Colleges, universities and schools
for specialized training should be Civ
en- the privilege to draw freely upon
the stores of surplus war materials
which they can use in their services.
No charge should be made for these
materials by the government and pro-
vision for their ready transfer from
one public service agency to another
SHOULD be made, but resale by any OF
the agencies of any of the materials
should be prohibited
The Montana Farmers Union sub
mits, that living as we are in a ma
chine and power age, industrial de-
velopment in our nation and our state
is dependent primarily upon develop
ment of our electric power resoul ces.
Neither our state nor any other, can
attain maximum development of its
agricultural, mineral and other re-
sources and production is controlled
by private monopoly. We have wit
messed here in the Northwest during
the war emergency, the development
of great war production Industries,
only because of the existence cf the
Bonneville Authority and other great
public power developments.
We therefore demand for Montana,
as our greatest postwar project the
conservation of and use of the water
resources in our state. We insist that
waters of our rivers and streams be-
long to the people and shall be used
for the peoples benefit We urge that
the entirt resources of the Missouri
River basin be developed on the same
scale and under the same general plan
used in the Tennessee River valley.
We urge that a detailed study be |
er's and its tributaries waters, analy- |
zing reports already prepared by the
reclamation bureau, army engineers, |
rivers and harbors authorities aid
power engineers and if necessary.
make new and supplementary studies
before launching definite program.
We are convinced that multiple pur-
pose dams under one authority will
eliminate much of the conflict now
in state lines and inter-de-
oartmental jealousies.
We demand that plentiful and cheap
lydro-electric power be made avail
lble to business and industry; that
I'll rural homes be electrified by SER
'1c1ng them through the R.E.A; that
and, mineral and timber resources be
and developed in the in
erests of all of the people
We respectfully suggest that such
development of the Missouri River
Basin would directly benefit millions
f Americans in the lower Missouri ,
nd Mississippi Valleys, suffering each !,
ear tremendous losses from the
loods which occur almost every year ,
his year alone, nearly two million !,
ores of land, largely agricultural was
Inundated in 102 counties in the Mis-
lssippi valley. Acres of crops de-
troyed totaled $4,000 and thirteen
families were forced from ?
leir homes
Our organization again expresses its
ppreciation to enator Murray and the
for granting it this oppor- J
unity to present it's views