Montana labor news., 1945-08-09
News Of The Silver Bow
Trades & Labor Council

A very instructive analysis of certain
bills now pending in the National Con-
gress was given by Miss Selma Munte-
Borchardt, vice president of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Teachers. Miss BOr-
chardt deserve a compliment for the
lively n in which she presented
her subject, because legislation is not a
very exciting topic. She held the atten-
ton of the delegates throughout the
whole discussion. Miss Borchardt some
what deprecated haphazard methods be-
ing employed at the present time to keep
the unions and Central Labor Councils
informed of legislation in Washington
and ridiculed precipitate and importu-
nate requests for the unions to send
wires to the senators and congressman
to vote against this or that or to vote
for this or hat. She suggested that the
unions demand a more comprehensive
program of information and commen-
taries o. bills particularly affecting the
workers and the unions. After paying
high tribute to Senator James E. Muir
ray, she summarized a number of the
bills including the Murray-Dingle bill
which would liberalize the Social Secur-
ity Act. This Murray bill would extend
beverage, give health service and in
crease benefits. The unions are very
much in favor of it. Miss Borchardt
then described the Full Employment Bill
which would attempt to provide work for
all able persons after the war. Another
Measure she explained included the
Dental Health Program, which proposes
TO aid people in making it possible for
them to get adequate dental attention.
Another measure whereby the Federal
government would assist in tn develop
ment of ~kndergartens and nursery
schools was explained.
The speaker spent considerable time in
explaining the vocational education bill.
This bill, as it is now, is rather danger
GUS to the unions and it would be better
if a broadening of the federal apprentice
program could be had. Some officials
of the unions feel that if the govern
ment finances returning soldiers to ac-
quire a vocation or trade in union shops,
it would break down union regulations.
Miss BOrchardt condemned the Equal
Rights amendment and said that instead
of assisting women in their competition
with men in the economic and industrial
field it would injure them by wiping out
protective legislation which is function
ing at the present time. She said there
is a new Equal Rights bill in Congress
which the unions are favoring.
Another measure, according to the
speaker, which should be studied and
supported is one to have federal money
spent or appropriated to the different de-
partments Of labor Of the various states.
1t would be used for the installation of
equipment for safety of the workers.
A bill to establish a Csc an hour mini
mum wage was explained by the speaker.
This, of course, will receive universal
support. Of the unions. Other bills which
were described include federal assistance
and extension of child service; orderly
demoDllzatlon OF the Army; FEDERAL
money for hospitals. Miss Borchardt
spent quite a bit of time in explaining
a bill which would provide federal aid
for education. She said that the gov
eminent will provide money to further
and support education in the states pro-
vided the states did not have sufficient
money to do this work themselves. She
then made a very significant statement
in saying that if the industries were
taxed the amount they should be taxed
it (Montana) would have money. She
said that the religious element has been
injected into the discussion of this
measure.
Accompanying Miss Borchardt to the
Trades Council were Lillah Harrington.