The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-02-23
HOUSE j. M.
NO. | STILL
ON BOARDS
Memorial Opposing the
Missouri Valley Authority
Meets Heavy Shedding in
Senate With Fight Led by
Wilson of Toole.

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It is entirely probable that there
were many members of the republican
party in the state senate who wished
that the memorial opposing the Mis-
souri, Valley Authority had never been
thought of by the Montana Power
Company members in the lower house,
when the measure came up for con-
sideration in the senate.
The supporters of the measure were
led by D'Ewart, recognized as an ar
dent protector of the interests of the
corporations in the state. He read a
long, prepared statement full of the
standard propaganda arguments"
against an authority, with their utter
ly false claims that an authority con-
stitutes a threat to private water
rights, state rights and of course,
without identifying the reclamation
bureau and army engineers as having
anything to do with federal bureaus,
pictured the horrors of government
bureaus, and since it favors develop
ment by the reclamation service and
the army engineers the proponents
actually, must favor such horrors for
Montana.
When D'Ewart had concluded the
reading of his speech, Senator Wilson
of Toole rose and complimented
DEwart on his reading, saying that
he was convinced that the one who
wrote the speech could have read it
no better.
Wilson then moved to have the
rereferred to committee but
the motion, as was to be expected
was lost
The following amendments, adopted
tempers the memorial somewhat: The
title was amended by adding: Under
such plans of unified or joint rep
resentation as may be decided by con-
gress'. The title however still con-
tains the following: g. Requesting
that the Missouri Basin development |
and operation of such development be
carried on by the United States army |
engineers and the United States bu-
reau of reclamation.
An amendment was tackled on the |
second paragraph of the memorial |
which stresses the value of the waters
10 the rehabilitation of the agricul- |
-ural and livestock industries of the |
state, and to the welfare and pros
oerity of the inhabitants thereof |
The amendment Introduced and which
even the most reactionary of the SEN
itors feared to oppose too much, was
he following:
Whereas, such Missouri river basin
waters are of great value to the well
are and prosperity of the people of
Montana because such waters should
De used for the production of cheap
md plentiful hydroelectric power for
Use in rural identification projects
ind industry to the end that Montana
nay enjoy the benefits of such power
,y increasing agricultural and indus
rial production, thereby furnishing
and providing homes and
business enterprise for our returning
soldiers"
The memorial is now back in the
OWCl AOuoC anu yColCludJJ
lay) the memorial went to third read
ng with the senate amendments con-
urred in, and it will, without doubt,
re passed by the house today.
Senator Wilson of Toole, after the
memorial had passed the senate,
moved that the senate as a body give
he republican majority full and com
lete credit for the passage of the
memorial, but the republican members
acked the courage to assume the re-
and credit offered in the
notion, and voted against its adop- !
ion.
The roll call vote on third reading !
n the senate shows solid democratic I
pposition to the memorial. The rec {
I'd vote follows. A mo" vote is in |
avor of MVA:
Those voting AYE" were: Arnold, y
.ronson, Baker, BaIgord, Boyd, Bird s
nstine, Burke, Campbell, Cole, Coop
r, D'Ewart, Ecton, Fewkes, Gabisch, !
CONTINUED on Page Four)
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