The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1945-01-04
FORD STATES
AUTHORITIES
ARE THREATS
Executive in Biennial Mes
sage Says State Rights
Menaced
Montana Plans for Veterans,
Highways, Schools
Suggested

ana 10 dl lllC ClOoSi OdQS VI lltl
destiny" and warned that the state'i
sovereignty is threatened by plan
ners who would superimpose g
government of decree and directive
on a government of laws in his
biennial message at Helena.
Addressing a joint session of the
newly-convened 18th Legislature
Governor Ford outlined far-reaching
plans for postwar construction and
natural resources development, and
made specific recommendations fol-
legislative action.
This, I cannot but believe, is the
most important legislative session
in Montana's history" said the Re-
publican chief executive. Never be-
fore has there been so great a need
Tor craftsmanship and leadership as
there is at this moment.
What we do here in these 60 days
will profoundly affect the future OF
Montana"
The governor told the predom-
inantly-Republican assembly that
for many years past our progress
has been retarded and often rus
trated by national policies, polit-
ical ana economic, wnich-ior adj
vantage elsewhere - have ignored
and denied our right to develop"
Perhaps the most insidious and
sinister threat TO Mlontana's sover-
eighty today is area development,
specllcaIly the proposed Missouri
river basin development and the
Columbia river basin development, -
he continued.
1T is not because the development
Of a whole area Is proposed that
state sovereignty is threatened - II
Is the planners VINO would not only
nullify the inherent right we have
to u natural resources Tor our
beneficial use, but moreover, through
overriding power, they would super
impose a government of decree and
directive on a government OF laws.
If these planners were to have
their unreStralned way, laws that
might be enacted by this legisla-
tive assembly would, il they ran
counter to plans OF the planners,
be empty gestures of se~lI-govern-
ment.''
Governor Ford acknowledged
that circumstances had forced
Montana to turn to Washington tor
help at times, but that 1t is the
unwilllngneSS of state and local gov
ernmentS TO assume their funda-
mental responsibilities that has
opened the way Tor more and more
federal usurpatlon OF states rights"
Too often the price OF rescue by
Washington has been bondage to
bureaucrats,' he added.
Develop Resources
Governor Ford put major empha-
sis on postwar construction for the
double purpose OF providing employ
nent and to develop, especially
irrigation, the states re-
sources. He suggested that the state
planning board, which has the same
JersOnueI as the state water con-
,ervation board and the rural cleo
rificatlon BOARD, might be the
proper clearing house OF state ana
ocal plannlng and a contact be-
ween Montana and Washington in
handling postwar projects. ,
Regarding state institutions, the /
.overnor stressed the needs of the
Warm Springs mental hospital and
f the university system. Pointing
ut that several hundred aged per-
ons who are merely senile I at
Warm Springs, he asked the legis-
iture to consider providing a sep
home Tor them.
He said the university system is
adequately financed and that
through lack of financial
Ipport some OF its schools and de- /
arCments have lost their accredit- Z
lg. He called attention to the re- 7
ort of the commission on higher !
ducation which studied the situa- I
and recommended more effec- /
administration, unified budget {
ry control and indignation of the .
units. =
Highway Construction .
Highway construction will be a
item in Montana's immediate
activity, Governor Ford
I'D the assembly. He asked that
revision be made fer the financing
a long-term program.
The governor proposed larger !,
for the aged, increase in
employment compensation and
;tension of unemployment COM
snsation to workers who are off 1
Ie job because of illness. He said \
ADMINISTRATION of these programs B
not pass from state and To- |
control. }
That the teachers retirement sys- L
m be put on a sound and perma- L
mt basis was asked by the COVER u
II. He suggested consideration of Il
retirement plan for state en- B
Dyes. I
In connection with jobs after the 1
ar the governor mentioned that n
e state is planning a public build L
g program. He asked $4,000 APP I
opriated for architectural and en- &
neering services so the program n
be blueprinted now. 4
Governor Ford recommended a n
OO, 900 appropriation to advertise 81
e state. Il
The governor renewed his request z;
two years ago that a separate y.
ite labor department be eStab- q