The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1945-06-28
ors-15 from Montana and IS

ors-15 from Montana and IS
from Wyoming-are giving of
their time toward the accomp-
lishment of the control of the
Missouri River and the devel-
opment of the Missouri water
shed area.
The Army Engineers report
and recommendations from the
several interested departments OF
government were submitted to
Congress March 2, 1914. Hear
ings were held before the Flood
c n tr OIL Committee of the
House. An Omnibus Bill was
prepared by the Committee
which included the Army plan
for the development of the Mis-
souri,. This Bill was passed by
the House and sent to the SEN
ate, where it was referred to
the Commerce committee. Be-
fore hearings were held, the re-
port of the Bureau of Reclama-
ton was submitted to both
Houses of Congress. The Com
m Committee, therefore
had before it both reports fo1
consideration.
1.-The -Millikin am
mendment, having to do with
the rights of the states and the
establishing of policy for pro-
lection of water rising west OF
the 98th Meridian for the bene-
ut of the area, consumed much
time. Both reports were the
subject of intensive study. After
the conclusion of the hearings
the Department of Interior and
the War Department made a
joint study of the two reports
coordinating them ana made q
joint report to Congress OF
their wok. As a result, the Con-
greSs unanimously passed legi-
Station on Dec. %, 1914, approv-
ing the development of the Mis-
souri, watershed area in &C
cordance with the recommends
ationS of the Army and the Blu
reau, as modified by the Army
Bureau joint recommendations
THE Congress further charg-
ed the Army and the Bureau
with the River development as
rapidly as labor, material, ano
and budg etory requirements
would permit and authorized
the appropriation of two hun
dred million dollars to each de-
partment toward the partia,
accomplishment of the program
During these 1914 hearings
we had the full cooperation OF
senator Wheeler, Congressman
Mansfield and the late Cong
ressman O'Connor, together with
the most valuable efforts OF
Senators O'Mahony and Robert.
son and Congressman Barrett
of Wyoming.
AT no time during these ex.
tenslve hearings did anyone. tc
my knowledge, now SPONSORING
1he MVA progam aid in the GAL.
lant fight which resulted in the
passage of the legislation which
guarantees to the people of the
area the first right use of the
water rising west of the e8tf
Merldlan for domestic, munich.
pa, stockWater, irrigation, min.
ing and Industrial purposes. Thi.
legislation establishes and GUAR.
antees the rights of states If
any, proposed developments: il
oouoles our present irrigated
areaS-controls the Missouri a.
galnst floods-arrests the forty.
Two million tons of silt that an.
nually flows down the Missouri,
1t Will, through storages. fur.
nlsh ample economical electric
power for the benefit of al
people Of the area; it will aic
navigation and make possible
the doubling of our preseni
production and economy ane
tne furnishing of gainful EN-.
ployment for an increased f,1.
ture population.
This legislation was passed
UNANIMOUSLY by both Houses
pee: 70, 1914, and is known a.
Puollc Law 534-78th Congress
second Session. The portion
concerning our Missouri is the
1lrst nine sections of Chapte]
665. A copy of this act will bf
gladly furnished to anyone ad.
dressing H. L. Buck, our secre.
tary,. Billings, Montana.
The Yellowstone Basin AS.
socatlon has taken an active
part in securing the enactment
OF this legislation. It has co.
operated with National anc
state Reclamation Associations
With the Eight States Committee
and their Governors. It ha.
been represented at ali Nationa
and Valley-wide meetings. 7
mas raised its budget require.
ments through the generositv O,
the people of the Basin. It ha,
endeavored to keep the people
informed of the facts concern.
Ing the Army-Bureau program
now enacted into law and II
adVlse them of the dangers O,
the proposed Missouri Vale,
known as Senate Bill SIS.
Authority Legislation which i.
The Senate Commerce Com.
mlttee held hearings on the
Authority Bill in late April. Upor