The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1946-08-09
Overall Appraisal

On matters of public interest, the
congress with but few exceptions
showed it was 100 per cent out-of-
step with the people of the nation
Foremost wrong-doing by the congress
was the legalizing of black marketing
and ruinous initiation by first killing
effective price control, and then later,
under public pressure, relenting and
passing a psuedo price control meas
ure, which to all intents and purposes
isn't worth two whoops in Hades.
While price control because OF the
sensitivity of the nations pocketbook
nerve, has drawn most of the atten-
ton and the wrath of the people,
there were a number of other public
interest measures where the congress
failed the nation.
ANA Influence Predominant
Although war department statistics
showed that approximately AZ per cent
of all draft-age males were physically
unfit, the congress bowed to the pro-
testat1ons and propaganda OF the
American Medical association and re-
fused to underwrite the Wagner-Mur-
ray-Dingell national health bill or any
other proposal to bring about high
level health standard in the nation.
Pressure from private drug mono
poles also prevented passage by the
house of the senate approved national
science foundation measure.
The throttling of the st. Lawrence
seaway proposal, which would, among
its many other benefits, have saved
an estimated S26000,00O to power
users of northeastern states, was
brought about, according to Sen
Aiken Or. VT by railroad and private
power interests. A different attitude
prevailed in both houses however re-
garding the tidelands oil bill (Which
the president has since vetoed). This
bill, approved by both bodies, would
have foreclosed forever any chance of
the federal government owning the oil
deposits under the continental sea
shelf. Main pressure for passage of
this bill came from Standard Oil and
other big oil monopolies which find it
much easier to influence the various
state governments than they do the
federal government.
Atomic Energy Bill An Exception
On measures of public interest only
the Mcmahon atomic energy control
bill was acted upon in complete &C
cord with the best interests of the ma
ton. After months of heated wrangling
the congress finally placed this in the
hands of civilian administrators rather
than the military. On two other bills of
public interest, the people scored. A
last minute compromise made it pos
sible to secure some further extern
sions in social security benefits. Much
was left undone on this, but progress
must be reported. The blocking in the
senate of the Infamous Bulwinkle bill,
which would have exempted railroads |
from facing court action for unfair and |
discriminatory rate-making practices,
was a victory for shippers of western
and southern states.
War contract termination and tax
measures as provided by the 10Th
congress, give industry and other ma
jor financial interests a green light in
cleaning up handsomely at the expense
of the rest of the nations people.
Congressional tax action late in 1915
did two very disasterous things to the
economy: ID financed employers dur
ing strikes, direct from the United
States treasury; (2) delayed badly
needed civilian goods production and |
distribution until after the first of Jan
uary, 1916. (Similar dawdling over
price control legislation until the very
last minute had same effect on making
it profitable for manufacturers to hold
back badly needed goods until the
time when effective price control was
tossed out the congressional Window
Some good may come of the con-
gress reorganization bill. This will
depend entirely on what committees |
are eliminated and to which commit {
tees the duties of the eliminated ones t
are assigned AS matters stand at |
present major committee memberships {
are predominantly held by poll-tax 1
southerners-and that amt good. The J
salary boosts and pension provisions G
included in this bill are long overdue .
and may result in higher type citizens
seeking and being elected to our top
legislative body. 1t may be possible J
that in future few congressman will 3
find it necessary to have "sidelines"
IN order to live properly in Washing
ON.
Vets Fared Fairly Well
On direct veterans legislation cleo
members of both houses,
Is far as they went, did an excellent
Job. Not only was terminal leave pay 3
extended to CTS who had lost out on &
but salaries of military per- I:
sonnet were upped considerably-50 3
Der cent in lower brackets, ranging 8
Town to 10 per cent for top flight Of :,
icers. Likewise additional educational 4
allowances and other grants estimated :.
It SO billion were extended through ).
eVision of the CT bill of rights. Also &:
n appropriation of $50 million was =
pproved which will provide specially =
quipped cars for veterans who are en- =
tiled to disability compensation
ecause of the loss, or loss of use, of q
ne or both lower limbs III
On foreign affairs the record for the Ill
1ost part was good. After months of
ebate the more far-sighted members
f the congress managed to secure
Of tho ,ao,I,, ea,,r LiII;o,o