The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1946-01-24

. We wonder how many OF our readers have look
ed at the article on the MVA in last weeks Saturday
Evening Post. 1t seemed a fair effort to survey the
matter and left us of the same opinion we held before
reading it, though we met a good many arguments a
ganst our position.
. We don't feel at all enthusiastic about an MNA.|
The administrator or administrators of such an Auth
ority are responsible only to congressman congress Isl
a ponderous body, when really rapid action on some
thing is vitality needed. 1t is also, alas, true that con.
gress has a lot Of members who don't live in the Mis-
souri, valley, and whose interest in this region is aca-
demic-if that!
. Now our interest, and that Of our readers, in the
Missouri valley is anything but academic.
. AS we see it, there are three issues at stake. First
of all, an MVA is something of a test case. If the
Authority is established, it will probably mean the
b~lanketing of the nation with similar set-ups. We think
that would not be to the best interests of the nation at
large. 1t means a vast amount of Capitalization and 1T
means the common citizen much more dependent on
the federal government.
0 Which brings us to our second point-the power
of the states under an Authority is vastly diminished.
We think that would be unfortunate. We don't believe
that the interests of Montanans are going to be ident-
ical with those of Kansans and Missourians. for ex-
ample. And we want the Treasure state to have an OPP
portunity to at least protest the taking of an unfair a
mount of water needed here for reclamation for use in
states farther down the Missouri. We wonder if we'd
have much chance for healthy argument with an Auth
GRITTY. We might, but the set-up looks pretty autocratlc
to us.
. Our third point is this: At long last the Bureau
of Reclamation and the Army Engineers have manged
to get together on a plan for the Missouri basin. The
interest of the Engineers in navigation has been tenn
pered and ammended to give reclamation a fair share
in the plan. Both groups are interested in flood control,
so these three factors are all being given proper con-
sideration under an overall theme that looks good to us
. There is another item on which some OF the pro-
ponents of an Authority give a great deal of emphasis.
1t is soil conservation. and it is very important. We
have been watching with a great deal of interest the
development of a soil conservation district locally, and
we think an excellent job is being done in this matter
locally under the existing facilities. We can't. of course
speak for other areas in this matter-yet we can't help
feeling that the present activities for conservation OF
our most important resource. the land. are getting a
good start everywhere. and that the present federal aid
given in this matter is being given in the most effective
possible manner. for it is a really democratic PROPOSE
ton. with emphasis on the efforts and achievements of
the individual landowner and farmer.
. Perhaps some of those who shout SO loudly for an
V are hungerng and thirsting for the "cultural'
supervision authorized in Senator Nlurray's measure.
Something tells us we are going to be able to get along
very nicely without it.