The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-01-23

also a member of that committee
and am expecting to study witt
much interest any bills that come
into that committee. haYe heard
somer expression of opinion regard
ing the need for new labor legis-
lation. Just what that will be re-
mans to be seen as no labor bills
have yet been introduced.
Working on another one of my
/ committee appointments brought me
into contact with another highly in
teresting piece of legislation A
bill before the committee OF state
/ boards and offices would empower
the units of the Greater University
system to enter into contracts with
the IT, S. Government whereby the
University. could carry on scientific
/ research and experiments along
lines in which the army and navy
may be highly interested. The
State College at Bozeman is al
ready conducting number Of
studies in which the navy has ex-
pressed a great deal of interest
Other lines Of research will I'M
doubfedly be carried on by other
University units 1t appears a law
is necessary to permit the schools
10 enter into such contracts with
the government. When those con-
tracts are signed, the government
will pay all costs of conducting such
research and experiments. Chan
cellor Selke of the Montana Greater
University appeared before the com
mittee and explained the advan-
tages and need of the proposed
law The committee reported I'M
animously that the bill do pass.
This is just start on the legis-
lation that will come out of the
legislative hopper Many bills have
been introduced. Those l have men
toned are some of the more i'm
portant up to the time of this let
ter
And now for a little human-in-
terest stuff. We are meeting manv
fine people from all parts of the
state and are making many inter
csting contacts A young man sits
list ahead of me on the House
floor He walks with a cane be-
cause of an artificial leg. He was
in the U. S. air corps and his plane
was shot down over Germany. He
parachuted out but was seriously
injured 50 that he lost one leg.
H. vas captured and spent several
monks in a NaZi war camp.
4 young man who, with his wife,
is our next door neighbor went n
to the army from the officers re
serve corps. He came out of The
army colonel He went in with
a head of jet black hair and came
out If the war with hair that is
almost white. This young couple
are very fine people He sits on the
democratic side of the House.
Speaking of veterans of the late
war recalls a story told me by
legislator who sits just in front of
me. His son was crazy about fly
ing when the war broke out and
soon found himself in the air corps.
He also was shot down over enemy
territory was captured and spent
months in war camp. Now that
the war is over he is at home. His
father recently suggested that they
buy small plane so as to be able
10 get around faster to and from
their eastern Montana ranch. The
son was not at all interested. "The
peculiar part of this u.s." said the
father as he told us the incident.
that the boy no longer has any
in flying. And he doesn't
even want to use an automobile. All
he apparently cares about is riding
a horse"
And then there is the very young
member from along the High Line"
in the eastern part of the state He
s a returned veteran and looks to
DC in his eos. Very energetic and |
bright But he recently became a
father, within the last two or three
weeks. His wife and baby are here
With him and have an apartment |
4 few steps from ours. He recently |
laid to me, THAT 6h h. son of
nine is a wonder but he has his
schedule reversed. He sleeps all
lay and cries all night, with the
'esult that l walk the floor with
lin most of the night Is it any
wonder that am somewhat WOODY
when / reach the floor of the House
md hardly in condition to consider
egislation?
There has been enottph social ar