The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1949-04-08


confusing.
1t is difficult to know what
the moves mean unless the
reader has an insight into, who
is behind the move, some
knowledge as to who is paying
the freight for it, and a general I'M
derstanding that the whole valley de-
velopment battle, now spearheaded
by MVA, is fight between the Car
tells, Trusts, Monopolies and Tories
on one side and the mass of common
people on the other. Self interest
makes this so. If big money can
dominate and control all resources
developed in the future it will, of
course, milk that development in its
own interest. If, on the other hand,
the common folks can dominate and
control such development they will
prevent its milking by all absentee
land lords and keep the surplus cash
in the hands of home folks. 1t is a
big fight for big stakes and here are
some of the very recent develop
ments:
Far Reaching Developments
Two far reaching events have
brought a marked change in the pic
ture. In one form or another the
Pick-Sloan Plan has been badly
mauled, by criticism of the budget
bureau, council of economic advisers,
independent engineer reports and
particularly by the pounding it took
at the hands of the Hoover Commits
sion. Now another body blow has
been struck: The u. S. Department
of Agriculture, presided over by
Charles Brannan, secretary, has laid
down a comprehensive and far reach
ing soil and water use plan. An out
line of this plan will appear soon
in The Voice. 1t proposes nearly
four billion dollars worth of expendi-
ture, for vital development items,
that General Pick and Engineer
Sloan, entirely overlooked in the set
up of their comprehensive CD plan
for Missouri Valley.
In short, the Pick-Sloan plan is
now roundly condemned, not only
because of its unworkability, but |
equally because of it's incomplete
ness. That is good news to the
MVAers. 1t justifies all the clam
our they have been trying to raise
for the last four years. Such news
is not so good for the Tory gentle
men and their power smeared news
L. lrv
entrenched behind the Pick-Sloan
plan for the same four year period.
None of them want an MVA and the
antics to avoid coming to this COM
mon sense solution are comic in some
spots and probably confusing to the
common fellow in many others.
Herbert Hoover's com M s S i n
would like to set up a vast resources
department in Washington and throw '
every bit of valley development plan
ming, construction and operation,
into a new bureaucracy. !
The Missouri Basin Interagency '
which has been first front {
for the Pick-Sloan set up, emitted a {
blast at the Hoover report and then t
moved for a firmer control of Mis- c
souri, valley development work by in q
sisting that the Agricultural Depart q
ment plan be cleared through it. BY
way of reassuring the public they V
have promised to correct deficiencies h
and consider reinforcement of their g
coordination methods by providing v
for regular conferences of secondary y
officials. v
Would Delay MVA Three Years S
Congressman Cole of Kansas, an v
,ther anti-MVAer, has seen a need I
'or delay. This, to give anti-MVA
forces time to re-group behind some +
new breast-work of defense. The p
proposes to investigate >
he Pick-Sloan plan but wants three tt