Montana labor news., 1949-07-21
STATEMENT OF MIKE MANS
FIELD ON SENATE INTERIOR
APPROPRIATION BILL AS RE-
PORTED TO THE SENATE

~ ~ ~
The Interior Appropriation Bill.
a. approved by the Senate Com
mitice and referred 10 the iull Sen
ate. i. III my opinion, the most
complete sell on, to a pressure group
III all Congressional history. In
Montana. we have been hit especial,
hard because the kerr-.Anaconda
Inc which was successful in get
ting through the House, has been
eliminated By this committee.
lhis line IS very important to the
welfare OF Montana because it
means that we will have the use
OF a lar greater amount OF Hungry
Horse power III our state because
II Mil be used to develop the pho,-
pilate and manganese in
southwestern Montana and because
II Viii help To diversity our econ
oiiiN III that region and take Butte
and Anaconda out from under their
dependence at the present time on
the production oi one commodity
only There are large private COM
panics interested especially in ii
phosphate deposits, which are anx-
Gus and willing to come into south
western Montana providing thex.eSu
get cheap enough power ia .larGe
enough blocks and the only way that
can be done j., By building oi the
linc to ~Nnaconda. Montana.
THIS line means security 10 our
people IN Butte. Anaconda and south
western Montana in general be-
cause II will diversity our economy.
develop our resources, bring in new
industry and help 10 build out state.
The senate Subcommittee also re-
stored language carried in the S)nl
Congre,s Interior Appropriation
Act. which would prevent the gov
crnmenl IRON installing the gener-
ating or transmission facilities at
Canyon Ferry Dam near Helena. |
was successful IN knocking out this
language III the House because |
do not believe that dams built at the
peoples expense should be turned
over 70 private companies 10 gen.
crate power. Ii this language.
winch the Senate has restored. i
retained III the Appropriation meas
ure 1t means that the Congress oi
the United States is giving the Mon
tana Power Company permission to
build he power plant and general
lug lacilitic, at this project and
that future benefits IRON the people,
money invested in the building OF
{ auSon Ferry would accrue to the
Montana Power Company without
any supervision or control by the
government.
This. ~ me. il the most fantastic
aspect ~ the Senate Committee APP
proved bill because It means that
this committee has been swayed BY
the propaganda OF the Montana
Power Company. To me. this action
ihc part III the Senate Com
mittee , no only disturbing bu,
dl,hcarteuIng a. we'll We are now
engaged ~ a basic fight over a
ba>ic issue and | want the people
of Montana to know that | shall
do everything IN my power to re-
store the anaconda line and to
knocA out the language in the Can
ypn Ferry item which would give
control 81 the generating plant and
transmission facilities 10 the Mon
'ana Power Company. In SO doing.
| feel that | will be representing
the hes, interests OF Montana.
II is time Tor Montana TO go for
Mard and the best way to develop
the great potentialities OF our state.
u give security to our people and
opportunity 10 our children. IS tn
develop our hydro-electric potential,
We have 10 per cent OF the potential
hydro-electric power in the United
State, and the development OF thi,
power Tor the benefit OF Montana
people is the answer to our states
welfare.