davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montana labor news., 1949-04-07
Congress Acts to
Weaken Rent Control

WASHINGTON The fulll
House d REPRESENTATIVES and a sen
ate committee acted TO cut the heart
out Of effective Federal rem control
legislation.
The House. by a vote Of pol to
laS approved a bill granting states.
counties. ~ cite, authority to deter
mine when controls i'll their re
speetisc area, should be lifted,
Tire Senate committee voted 9
10 I in favor OF a measure which
70 deeuntrol rents when and ii they
choose As soon a any new federal
law becomes effective.
The action OF both legislative
units will seriously weaken federal
control OF rents and provide the
opportunity for strong real estate
Hobbies III the states and cities to
bring about local d%econtrols there
by placing American workers at
the mercy OF avaricious landlords
In addition to the local option
principle in the House-approved
mcasurer. a provision OF the bill
would seek to guarantee landlords
a reasonable return on a reasonable
value" The principle OF this pro-
vision sounds fine on paper but
would prove Enthusiastically I'M
workable. 1t would mean that dIf-
ficult calculations concerning the
proper amount Of rent would have
10 be made Tor each and every
dwelling under control. This end
less procedure would result in moth
ing but administrative chaos.
The Senate committee recognized
this difficulty and provided instead
4 grant of ; automatic" ) per cent
rent increases provided that the
total increases authorized in thi-
and previous legislation doe, moi
exceed Is per cent over the rem
charged Tor a unit on June 80, l947
This proviso will operate 10 pre-
vent those landlords who have al
ready increased rents Is per cen
under the So-called voluntary
eases from extracting another i
per cent increase from their ten
ants. On the other hand, il a land
lord has won a rent increase on tn
basis Of the present laws hardship
,riteria, he will still be permitte.
TO increase rents by the additional
~ per cent.
The committee set the dates o
October |, 1910, and April !, 1885
for the } per cent increase author
iled. However, terms OF presei
! leases are the governing factor
Montana labor news., 1949-04-07
Thomas F.. Mor6an Wins Mayor Race
Avoid D~epressions
Raise Living
Standards Says Tobin

Washington, II C-Wc can sue
coed in lifting the level OF living
lor all the American people-ii we
take whatever action may he nee
cssary To avoid economic dcprcs
>ions. Secretary of abor Maurice
!. robn said in his statement be
bore the Joint Committee On III,
Economic Report.
On the subject Of employment. the
Secretary said. The course oi en-
ploymcn, in the next few months
will. oi course. depend upon the
level Of bushes, activity, aud upon
the extent To which demand by in
dusirial BUYERS and by consumers
i sustained or increa ed by lover
prices. 1t is too early TO assess the
extent OF the readIustmcnt to post
MAI conditions which is nov N
progress.
On unemployment Tobin added
that while the volume OF unem-
ployment at the present tine is
not large. the situation is one which
should be closely watched with a
view To making sure tina, adequate
measures are available both Ia as
,ist workers laid oil in the read
ju-tment in industr, now gong on,
and To head III a recession should
enc begin to threaten"
Statistics on the cost O! liy.rc
were presented hy Secretary Tobin
and he stated. "Thc downward
trend in consumers price indc>e>-
even though il has not proceeded
very iar-will undoubtcdly be all
important factor III wage ncgotia
,ions this year. It would be M
realistic. however, 10 expect the
pressure ior wage advances TO sub
side automatically as the cost q
living slowly drops
The minirnm wage problem was
also discussed b, the Secretary. He
said. in part. that only o. per
cent OF the wage carncr IN maru
| featuring industry, for example
we're earning less than Is cent,
an hour in November l94S. \
least three times this proportion
we're earning less than 10 cents al
hour at the time the Fair lahol
Standards Act was enacted lu til,
same month OF November l9iS. ap
proximately q per cent oI manu-
featuring wage earners rcrc e~ti
; mated to be getting less than $40
, an hour. Iii comparison with III
situation in 1888, SlM an hvu
becomes a reasonable minimui
wage goal for realization in tn
future. 1t is my belief that IS.
should proceed rapidly e. III
achievement OF this goal
Montana labor news., 1949-04-07

Running next 10 bingham and
nurpcs, IN the trustees race were
Rene Kuulcau and Thomas { Dun
stan 81 the independent part, Rou-
lcau pullcd ,.9+S votes and Dun>tan
had l.b2l The People, party can
dldaics. Joe Powers and I'd J Foley
had 1855 and 100 votes respcctiv-
els. bingham led the iicld with
Ass and Burgess received S-9'S
votes.
The balloting mean re election
Tor Mr. bingham who has served
OH the present board OF district No.
a, a member OF the independent
party. Mr.. Burgess, viii be = new
conner to the Board
The election give the board the
following complexion Two mem
bers oi the New Party. three mem
hers oi the Peoples party, and two
members ol the Independent party
The holdover members are Newell
Evans. and David Reese OF the
independent, and William Dolan,
Wcnzel \ Brown and Walter K.
Olc>on 81 the Peoples. Leo Col
,tou. independent. i, the retiring
member.
On Monday, April II. the board
will canvass the vote, east III the
election and at noon Saturday, ,Npril
~. the new board Will be organized
Defeat al the high school and
elementary millagc levy is cNpec-
ted to result in the reopcnlng u ne
pntiations between the teacher,
ufiinn and the ncw school board
on the matter 81 salary increase,
ior the teachers The teachers hac
asked an across the board raise o
$3.50 per year,
Trustee Brown said that il TN
negotiations are stalcmated IT vii
become necessary. under terms OF a
agreement between the board an
union to cali 4 special election I'll
teachers union has said that II
members viii not return to ,cfoc
next iall unless the extra millag
i, approved
The one mill levy tur adult edu
cation would rai>e S22.2o5 -, tn
lcvy ior the high school woul'
! raise slb.9l2. and the clcmcrtar
Montana labor news., 1949-04-07
J.. ick Wins
Anaconda
MayoraIty Post

ANACONDA. April +-Complete
unofficial! returns in the city cleo
ton here Monday gave Dan Mckit-
trick, Democrat. the mayors post
ton with 1.52l votes His opponent
Charlie, Scmmens. had 1881 votes.
Anacondans voted To repeal the
parking meter ordinance. 2.eW TO
$40.
Mrs. Gertrude Mcmahon, City
treasurer, had a complimentary vote
cf 5,085. Police Magistrate James
McMamen had a complimentary
vote Of 2,9l2. Both are Democrats.
In the Second ward. George Well
come and Robert Glynn, Democrats,
were elected aldermen i'll the Third
ward. William Tony Shae and Carl
Anderson were elected and III the
Fifth ward, Michael Nee and
Thomas Walsh were elected.
There were no opposition eandi-
dates in the First, Fourth and Sixth
wards.
Montana labor news., 1949-04-07
Silver Bow Trades
& Labor
Council Notes

The regular meeting OF the 81!
yer Bow Trades and Labor Council
was called To order al 3 7 NJ
BY President Crawford.
Roll Call oi officers and all alb
scntcc, noted
Minutes oi the previous meeting
were read and approved as read.
Communications Were Read
From Rocky Mountain Sports
men Association with a resolution
protesting against the recommended
kill of the wild life herds by the
Forestry Department and asked the
Council To protest to the governor
on this matter. The Council con
Cured i'll the communication and
instructed the secretary to write the
governor.
From Powell County Trades and
Labor Council asking il the Silver
Bow Trades and Labor Council wa,
in favor OF daylight saving as they
were going to recommend it TO the
City Council III Deer Lodge. The
Council went on record as being 3
favor Of daylight saving time,
From Senators James f. Muir
ray. Ialcs Itcton. Congressmei
Mike Mansfield and Wcslcy
D'Ewart stating that they had done
everything possible to locate the
Atomic plant III Montana and that
they we're still working on this
project,
From Senator, Jane, + Mar
ray. Ialcs Ecton, Congressman
Mike Mansfield and Wesley
DEwart stating that they had pro
tested against the effort, being
put forth To Stop the building q
transmission lines in Montana and
that they would vote for the ap-
preparations to build the same
A long discussion took place on
the Montana Labor News.
Unfinished Business
Discussion took place on the
. status OF the Travellers Gale au'
the grievance committee explained
that they new had the matter u
hand but it was not yet settled
There being 10 further busines'
.hc meeting adjourned.
Montana labor news., 1949-04-07

Montana takes its place beside %
other states that pay a maximum
weekly benefit Of $40 to eligible job
less workers. On the same day, the
Treasure State will increase the
number of weeks that an unem-
ployed person may receive benefits
to is weeks. Prior to the legislative
action, Montana's maximum jobless
benefit was Sls for is weeks.
Liberalization OF the Montana Law
was not obtained without opposition.
Some OF the opposition was based
on the contention OF a representa-
ton oi employers who held that the
number OF voluntary quits IN m
dustry and trade made liberalization
inadyisablc. They argued that lib
cralization oi the law at this time
might PROVE harmful to the econo-
my OF the state.
Federal Recommendations Higher
The legislation. as originally pre-
scented to the state lawmakers,
sought a much greater increase IN
benefits thap was finally granted.
The federal government which. IN
der provisions of the social security
act, controls the purse strings on
administrative funds lor operation
OF the Commission, had recon-
mended that maximum benefits be
increased to SIS with a duration OF
d weeks. This in general was the
proposal as originally brought be-
lore the legislature.
The mose ior liberalization gained
weight when Gov. John w. Bonner
in his opening, message to the House
and Senate made it clear that he
favored an increase IN both the
amount and duration OF benefits
proponent, ni the increase pointed
To the hike in living costs and ad-
yanced the argument that the Mon
tana Unemployment Compensation
Trust Fund which has grown to s..
million could well stand the IN
crease.
dUVtIuOI Scuuo uASooAkS
But there was rough sailing ahea'
ior the bill. In the House il wa.
trimmed to $50 Tor 20 weeks and II
the Senate it was further reduce
To $40 for 10 weeks. At this point
Governor Bonner sent special mes
sages to both houses which resulte'
in sending the hotly disputed meas
ure TO a conference committee wher'
the Governor appeared PERSONAL.
and testified in favor OF the bill.
1t was largely through the per
,onal efforts OF Governor Bonne
that the bill did not die in confer
ence committee hut emerged in 1t
final form with an increase IN bot
benefits and duration Tor Montan
workers.
Montana in Upper Halt j.
The new legislation does not b
any means put Montana into tn
forefront oi all the states IN tn
matter OF benefit payments but
does. II a general way rank II
Treasure State with the upper ha
Of the states and in certain respec'
the Montana law appears to be mo-
generous to the nan with very sma
earnings than the laws OF some
the states that pa, a higher mas
mum benefit and have a longer ma
imum duration.
IS Per Cent Get Maximum
Under the present law the ayera
weekly bencii, TO Montana clai'
Montana labor news., 1949-04-07

school levy would raise S203.Oib.ll-
The new board members are we'll
known residents OF Butte. Mr.. Ding
man is a professor mining engineer
ING At Montana School OF Mines.
He has resided here since 1915 and
engaged in various mining po-
sltions before joining the mining
college faculty in 1927. He is a
veteran OF Warld War |.
Mr.. Burgess is a native of Butte
and attended local schools and Mon
tan State college, He has been
active in civic affairs as a member
OF the South side Businessmen and
Exchange club. This was his first
venture in politics.
Montana labor news., 1949-04-07
Dingman, Burgess
New Trustees,
Mill Levies Beaten

Oscar A bingham and Harold C. Burgess. carrying the
banner Of the New party, swept to victory in the annual school
election Saturday over their opponents OF the Independent
and Peoples parties
All measures for extra millagc levies for salary expenses
and other expenses were defeated. The vote on the one
mill levy for adult education was 3, 50 against and 3,O0@ IN
favor of il. The three quarter mill levy for the high school
fund lost by 3.096 to 2.846 and the 81 mill levy for elemen-
tav schools was beaten by g. Is to 1868.
Montana labor news., 1949-04-07
BENEFITS AND DURATION TO INCREASE;
NO CHANGE IN MERIT RATING LAW

ant, is in the vicinity Of Slo. The
new amendment may boost this
average to somewhere IN excess oi
81 which would put Montana III
the upper hall oil the states SO lar
Is the average size OF payments IN
states Will have a lower maximum
payment. The reason is that under
Montana law and under current
wage scales and existing economic
,onditions. between IS and oS per
zen, oi all claimants are able TO
quality ior the maximum benefit
whereas IN some states with a high
CT maximum payment a smaller PEI
centagc Of the workers are able 10
qualify for top pay.
Under the amended law. a Mon
tana worker will be able to qualify
for the $40 weekly benefit if his
earnings in covered industry da,iT
ing the year on rh.cn computations
are hasea totaled at least 5000 and
ii at least S422.25 OF that amount
was earned in a single quarter.
Ceiling Higher in 40 States
On the lace OF it., Montana'> in
crease from 10 to IL weeks duration
Is oNcrshadowed BY the fact that n
states and territories pay bene,
its Tor a maximum OF 20 or NOR,
weeks But ior the average claim.
ant only p Of the states give NOR,
weeks 81 benefits because Montana.
IL week duration is uniform for al
claimants who can qualify for an,
benefits at all. whereas many of tn
states with a higher maximum ais,
have a variable duration which pro
vide, lever weeks OF benefits 10
those with lower earnings.
New Duration Helps / in 3
The two week increase IN dura
ton will bring added benefits
about one claimant in every tire
regardless, OF the size OF his week.
benefit check. Since benefits fir.
became payable in Montana. the un
form duration OF benefits has bee
II weeks and it has worked out tn;
about s. per cent of all claiman
alter e~xhausting their l6-week er
titlcment were still unemployed.
i this IS per cent that will benei
&, By the two-week extension. Studi
!, indicate that seasonality OF indu
! try is the prime factor in prolon
: ing the unemployment OF this grou
Montana labor news., 1949-04-07

Fourth Ward. J. d. Flynn, 9O5;
W. h. Rcnouard. 924.
Fifth ward. Joseph |, Simonich,
AS; Peter !. Soda. AS.
Sixth ward, .Jhil J.. Doherty. o52
Frank Moran. 673.
Seventh ward. Joe \. kissock,
l,702: H. b. Strasser, 1888
Eighth ward. John Lindquist. Re
publican, loo: Earl Mccarthy,
Democrat, 927; Ray ]. Kunz. Dem
ocrat. ran third with S74.
Montana labor news., 1949-04-07

>'''~eS u"N I~o'y SSvSH'
The question Of a Sl9S,0M bond
issue to match a federal grant oi
S2O5.tMn Tor the construction OF an
airport administration building pas
sed by a comfortable margin. The
voters favored it BY Ass to 2,47S.
The city's first Republican Mayor
since the late Charles A. Hauswirth
will have a council OF Is Demo
Gratis and one Republican.
John Lindquist. the only Repub-
lican candidate for a seat III the
council, was successful in his bid
ior reelection from the Eighth ward.
about two-thirds OF the eligible
voters cast their ballots in the
election. OF the 5000 registered,
more than 10000 voted.
Mayor O'Leary led on the basis
OF carly returns, but his lead dwin-
died sharply as some OF the larger
voting places reported and shortly
before 9 o'clock the mayor on
ccdcd his defeat and telephoned his
congratulations 10 Mr. Morgan.
The new mayor has been a resi-
dent OF Butte for 40 years. He for
merly was employed by the street
car company and has been with the
local bus company since bus SER
vice supplanted the electric cars.
He is a former alderman from the
Seventh ward. Two years ago he
was the Republican nominee for
mayor and lost at that time by
27l votes to Mr.. OLeary.
Mayor O'Leary's defeat ended "a
years OF service to the city. For
the past eight years he has been
nutte's CHIEF executive and pre-
%viously he served 10 years as an
alderman from the Second ward. He
first became mayor by vote of the
city council in l94l following the
death Of Mayor Hauswirth, who was
elected for his fourth term. but did
not live IL be inaugurated. Mayor
OI.cary subsequently was elected ii
1913, l945 and l947. (
II have no regrets" Mayor
OI.cary said, Il want to thank al
my friends who supported me Sc
Loyalty. | leave the city hall Will
the kindest thoughts ior everyone
This is the American way and 81
the people by their voice expressed
their will. This is the American
way. and so it should be. ! wisl
Mr.. Morgan the best OF luck"
TO the city hall employees, he saiJ
Il don't want anyone to feel sorr.
for me. | feel sorry for my friends
I've done my best. I've made mis-
takes but never from the heart :"
Mr.. O'Lcary said he wanted Il
contradict a m to the effec
that Il have considerable holding
in Billings. There is a Barr.
O'Leary in Billings who is a con
tractor but | don't hold 81 worth o
property outside Of Butte. My HON
is in Butte. Butte has been goo
TO me and in Butte | intend t
stay, in the best city and among tn
finest people III the United States.
City Treasurer Bernard +. Hol
land and Police Magistrate job
Scion, both Democrats and III
opposed, were returned to oific
with nice complimentary votes. Hol
land received 6.Sl7 votes and Selo
polled o.82l.
Aldermen were elected as iol
lows First ward, William A. Cur
an, 40; Dewey Mcclellan, 4SS.
Second ward. Dan ]. kinsell;
l.O42; John McCartan. 1888.
Third ward. Walter kinared, 544
Arthur Mehrens. S24.
Montana labor news., 1949-04-07
From Dry Cough To Dry Statistic

ing the chaotic years following when
price controls were removed and
copper shot up to 23H cents per
pound. profits scared accordingly,
and now with depression cloud,
already on the horizon, the coupon
clippers think fear OF unemployment
will prevent organized action on the
job. Let them remember that the
greatest wave Of strikes this
try ever saw came in the midst of
the thirties, and remember, too, the
role played then by Mine-Mill.
Your hard rock miner is a very
kind OF guy-otherwis. he'd
seek some safe and simple job
like lion tanning instead OF risking
his life every shift he works. Let
the Company be grateful there are
such men to tackle the hard rock
a mile deep in the earth and pile
out their precious ore, and at the
very least compensate them ade-
quately for the ills resulting from
the job. 1t is pure nonsense to
argue that silieosis is not an in
dustrial hazard-in Montana, a min
ing hazard exclusively.
At a recent hearing, mine Of
~ficials whined that there are other
dust-hazardous occupations in Mon
tala and it is therefore only fail
that compensation be handled BY
the state and paid out OF taxes VIZ
suggest that ii the Company vii
accept its share Of the burden, We
won't complain about tax-conpen-
sation for silicoctics who got tina
way from dust Off a Hereford
cow" to quote a brilliant rebutta
at the Helena hearing.
As a member OF the Ladies Auxil,
larry OF Mine-Mill, the writer urge.
all women in the mining camps ane
smelter towns in Northumberland
OF Butte and Anaconda, Of Eas
Helena and Great Falls. OF Blacl
Eagle and Avon. Of Mike Horse
Jardine, Superior. Ennis and Nei
hart, to join together and make Mr.
McGlone eat his words when thi
bill up again, as 1t must.
is said that ten women anywher
can do anything-let's prove it
Get together in tens and organic
hundreds. so that next time tn
capitol building will be jamme
with women who will not take II
Tor an answer.
Let's revive the spirit OF the stol
women OF Leydcn. You renembc
the story-how L.eyden fell before til
invading Spaniards, who generous
~ offered the women OF the cit
permission to leave with what Q
their possessions they could carry
Each women came out carrying o
her back her most precious posses
sion-her husband.
Margaret briggs on Radio
n--. ALL SEkA - n.AE d
Montana labor news., 1949-04-07
Republican Candidate Polls $3.50 Votes
to 1865 PoDed by incumbent
Barry O'Leary; Bond Issue is Approved

A Republican will guide the destinies of Butte for the next
two years. Thomas R. Morgan. showing unexpected strength
in the uptown Democratic precincts and rolling up a wide
margin on the Flat. unseated his Democratic opponent. Mayor
Barry OLeary. the man who held the office longer than any
ohter in Butte history. in the City general election Monday.
Morgan poned $3.50 votes to 4.965 for OLeary. The
margin of victory was 885 votes. Morgan carried nine pre-
Montana labor news., 1949-04-07
BUTTE BUILDING N
TRADES

eve Do Not P~atronize List)
LEES TRAILER SALES-170l
Harrison
JOE TORPEY, PLASTERER
South OF the City.
MR.. R. NELSON-8h Majors
Street.
WALTER AKNOLD-Former
Owner OF Arnold Plumbing Co.
(Not the Walter Arnold,
Architect.)
P. ]. ATTY- Caledonia
and Jackson Streets.
HENRY GIROUx Arizona
and First Streets.
Builder.
JOHN MARKOvICH-Home
Builder. (Home Address 2l23
George Street.
KENNETH PARMALEE =
ol7 w. Woolman, Parmalee
Plumbing Co.
Montana labor news., 1949-04-07
RECEIVE

At Bellingham, Wash, LOCAL ia
OF the State. County and Municipal
Employees has obtained a ,alare
increase ni SIS MONTHLY
Montana labor news., 1949-04-07

Margaret briggs on Radio
Forum, April 18th at GAS P.
M. on z Bar Net-KXLF-on
subject F. E, P, C
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-03-15

Every one was told that rehearsals
would be long and fought and that
most Of the company would have
to begin with fundamentals and
work up. They all said that is
precisely what they wanted to do
and that they were equally I'M
daunted by the fact that there
would be is performances to keer
them tied down after the show
was launched. They liked that
too.
Helen Brewer. Miss Mowry, Mrs
Barnwell and Designer Curry are
not positive, even today, that they
really are not mad to be embark
ing on such a venture.
Still. they are pretty sure they
are not.
Around and about: After &c
weeks at the National and Du-
pont. 1.-THE Red Shoes" still. has
not exhausted it's Washington au-
dience =. Its next booking is the
Apex theater where it will open
for week beginning April on a
three-a-day basis. 2:30. $50 and
$3.50 pm. Variety Club of
Washington and the Coast Guard
unite as sponsors of the biggest
hillbilly jamboree of the season
at Constitution Hall on March 81
The famous Eddie Arnold
show will be the attraction
Proceeds will go to the Coast
Guards Inter Faith Memorial
chapel Barter Theater's tour
ing Hamlet" will be visible to
local Barter enthusiasts on March
"a at Arlington Farms. with the
production being sponsored by
the Arlington Farms Recreation
Building Council. :. Falls Church
Community Theater players will
present Guest in the House" at
the Madison school on Friday and
Saturday nights of this week.
The production is the third in the
groups schedule for this season
Dance Production Groups at
George Washington University
will present a concert of modern
dance at Lisner Auditorium on
Friday night. Curtain is at
$3.50 pm.