The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1952-01-18

flee of Education, O11lce OF FOcalloH-
al Rehabilitation, Public Health Ser
vice, Food and Drug Administra-
ton, DR.. Harper indicated in describ-
ing the work of each section.
The regional office of Denver
serves the five states of Montana,
Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Colorado.
In answer to an inquiry from the
group on the proposed national
health insurance plan, the regional
director said it was not "socialized
medicine" as labeled by some peo-
pie, but health plan based on the
well-known American idea of insur-
ance.
wHealth insurance would be paid
for the way workers now pay old age
and survivors insurance premiums
or as railway workers pay into the
railroad retirement fund.-" he explain
ed. "A worker would pay u per
cent of his earnings under $500 a
month and the employer would pay
an equal amount. Self-employed per-
sons could be covered by paying
slightly more than other workers. 1t
is a means of budgeting for medical
care" Harper said of the health plan.
To a question as to whether or
not voluntary health insurance plans
were reaching all people, DR.. Harper
said that voluntary health insurance
plans have shown striking increase
in the last ten years and then he quot
ed from the report of bipartisan Sen
ate Subcommittee on Labor and We'll
fare which says: LESS than per
cent of the pulation-between 3
and A million persons-have compre-
hensive medical care insurance, in
Guiding hospital, surgical and rela-
lively complete medical insurance.
Eleven per cent-17 million peo-
ple-have hospital, surgical and linn
tied medical insurance. Twenty-one
per cent-31 million people-have
some degree of protection against
the costs of both hospital and sur
gical care. Fifteen per cent-23 mil
lion people-carry hospital insurance
alone. Fifty per cent-70 million have
no form of medical care insurance
protection"
Under the plan he emphasized, con-
troll would be in local communities
with local doctors and hospital heads
keeping arrangements for, medical
care in their own hands. Patients
would have a free choice of doc
,ors according to the plan with their
haiYor ,oo,I IF
insurance payments for each person
covered, DR.. Harper said.
In sessions Monday afternoon, DR..
Nick Helburn, speaking on conserva-
ion practices in river valleys, told
he farm group representing thirty
Counties in Montana that river val
ey is single inter-acting unit where
of grasslands, overcut-
ing of forests, and faulty soil cult
alton have an adverse effect on
he channel flow of the water Prop
r control of the water for human
yelfare, he said, requires strict at
ention to all physical factors in the
egion. The watershed and the river
hannel are interconnected, he said,
ointing out that care should be given
D all needs in river valley develop
lent because single purpose develop
lent can be very costly.
In speaking of school problems
ma Hedgman, of the Federal Sc
lrity Agency in Washington, D. C.
rged the farm people present to
lad the last report of the Census
ureau where these striking facts
re revealed
1. The great mobility of people
IN the u. S. with trailer camps now
being listed in the census as sep
arate housing units.
2. Only AT per cent of the popu-
alton having voted in the last gem
,ral election.
3. Reading habits of the people
With comic strips and sports pages
'eing the leading concern to the
American people.
She listed as three serious problems
public education, lack of adequate
Hiding facilities, crowded class