davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-03-13
Are Rough Republican Roads In Store For Monanans? >.

One of the major shortcomings Oh
the 33d Legislature was it's failure
to realistically approach the highway
financing problem. Gov. Aronson sug-
gested that 100000 in new rev.
enue was needed to match available
federal funds the next biennium and
thus keep our highway program go
ing forward The legislature, at most
provided only a little over a mil
lion of the seven million needed.
Most important highway rev.
enue bill to get the axe was lib
$50 by McAndrews, Woods and
others, which would have set up
an equitable schedule of taxes on
heavy trucks and trailers, Based
on the highly successful Oregon
law, HB ESQ, had it been enacted
would not only have taxed vehicles
according to the amount they use
and destroy our highways, but
would also have brought in an esti-
mated $3.5 million revenue the next
biennium.
HB 230, By Macdonald, although
only a stop gap measure, would have
brought in another million. 1t pro-
posed a five cents per barrel tax on
crude oil produced in or transported
into Montana. At present crude trans
ported to refineries in the state is tax
free.
The one-half cent gas tax proposed
by the house highway committee and
the state highway commission, if en-
acted, would also have brought in
around a million dollars in the COM
ing biennium.
However, none of these achieved
passage. New revenue, for most part
will have to come from some addi-
tional patches put on present inequi-
table gross vehicle weight tax law,
from frightened gas refund proceed
ure, and from savings on highway de-
partment administration and mainten-
ance. Out of state truckers will have
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-03-13
Mustn't discourage" Oil
Industry

The legislature was most generous
to the oil industry in, as noted above,
approving that industry's conserva-
ton bill and the removal of the 20
year limit on state leases. In return
for such generosity the people of
Montana received nothing. Two bills,
one by Rep. Tango, Roosevelt, and
the other by Sens. Anderson (Pon-
ders), Tibbals, Nesvig, Robins and
Grandey, were made short work of in
the respective chambers that had
them under consideration. Tange's
bill proposed increasing the oil pro-
ducers' license tax to per cent from
the present per cent. Anderson's
proposed tax be increased to 4 Il per
cent. Either bill would have brought
in in excess of half million dollars
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-03-13

Four important bills dealing with
democratic process were before the
assembly. Three of these were good,
one bad.
Our 18-year-old citizens will con-
tinue at least until 1858 as mon
voting" members of the body polite
because the house refused to, pro-
vide the necessary two-thirds re-
quired to put constitutional amend
ment Glib 81, by Durkee and others
on the ballot lowering the voting age.
(Other state legislatures are begin
ming to give more intelligent consid-
Grafton to this issue. The Republican
controlled Indiana legislature has au-
thoriZed an amendment to lower vot-
ing age to 10 years. In South Dakota
we understand another GOP. legisla-
ture has approved dropping minimum
to 18 years.-Edltor). sfrts
EQUAL treatment of Americans, re-
CARELESS of race, creed or color, al
though given house approval 44-36,
failed to make the grade in the SEN
ate, despite the efforts of Sen. b.
vey to save the measure Glib 73 by
entire Cascade delegation.) Had it
passed it would have established a
state policy that all people are en-
titled to equal rights in hotels, ca
fes, barbershops, theatres, ETC..
One tri C tiv e constitutional
amendment by Padbury and Keller
designed to restrict the ballot to free
holders in voting on bond issues, lev
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-03-13
Si25,000 Down Payment

Republicans in seeking election last
fall made much of the need for econ
omy in government. The 33d Legis-
lature was heralded as being pledged
to economy. Fact is, economy was
practiced when it suited the purpose
of the assembly.
The governor of the state will have
new mansion in due time as a re-
suit of $125,000 being set aside from
the capitol building fund as down
payment on the structure. Democratic
leaders, although cognizant of the
need for general overhauling of the
present mansion, contend it would be
better to spend $25 to $50 thousand
on repairs rather than possibly $780,
900 on new residence. The differ
ence, they believe, would serve more
useful purpose if used for quarters
for various state administrative func-
tions.
Approval Of the setting up of a
personnel commission with $7,000,-
per-year man at it's head, also runs
contra-wise of the economy pledges
of the COP last fall. To get this new
commission underway will cost about
$4,000. After it gets into full OPP
Grafton it is estimated it will cost
the state general fund about sixty
five thousand dollars per year-in
addition to the approximately $685.
900 per year it costs to operate a
similar commission, the Joint Merit
Council which will continue to handle
personnel problems of 600 to 700
state employees.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-03-13
CONTINUED from page one)

natural gas, if landowners are re-
luctant to accept the utilities, offer
for such storage rights. Worst fea-
ure of this act is that it extends the
right of eminent domain into new
concept and thus leaves the way
open for future amending to the
detriment of Montana landowners.
Should the owner of "barren" gas
storage refuse to take the price of
fered by utility, it will cost him
upwards of twenty thousand dollars
to fight condemnation through the
courts-and then-maybe not win
He has only one other choice-take
whatever is offered by the utility.
One of the worst pieces of "spe-
cial privilege" legislation was repeal
of the State Identification Author
ity Act of 1885, at the insistence of
Montana Power Company represen-
tatives. This was accomplished
through passage of Senate Bill 104
by Anderson (Chouteau), Wallace
and Scofield, by both houses and
approval OF GOV. ArOnSOn.
Repeal of this act means that
Montana rural (and urban) people
have no legal instrument by which
the state can enter the production
and distribution of power should
such a need arise in order to COM
bat the greed of the private power
monopoly.
Strong pressure is being exerted
in Washington to take the federal
government out of the power gen.
Grating and transmitting field, in
favor of state, municipal or private |
ownership of present public power
facilities. Should this come about, |
and with the identification author
ity off the statute books, Montana
Power will have a clear field to do |
as it pleases on power rates, dis
tribution, etc. in Montana. High |
rates to Montana REA
co-pps will be in order when and if I
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-03-13
Met Budget ProbLen--

les, ETC., failed to make the grade il
the senate, thanks to the studied ant
well-spoken opposition by Sen. Vail
ton.
On the brighter side, the legisla-
ture did approve another referen-.
dunn which, if concurred in by the
voters at the 1854 election, will
again establish a presidential pri-
mary in Montana to be held the
same day as the regular primary
election.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-03-13
Leave IL To the Legislature And-Get Left!

employment potential ineligible for
any benefits.
Minimum wage and maximum
hour legislation for children didn't
get anywhere. The same applied to
a proposed legislative order to vari-
Gus state departments to see that
equal pay for equal work laws were
enforced. Time ff-to-vote legislation
sailed through the senate 1913 but
was promptly put on ice in the house
due to the efforts of Rep. Pfohl of
Park.
Only important item achieved
by labor was an appropriation of
$4,000 to begin work on industrial
safety codes legislation, written
into the general appropriations bill
the final day by Sen. Anderson
(Pondera). Safety codes legisla-
ton was authorized by the 1851
session, but no money was made
available for the work TO be done.
The department of labor, despite
q book full of laws it is supposed to-
enforce, will continue to be able to
do precious little other than buy
postage stamps and write letters,
this next two years.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-03-13

In years past many an elected
official has evaded an unpleasant
problem by appointing a committee
to look into the matter. This year
that particular brand of buck-pass-
ing caught on with a vengeance in
legislative halls. Interim commit
tees will be so thick around Helena
the next two years that the citi-
zenry may get the idea some legis-
lators have at least solved their own
particular problem of full employ
ment.
There's the newly-named legisla-
tive council to look into everything
from soup to nuts. Already on its
agenda is an investigation of the
gross vehicle weight truck tax law
with the view of providing more
Equitable" break for truckers, and
a study of the railroad and public
service commission. This council has
$4,000 of tax money to play with,
including the hiring of a seven or
eight thousand-dollar executive secre-
tary. Drafting of legislation for con-
sideration by the 1866 Legislature is
the primary purpose of the council.
Then there's the un-American COM
mittee with an appropriation of $5,-
900 to use in bedeviling the lives of
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-03-13

Leaders of Montana labor, rep.
resenting upwards of 10000 Mon
tana families, came to the legislature
with well-rounded programs, based
on the wishes of rank-and-file mem.
'bers.
i Recalling the compensation
initiative fight of a year ago and
how legislators, businessmen and
others had fought the initiative be-
cause such legislation was prop
erly the function of the "legisla-
ture and its more mature delibera-
tons, labor presented a reason
able program for the assembly to
consider.
Although labor believed a number
of improvements should be made in
present labor laws, top priority was
placed on improving the 1915 model
workmen's compensation act, and in
Guiding Silicosis and other occupa-
tional diseases under the act. Ac-
cordingly, well-drawn bills were pre-
sented for consideration. But con-
sideration of labor's compensation
bills by the legislators was by-passed
in favor of a watered-down "com-
pany" measure after spokesman for
the Anaconda Copper Mining Com
pany announced that their bill only
had the greenlight. Labor would take
a maximum increase of SO per week in
compensation benefits-or nothing.
Thus, Montana's laws is now only
about Is years behind similar laws
of other western states.
AS for making Silicosis COM
pensable, Chief ACM Montana
Power lobbyist Bob Corette pro-
claimed that Silocosis has been
eliminated in the Butte mines for
26 years and that there is no need
for such legislation in Montana.
(There are presently over 600
Silicotics receiving Public We'll
fare monthly payments. Of these,
'425 are in Silver Bow county,.
Labor also asked that unemploy-
ment compensation be increased to
$50 per week after having learned
from U. S. Department of Labor
that Montana's UCC reserve fund
could easily meet the cost of bring
ing unemployment benefits into line
with other states, without material
damage to the fund Labor also
asked that the waiting period" be
reduced to one week, as is the case
in 46 other states. Again, the legis-
lature could see little merit in labor's
case. Benefits were increased to
maximum of $23 for 20 weeks, en-
ployer contribution rates were dras-
tically reduced, and gimmicks were
put in the new law that will make
about one eighth Of the states un-
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-03-13
Schools Could Be Worse Off

Thanks to oil moneys and 49,
$4,000 balance in the school opera
tional fund, Montana public schools
this next biennium will not fare
too badly on the amoont of state aid
they receive, despite the upwards of
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-03-13
Miscellany !.

More than 600 Silicotics will re-
ceive $40 increase as a result of
| legislative action. An additional ap-
preparation of $4,000 was given
Public Welfare to pay this added
benefit to these victims of occupa-
tional disease. Altogether, Silicosis
payments will cost the taxpayers of
Montana an estimated 100000 in
the next biennium-or about S1.5O
per man, woman and child of our
population.
The Public Welfare Department
took cut in funds of about $780,
900 for the biennium. In addition,
three pieces of punitive legislation by
the Reorganization Committee, were
enacted into law. One of these calls
for making public welfare lists pub
lie record, another establishes lien
on property owned by welfare re-
cipients and a third establishes rela-
tive responsibility act. (Further de-
tails on these will be published in
a subsequent issue.-Editor)
The "putsch" was on to turn the
to saloon keepers, but this failed to
come about despite the efforts of
Rep. O'Connor. Republicans and
Democrats alike rebelled over the
prospects of the liquor trade taking
over this highly profitable state bust
ness. Legislators recalled with clarity
the overt threat to political morality
that had been posed during the hey
day of the slot-machine racket, and
many of them felt that such a con-
dition would again arise if the trade
was to have a monopoly over all
liquor sold in Montana
Another important measure that
got nowhere was the proposal to
increase legislators pay from $40
to SIS and to provide them with
the same per diem paid other state
officials and employees. AS noted
in Rep. GraybilPs comments else
where in this issue, lobbyists for
major corporations do not want
legislative pay raised to the level
where legislators can live on it
while in Helena. Montana Young
Republicans are repeatedly consid-
ering an initiative on this They
will do the state great service if
they go ahead with the idea and
see that it gets on the November
1854 ballot.
Not of such great significance, but
Indicative of legislative thinking was
the easy time of it House Bill 1913
had in going through both houses.
HB 128 clears the way for corpora
ton executives to receive fat month
ly allowances for themselves and
their dependents in case of disabili-
ty, retirement, illness, occupational
disease, etc. Corporation boards could
CONTINUED on page fourl
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-03-13

to pay in couple of hundred thou
sand dollars per year to travel over
Montana highways. The highly inequi-
table tax on small trailers put on the
books by the 1851 Legislature was
reduced to minimum registration
fee of $500.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-03-13

the federal government quits the
power production and distribution
field.
, 1953-09-04
Soft 81 Hospitdl
Workinq Overtime to
Prepure for Opening

AS many Of the Hospital
staff as could be spared are
busy at work in the new hos
pital familiarizing themselves
with the various machines,
and the many pieces Of equip
ment, as well as the location
Of rooms, utility closets and
SO forth.
Office workers are busy To-
eating their desks and type
writer's nurses helpers are
washing out new basins and
other items Of equipment that
will come under their care.
All the heads Of the various
units are on hand to super
wise and see that everything
is in ship shape for the open
ing on Sunday evening.
, 1953-09-04
Five Civiliuns Attend
Army School at
Henry Bdrrucks in r.

Five civilians, representing
Civil Defense organizations
in Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands are among the Az stu
dents attending the 7443rd
Army Unit Damage Control
School in Puerto RICO.
Puerto Rican representa-
tives are Miguel a. Comacho,
sub-director of Civil Defense
n Puerto Rico; Juan A. Melen
lez, local director ofCivil De
tense Off Farjardo and Rafael
Ortiz Melendez, HenryB Bar
racks Fire Department.
Elmo A. Adams, a Teacher
d the st Thomas schools and
Gerard Luz a. James, ST.
Croix High school instructor.
represent the Virgin Islands
Continued on last page)
, 1953-09-04
ST. ST Thomas DRUG Store
Distributes 73 Gifts
to Bdbies Born There

In keeping with its promise
to present q. gift to every baby
born in st. Thomas, the st.
Thomas Apothecary Hall, Inc.
has distributed seventy-three
gift packages to the new ar
rivals in the three months per-
iod from June ! to August 81.
The first baby born on June
l was to Mr.. and Mrs. Eric
Smith, and the latest arrival
born August 20, was to Mr.. &
Mrs. William Thomas.
, 1953-09-04
Members Of Munich
Council Token on
Tour 81 New Hosp.

Members of the Municipal
Council inspected the new
Municipal Hospital this after
noon at the invitation Of DR..
Melvin Evans, Chief Munici-
pal Physician.
The session was adjourned
temporarily. At the Hospital
DR.. Evans showed the legislar
tors around demonstrating,
where feasible, some of the
newest equipment or their
uses.
, 1953-09-04
Chief Executive Asks
Sitter Penalties for
Unlicensed Guns

Disturbed by the apprehen-
ion of six persons with I'M
licensed guns during the past
two weeks in St. Thomas, Gov
ernor de Castro sent to the Mu
nicipal Council an ordinance
to stiffen the penalty for such
offenders, an article in the
Home journal said.
The present law imposes a
fine Of between $25. and 500
or having an unlicensed gun,
and under the Governors pro
nsal, the penalty would be
increased to not more than 6
n oaths in jail.
, 1953-09-04
Government SecY
Ambrose Returns
From Muinlund

Government Secretary Dan
Ambrose returned from his
vacation in the United States
tbs morning. He resumed his
1uties Immediately.
While Mr.. Ambrose was
away, Mrs. Ambrose and their
niece spent a week in ST.
Croix.
Finance Commissioners Louis
ShulterEirandt wps acting
Government Secretary, in adj
dition to his other duties. .
, 1953-09-04
New Proclamation
amends Agendd for
Legislative Assembly

A new proclamation has
been issued BY the Governor
amending the agenda of the
Legislative Assembly to in
an act to provide a uni
form law for the registration
of vital states in the Virgin
Islands. The bill was proposed
by the Honorable Joseph Co
mez.
Another bill will be to
amend the law to establish
:. building Code for the Vir-
gin Islands, proposed and spon
sored by Honorable Henry Q.
.Creque.
, 1953-09-04
Governor de Castro
Approves Resolution
to Ford Foundation

Governor de Castro this
morning approved q resolu-
ton passed by the Municipal
Council Of st. Thomas and ST.
John expressing the apprecia-
ton Of the people Of the Vir-
gin Islands to the Ford Foun-
dation for the Fund set up for
the Advancement Of Educa-
ion, for in~stituting a teacher
training program for the Vir-
gin Islands through Hamp-
ton Institute as well as an or
ldinance passed by the NUM-
Ecipal Council Of st. Thomas
and st. John to authorize the
purchase Of certain portions
# Estate Annas Fancy and to
olace the same under the juris
Fiction of the Municipal Land
Authority.
The ordinance provides that
persons currently owning and
living in superficiary build
ngs on Annals Fancy (St. Tho
nas) or renting land upon
which no building has been
erected shall be given first
priority to purchase such land
md that persons living in
ented houses located in An
mas Fancy shall be given Sc
cond priority to purchase
blot Of land on the said pro-
perry.
, 1953-09-04
Governor Spedks out
on Improper Attire
Worn by Visitors

Worn by Visitors
Governor de Castro once
more launched an attack on
the scanty attire being worn
on the public streets by peo-
pie, especially visitors, during
his recent suppertime chat.
The Governor explained
that because Of a line hum he
was informed that radio re-
ception was indistinct in some
spots, thus he repeated his OBJ
observations that he had be-
come concerned with the inn
proper attire which is being
paraded on the public streets
an highways particularly in
ST. Thomas, by a small minor
ity Of the visitors to our is
lands. He was glad that the
Hotel Association recently
frowned publicly on this in
sidious practice and caused to
be posted in all hotels notices
requesting conformance with
local law by the wearing Of
decent attire in public places.
More recently, the Cover
nor continued, / have been
shocked to see some visitors
calling at the historic Govern
ment House in Charlotte Am
ale wearing attire suitable
only for the public beaches.
We welcome all visitors to the
Government Houses in the
Virgin Islands and are happy
to have guides show them
these historic mansions and
tell them about our history
and our culture. But we must
insist that they dress as they
would # hey were visiting the
State House in Albany, New
York, or the Capital of any
State. Our Government
Houses mean as much to all
Virgin Islanders as the seat Of
government IN any state of
the Union means to the citi-
zens Of the state.
His Excellency then read
excerpts from a letter sent to
all hotels in ST Thomas
The Governor t en- cited
? rrovision N the Police regu-
1ation which states:
"Nesther nav anyone ap-
roar il TIE purl'c streets,
roads or places in a dress
which is against decenay or Is
, 1953-09-04

calculated to create a disturb
aace eff public order.
Evening star., 1953-02-23
Dirty Air Cleaner
Cuts Gas MILEAGE

In your efforts to get better
gas mileage do not forget that
one reason there is such a
marked dip in efficiency at road
speed is not so much speed it.
self as to restrictions on air
which has to pass through the
air cleaner.
If this cleaner is of the oil
bath type and happens to have
too much oil, it will force the
carburetor to provide a richer
mixture.
Sometimes the cleaner may
simply be clogged. Some of the
newer carburetors are designed
to compensate for air drag at
higher speeds, but the rank and
file of engines just start getting
Indigestion on an overrich mix
ture as soon as speeds get into
the upper brackets, provided the
cleaner has been neglected.
Evening star., 1953-02-23
Chains Still Best
For Stopping on Ice,
Actual Tests Show

The skidding season of the
year isn't over yet. and the smart
driver will try to remind himself
that chains still are the out
standing protection against a
winter accident in bad weather.
Tests of the National Safety
S Council show that where the
treads are of natural rubber a
stop on glare ice at only 20 miles
per hour calls for a distance of
200 feet.
If these same tires are winter
ized by special materials in the
treads the distance is cut to 1888
feet.
It is unfortunate that mud
snow treads are only slightly
better than regular treads, with
q distance figure of 201 feet, be-
cause they have so many advan-
tages in snow. However with
chains you can get a stop in II
feet.
A point to remember is that
with synthetic treads there may
be increased skidding or wheel
spinning as compared with
treads of natural rubber.
A factor this year is the in
creased use of treads with trans
verse cuts which provide innu-
merable gripping fingers. These
are expected to make a marked
improvement in control on glare
ice and packed snow.
Evening star., 1953-02-23
Brake Lag Means
More AIertness

Not too well known is the fact
that brakes themselves have a
reaction time which varies with
their type and their condition.
Perhaps you've noticed how
sometimes the brakes are slug
gish. The shoes grip their drums
efficiently, but there is a notice.
able lag between pressure on the
pedal and actual braking action.
This lag should be added to
your own lag in starting to press
the pedal once you decide that
a stop is the next step. Or you
can get the same result by de-
creasing your reaction time to
compensate for the lag in the
braking system.
Be more alert until you have
a chance to have the brakes
Serviced.
Evening star., 1953-02-23

linkage. The Studebaker relies
on mechanical linkage.
In the Studebaker, engine
power is transmitted through a
belt-driven shaft to two contra
rotating clutch discs which in
turn operate on ring gears.
When a two-pound pull is
exerted by the driver, one ring
gear and clutch come into play
and transfer engine power to
the steering gear. The ring
gears revolve at one quarter
engine speed.
II for any reason the power
unit fails. conventional control
always is available.
The unit was developed by
Borg Warner and Studebaker
engineers. 1t needs no special