The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1953-12-04
Local Boosters
at State Meet
BY Don Schmidt, Secretary
Browning Chamber Of Commerce

browning ShdmGer OF Commerce
November 20 and q marked
the days when Helena played
host to the assembled delegates
and members of the Montana
Chamber of Commerce. This or.
ganization, devoted to the furth.
ering of business and civic affairs
in the state, was organized in
1880 and has been manifesting
a steady growth since that time
that speaks well for the interest
and cooperation of the citizens.
Each year a convention of the
members and officers is held at
some central point to formulate
plans for the coming year as we'll
as review achievements, and of
course, have entertainment and
fun. This year the convention was
in Helena, and because of the at
fractions of the state capital, was
very well attended.
Election of officers and APP
pointments for the following year
were first taken up by the board
of directors at dinner Thursday
evening. At that time Mr.. Noel
Carrico of Glendive was elected
president succeeding Mr.. C. NJ.
Wall of Helena. The board of di-
rectors consists of member
from each of the states fifty-six
counties, our member being Mr..
Frank Milestone of Cut Bank.
To many people the State
Chamber of Commerce is just a
name, name that perhaps stands
for men sitting and talking in a
room blue with cigar, twenty-five
cent cigar, smoke. While there is
some sigar smoke, there is more
cigarette smoke and while there
is some talk, there is also lots of
action throughout the year as the
group goes on with the programs
that it meets each year to organ
ize. We have neither space non
time here to 60 into detail about
each of the points that were so
we'll discussed and so ably pre-
sented to those of us who were
fortunate enough to be in Helena,
but perhaps a brief rundown of
the resolutions finally adopted
by the chamber will serve to
point up the place that such
groups play in the life of each
community in the state and each
person in the communities.
Mr.. E. R. Mcfarland, president
of Imperial Motors, of Leth-
bridge, was keynote speaker and
his Lets Get Closer, Neighbor. p"
speech resulted in the first rcso-
luton calling for all Chambers
of Commerce in the state to CO.
operate with the state group in
fostering the spirit of goodwill
and mutual help between Alder
ia and Montana.
The pressing and always pres
ent problem of tax burden was
taken up with the idea of trying
to assist the Congressional Com
mission on Inter governmental
Relations in their task of trying
to eliminate duplication and sub
sequent cost from the overlap
ping functions of the state and
federal governments. The State
Chamber appointed committee
to study the problem with an eye
to determination of how far our
state can and will go in assum-
ing its own obligations and re-
turning to more complete SOY
ereign status.
The fourth and wnat may be
to many people the most import
ant resolution called for the Con-
gress Of the United States 10 re-
move excise taxes imposed during
the war years and still in force.
The most important one of these
is the tax on transportation of
all kinds. 1t is felt that trans
portation by rail, bus, or air is
a necessary thing to our people
and should not be considered a
luxury. Other discriminatory tax
es on commodities needed by our
populace should also be removed
as far as possible
The Montal? Chamber of Com
mercc recognized that the big
gest single barrier to our devcl-
opment as state is at present
the inequitable freight rates APP
plying to all imports and exports
of the state. Resolution was Ia.
ken to cooperate with any and
all agencies which have for their
purpose correcting of this very
detrimental condition. The coop
GRAFTON will be in the form of
service and financial aid.
The organization went on rec
ord as favoring all possible aid
to the development of the oil i'll
dustry in Montana as we'll as
careful use and conservation of
our oil resources. 1t. was further
urged that the Supreme Court
reach an early decision in action
on all oil lease test case to pre-.
vent Montana schools from los.