The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-05-15
A Missouri Basin Commission
INSTALLMENT II

ton to direct and coordinate the de
velopment of land and water re
sources in Missouri Basin. Eight mem
bers, Lawrence, Henning, Murray
Aspinall, Trimbel, Heinkel, Holum
and Peterson, voted for a Federal
Commission, named by the President
and confirmed by the Senate. Such
agency would be responsible for %
directing the resource development
activities of the Federal Government
in the Missouri Basin, and (2) CO.
ordinating these activities with re-
source development activities of the
states.
IL. Specific recommendation con-
corning the composition, powers, func-
tions and activities of missouri Basin
Commission" are set forth as follows !:
at shall be the general purpose of
the Missouri Basin Commission to pre-
pare and direct the development of a
land and water resource program for
the Missouri Basin. 1t will be the
Commissions task to harmonic and
reconcile the inter-related features
and purposes of such program by
directing and co-ordinating the &C
tivities of all Federal agencies relat-
ing to resource development 1t shall
prepare comprehensive basin pro-
gram for the development of the
water and land resources of the basin,
which will best serve the beneficial
purposes of flood damage prevention,
land reclamation, development and
distribution of power, development of
municipal and industrial water sup
ply, drainage, watershed manage
ment, soil conservation and forestry,
preservation and development of rec
reation, fish, and wildlife resources,
Improvement of navigation, stabiliza-
ton of streambanks, control of pol
luton, and related development of
land and water resources. The guiding
principals and program goals set
forth in Part Ill, Chapter 4, of this
report provide the framework within |
which the Missouri Basin Commission
may proceed to the accomplishment I
OF its stated purpose"
10. In order that the States of
the basin may have a voice in the
establishment of the Commission, we
recommend that it be activated in the
following manner:
within 2-year period after Con-
gressional enactment of legislation
creating the Commission, each State
may decline, by legislative action, to
consent to the operation of the Com
in that State. If State fails
to take such action, then the Com
shall automatically function
in that State. Should State reject
the Commission within the 2-year pc
riod, it may reverse it's actions at
any subsequent date and by affirma-
tive action subscribe to the opera
ton of the Commission. Once State
has assented to the Commission, it
may not subsequently withdraw its as
sent"
ID. The recommendation was for
a Missouri Basin Commission of 5
appointed by the Presi- !
dent, with consent of the Senate. {
l. Sl iilo w NC ~ yNaio CdCii, etIICl CllC
itaggard initial appointments expire. &
No more than of the members to !
belong to one political party. APP ]
must have maintained le- {
gal residence within Missouri Valley g
States for years prior to appoint c
nent. No member to engage in any c
)ther business than work of the Com c
nor to have a financial in f
crest in any organization or enter t
orise that will be enhanced or adj t
yersely affected by Commission ac- v
ivities. Compensation to be suffic- t
ent to insure full time service of t
qualified persons.
Is. Three commissioners, Young,
Iope and Persons, dissented from the S
majority view, and signed minority b
eport recommending that a Com n
mission be set up by means of an in +
erstate compact to which the United n
'tates and Missouri Basin States, or a
UGH Of them as ratified the compact,
yould be parties. "The minority be- a
eves that the necessary co-ordinat- N
ng agency should be established by a