The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-09-03


i ing the work of the 83rd Congress IL
the last three columns of this series
In the first column | discussed the
J failures-failure to balance the budg-
ct, failure to meet the school con-
struction crisis, failure to remove
the union-busting provisions from the
Taft-Hartley Act, failure of Alaskan
statehood, health reinsurance and the
1S-year-old vote, to list a few.
Last week, l took up the halfway
legislation of this Congress-the
legislation in which the Administra-
ton was only partially successful or
that which only begins to solve the
problem it was designed to meet. In
this category, listed income tax
revision, farm program legislation,
extension of social security and un-
employment compensation, increased
veterans compensation and pensions
and Federal aid for highway con-
struction.
Today: The successes of this Con-
gress.
Most of the accomplishments listed
in this category are either something
that has been advocated by both
parties for years or are a continual
ton of a program which was in OPP
Grafton prior to this Administration.
1 would rank them in this order:
Anti-Subversion. Congress passed
series of bills requested by the
President to strengthen the Federal
governments hand in dealing with
subversion. They included those to;
Provide the death penalty for peace
time espionage; give the government
power to compel testimony from re-
luctant witnesses, stiffen fines for
bail jumping and harboring fugitives.
However, the Administration backed |
away from a acknowledgements |
move, which passed both House and
Senate by wide margin, to outlaw
the Communist party.
ST. Lawrence Seaway. This meas
ure will make the United States a
full partner with Canada in opening
? 2,450-mile waterway to bring ocean
going steamers to the heart of North
America. 1t will help solve Montana's
No. l economic problem-inequit-
able freight rates-by bringing the
Eastern seaboard 1900 miles closer
to us. This proposal was first made
so years ago and has been favored
by every President since Warren
Harding.
The bipartisan bill passed by this
Congress was by Republican Senator
Wiley of Wisconsin and IT others
including Democrat James E. Murrey
Of Montana.
School Lunches. We voted to per-
nit expanded use of surplus funds
n the school lunch program.
Federal Pay. Despite the fact that
our work was nullified by Presi-
Dental veto, l would list as an ac-
of this Congress the SO
,ost-of-living increase we voted for
| 100000 postal workers and CLASH
led government employees whose sal
aries were last increased in 1851.
The cost of living has increased since
hen. This has made it harder to
'ecruit and hold the competent en-
oloyes we need to conduct the bust
ness of the United States govern
nent. Congress voted the pay raise
he last day of this session after kill
ng a section, insisted on by the
President, that would have raised
postal rates. The President then
Tetoed the bill.
National Health. Belated emphasis
m the fact that the health of all our
,eople is a national problem came
With the establishment of Depart
nent of Health, Education and Wei
are. Expansions were voted in exist
ng programs of Federal aid to hos
ital construction and vocational re-
and research in cancer, I
olio and heart disease. [
Veterans: This Congress gave Ko-
can veterans the same homestead |
lights as veterans of other wars; ex-
I