The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-25
Editorial
| LEGISLATURE GIVING PEOPLE 'THE BUSINESS!

Make about it, the House gave the people
Montana the business last Friday in killing the
weghtme truck taxing schedule approving onecent in
in the gasoline tax and in approving
snconsequential GVW rate increase the trucks.
voting down the weightmle Republican spokesman
that study the Oregon method
of collecting from truckers their equitable share of highway
costs Study in Montana whether relating to Slcoss
other occupaona diseases control OF underground water re-
highway taxation nothing but delaying action
The longer the truckers delay enactment OF such law
the longer be able to get away with paying less than half
the amount they should toward financing highway
The for the ACM and its historic delaying
tactics employed putting off into the future occupatonal
disease legislation thus leading to the lifting
huge tax burden off the shoulders of the general publicly
In supporting the gasoline tax increase the House majority
listened to the wishes special interests instead of seeking
taxation justice for the voters back home who elected them
the Legislature.
talked Substantial GVW rates under
lib 326 poppycock Inadequate HB 326 when intro
duced by Rep Brcker Cascade) did represent something
Improvement the gentle treatment accorded the
the financing the
interim Highway Committee However, last Friday when the
apparently put kind egsa
favored by the truckers Bricker introduced amend
his B 326 which decreased the proposed
that bill by to 25 Net result is that HB 326
presently stands will bring in only 100000 in increased
GVW charges year all types compared with
$685. proposed by
the Governors committee What this amounts to- the
board various descriptions
will pay average only slightly than
year increased GVW fees Does this like step toward
greater fairness assessing burden highway
highway financing isn't the only type of legislation
which the people of Montana have been getting the bu
ness because of the Republicans and socaled Democrats
Silver Bow, and Regain of Cascade
Look what happened to four of five important school
bills last week because of that coalition Se two Look
easily the oil lobby aided allotted by the company
put through HB $50 and killed HB $50 and HB 381 VOICE.
Feb H. Recall what the unholy coalition did to long
needed occupaonal disease legislation some weeks back
the House.
There other however the above should suffice
how badly the majority of
Montana people BECAUSE Their representatives directly
under the thumb of powerful lobby interests Their
sentatve although blessed with the best of Intentions
naive that they will let few odtmers like Armstrong and
Chafn lead them around with few questions asked
There only to either type of misrepresenta
Helena Make wholesale changes next years
and general elections Make of the voting records
legislators and if not satisfied with what find
then looking for candidates who will ably
interests in 1857 Remember next time it will be
$40 day salary instead of S10 good from the
ranks of labor small farmers small business not be
hesitant about seeking legislative positions because of the
usual large financial losses involved in coming to Helena
Regardless of Their Lobby w
TRUCKERS SHOULD PAY EAIR SHARE QE