davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-03-11
House Wants Full Parity
For Agriculture

Two memorials of Importance to
Montana farmers made the grade in
the 34th Legislature. One of these
asks the Congress to enact laws which
will ensure family farmers a decent
livelihood by providing a support pro-
gram for all major farm commodities
and "using salient features of the
wool act +" Importance of this rests
in agriculture being Montana's major
source of income.
Another memorial asks the Con-
gress not to destroy the Soil Con-
servation Service as has been pro-
posed by a task force" of the
Hoover Commission.
In addition to the m-to-market
roads legislation mentioned previous
ly, only one other major piece of farm
legislation was in the hopper this ses-
sion. This bill proposed that $4,000
of earnings off Grain Testing Labora-
tory fees be earmarked for a revolv-
ing fund to ensure the laboratory
being able to provide the services to
Montana farmers which they are pay
ing for This bill was killed in the
House. At present, under lib 10 of
the 1941 session, all earnings of this
service agency are siphoned off into
the General Fund, and then the Leg
stature ordinarily appropriates back
only a bare minimum to keep the
going.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-03-11
Oil Leasing Law Weakened

The oil lobby was successful in
some degree in partially tying the
hands of the State Land Board in
administering school oil land leases
for the greatest benefit of the schools.
Legislation was enacted taking from
the land board the authority to set
non-drilling penalties over the first
six years of lease.
Under the old law, the land board
could determine the amount of such
penalties after the first two years Of
a lease, or, could cancel the lease.
An even worse feature of the
new law is the setting of maximum
acreage rentals on leases-produc-
ing or non-producing-a ST.. Prior
to this, the board had to charge a
minimum of rs cents an acre per
year on leases. The old law, how
ever, left the board free to set
considerably higher rentals should
a lease be located in a proven
area.
This act was put over in the House
by solid Republican front, aided
by the faithful five" from
Silver Bow, and Reagen of Cascade
In the Senate, in spite of the eff
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-03-11

Only single bill of Importance to
the saloon trade or those who would
like to Nevada-ize Montana via open
gambling, made it through the legis-
lative mill. The lone bill to become
law may prove very helpful in cut
ting down the sale of liquor to minors.
In future minors must fill out identi-
fication cards, and face the possibility
of fines for falsely swearing to their
age in order to obtain liquor. Bills
aimed at giving retail dealers sub
stantial discounts and weakening the
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-03-11
Increased Gas Tax
A Major Setback

Biggest setback suffered by the
people of Montana as whole was the
imposing of two-year increase in
the gasoline tax while little was done
to erase the long-standing tax fa-
voritism extended to the commercial
trucking industry. AS in the past, the
ordinary motorist will continue TO
pick up a substantial portion of the
trucking industry's bill for highway
financing. Present gross vehicle
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-03-11

state store system, as well as bill to
legalize stud and draw poker gam
bling, failed to make it out of House
committee.
Long needed lobbyist registration
legislation failed to make the grade
in the House by 1888 vote.
Equal rights legislation with teeth
in it passed the House by wide mar
gin. After the Senate got through
with it, it became only statement
of policy.
A constitutional amendment pro-
viding for lowering the voting age
from 81 to Is was lost in House COM
mittee at the deadline for transmit
ting bills from one house to the other.
Montana's Sc counties were saved
thousands of dollars in increased
printing costs because the House re-
fused to approve increases of 10 to
80 per cent above Franklin Price List
for county printers.
Trial of American armed service
by American rather than the
courts of NATO countries in which
they are stationed, was requested in
Senate and House Memorials to the
Congress.
Bills proposing that utility tax
rates be based on values used for
rate-making purposes met quick
death in Rep. Dempsey's House
Utilities Committee. At present,
utilities use one set of values for
tax purposes and another set, con-
siderably higher, for justifying
price schedules on electricity, gas,
phone service, etc
One other important piece of leg
Station to make the grade calls for
he polls to be open several hours
onger on primary and general cleo
ion days.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-03-11
RECORD OF 1855 LEGISLATURE
REVEALS PROGRESS I'M VARIOUS FIELDS

| forts of Minority Leader Leroy An
derson (D-Pondera) to show his col
leagues the damage this bill could
do to returns off school leases, Re-
publicans, assisted by number of
Democrats who should have known
better, passed the bill by an over
whelming margin. Watch for compo-
site "box score".)
Two other measures aimed at clear
ing up the confusion which has existed
the last two years because of the I'M
constitutional 1858 perpetual leasing
law, met death at the hands of the
-Silvercrat (all six of 'em)
coalition. One bill proposed outright
repeal of the voided 1853 law in
order to make unnecessary the carry
ing of that law to the u. S. Supreme
Court. The other proposed a new
leasing law permitting leases up to
40 years. Passage of these two bills
would have made it possible to get
on with the business of orderly leas-
ing of school lands without having
to wait year or more for a federal
court decision. In addition, the longer
leasing period would have been more
realistic for leases involving drilling
to depths of 5000 to 1900 feet,
since such deep wells run many times
more expensive than shallow ones
such as are sunk in the Cut Bank
Shelby area.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-03-11
in business. This bill died in the
House Labor Committee.

ColIar-to-collar legislation for Butte
miners went down the drain early in
the session, so, fellows working
'under the hill'' unlike other Montana
workers will have to continue putting
in considerably more than eight hours
a day on their employers premises
for eight-hours pay.
Legislation to stop the forced labor
of county and city prisoners made
the grade in the House but was emas-
culated in the Senate.
Likewise, legislation proposing the
making mandatory the putting of
electric lights in railroad cabooses,
again failed to make the grade. Such
bill made it through the House in
l949, only to die in the Senate. Since
then, the Great Northern has in
stalled electric lights in its cabooses.
Legislation granting preference to
Montana labor and calling for paying
the prevailing wage on public con-
struction jobs, was watered down
to some extent in the Senate, but is
now on the books and is considered
fairly satisfactory by labor groups.
One piece of bad legislation that
failed in the House, primarily be-
cause of the efforts of Labor Com
missioner Oliver Sullivan and Rep.
Goan (R-Yellowstone), would have
permitted private insurance com
panies, such as Liberty National
Cold Idaho Compensation, to have
written workmen's compensation
insurance on public construction
jobs. At present all such jobs must
be insured under the state plan
Plan III. Labor has had nothing
but bitter experience in settling
disability compensation claims with
private insurance companies.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-03-11
School Bills Killed

Several important pieces of school
legislation including higher qualifi-
cations for teachers and county super
intendents and for the setting up Of
an office of elementary supervisor in
the Department of Public instruction
failed to make the grade because of
Republican-Silvercrat opposition.
A back-door entrance for general
sales tax, to finance SO million
Greater University building and re-
pair bond issue failed to get any
where in the closing days of the ses-
sion because House Majority Leader
Eugene Mahoney (D-Sanders) and
chairman of the Rules Committee re-
fused to call a meeting of his COM
mittee and thus permit changing of
the rules to permit introduction of
the bill.
Although both houses approved a
memorial requesting Congress to in
crease personal income tax exemp-
lions from 5000 to $500, the memorial
died via veto by Governor Aronson.
Supplemental Social Security
coverage for teachers and other
public employees made it through
both houses, but, as this is writ
ten, has neither been approved or
vetoed by the Governor. Reports
from various parts of the state in
dictate that public employees of all
kinds are very strongly in favor
of enactment of these two bills.
Another resolution given over
approval by the House re-
quests the Governor and Attorney
General to seek extradition of re-
formed ex-Communist Harvey Matu-
SOW to Montana for the purpose of
,rying him under the states criminal
SANDER act.
A bill sponsored by chain food
torres and seeking to stop the giving
# merchandise coupons by independ-
mt merchants, met sudden death in
he House.
Under terms of House Joint Me-
norial to the Congress, the way would
re cleared for the Bureau of Indian
Affairs and the State to enter into
ong term contracts to aid in the re-
abilitation of Montana Indians.
The Personnel Commission, after
stormy two years of life, died in
he closing days of the session, for
amt of an appropriation.
All state elective posts, following
eing filled at another general cleo
on, will carry salary increases of
1900 to $4,000 a year under 1egis-
.tion approved by both Houses.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-03-11
AL Asks Repeal Of
Amusement Tax

MIAMI, Fla.-Repeal of the 20 per
cent amusement tax by the Congress
was asked by the AFL Executive
Council in its concluding mid-winter
session.
The tax, said the AFL, is self
defeating. 1t cuts down the federal
revenue from the source since it re-
duces attendance at theaters and it
also has a harmful effect on the in
dustry.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-03-11

A unified '1abor lobby composed
of the AFL, Mine-Mill, Rail Brother
hoods and CLIO, assisted by Farmers
Union and number of independent
Legislators, made it impossible for the
company" to completely ignore la
boris demands despite the fact the
opposition had the votes to stymie
any labor legislation it wished.
In addition to the major increase
recorded in medical-hospital referred
to previously, the Company" per-
mitted a $500 -the-board in
crease in weekly benefits to be paid
all workers disabled in the future.
Labor bills asking that weekly bene-
fits be brought more nearly into line
with subsistence living standards
failed to make it out of the House
Workmen's Compensation Committee.
Unemployment benefits were adj
vanced from maximum of $23 to
$26; the waiting period was cut
from two weeks to one, and the law
was revised to permit under-employed
workers to earn up to SIS instead of
ST without endangering compensation
benefits
Silicotics were voted a $500 in
crease to $4,000 month from Public
Welfare funds. Payments of general
fund monies to these occupationally
will cost Montana taxpayers
approximately $1,000,000 the next
biennium Put in another way, if the
industry had to pay this
occupational disease bill, the states |
budget for the coming biennium
would be out of balance by only one
and three-quarters million dollars, in
stead of two and three-quarters,
Enactment of occupational disease
legislation received it's
Usual rough treatment at the hands
# the company" and their legisla-
i've majority. In House hearings, la
,or spokesman presented reasoned,
case for Montana join
ng as other states in placing the cost
f occupational disease on the re-
ponsible industry. A legislative ma
ority, however, preferred to go along
nth an ACM,spok esnan who asserted
hat "there is more pure air in the
'utte mines than over the entire
rovince of Ontario. !"
In the Senate, companion occu-
ational disease bill to that intro
uced in the House, met a similar
ate, although Minority Leader An
erson made valiant effort to con- $
ince that body that such legislation
long overdue in Montana. t
In another measure, Anderson at Y
empted to get the Senate to agree a
lat the cost of Silicosis benefits to {
ublic Welfare should be reimbursed =
Y the crippling industry. The Re-
lblican majority, aided by some t
also voted this down de- Ii
sively on roll call. G
Minimum wage Legislation pro- |;
1osing the establishment of a $1.00 Il
minimum in Montana met a SINH Il
lar fate, with top ACM Lobbyist r. Il
}. Corette and other employer rep II
vigorously opposing O.
IN the grounds that little bust a;
less" could not possibly afford to al
,ay such a minimum and continue st
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-03-11
Continued from Page One)

irrigation and other purposes is be
coming definite danger to the well
being of the state. Another legisla
ture will face the need for ''toughen
ing up the law and extending it tc
include air pollution, but, progress
toward pollution control can be made
under the 1866 act.
A fourth major forward step is
the granting of considerably in
creased budgeting and financing
authority to local school boards.
Although the Senate tried to make
a drastic slash in the bu6geting
proposals contained in lib 81, the
House held out for adherence to
the bill as passed by that chamber.
The final compromise found the
schools achieving approximately rs
per cent of the Improvement sought
in the school foundation program,
despite the opposition of Rep. Dean
Chaffin (R-Gallatin) who was the
only House member to vote against
the compromise measure, although
Rep. Dry Armstrong (R-Flathead)
and Rep. Tom Tobin (D-Silver
Bow) earlier had used every means
at their command to weaken the
bill.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-03-11
Important Constitutional
Amendment

One other bill of major Importance
comes to mind This was the approx
ing of a constitutional amendment
to prevent diversion of Highway funds
into the General Fund. The "com-
pany" lobby used every trick in the
book to kill this, in fact, did kill it
once. However, through the efforts
of Rep. Lloyd Michels (D-Sheridan)
and Governor J. Hugo Aronson, the
bill was revived and finally went
through both houses with hardly q
dissenting vote. This measure will APP
pear on the November 1856 ballot
for popular approval. Should it fail,
after the highway debenture bonds
are paid off in 1858, highway funds
will go into the general fund to be
appropriated out as the Legislature
sees fit. In view of the experiences
of other departments whose earnings
now go into the general fund under
terms of lib 10 of the 1911 ses-
sion, it is safe to say that the High
way department would get appropri-
ations substantially less than the rev.
enues brought in by gas tax, truck
fees and diesel tax, charged highway
users.
Other pieces of legislation of more
than passing import to the general
public include:
/. Appropriation of $4,000 to
Montana Trade Commission to invest
igate and expose the reasons why
gasoline is so expensive in Montana.
2. Permitting county commissioners
to use federal funds to operate county
equipment and use county road en-
ployes on farm-to-market road con-
struction.
8. Appropriation of $4,000 to
Montana State College to continue
experimentation in developing proc
esses for making char and extracting
chemicals from Montana's immense
coal beds. This work will eventually |
lead to further new industries being
established in the state, with increas-
ing job opportunities, more taxable
etc.
a. Increasing the dical-hospitaI
allowance for industrially disabled
workers from $500 to $500 in
case the latter amount is needed
20 aid worker regain his health
5. Approval of a withholding meth
cd for collection of state income tax.
Not only will this provide a more
painless" method for wage and sal
airy earners to pay their income tax,
but it will assure the state collecting
all of the tax due from Montana resi-
dents as well as from itinerant work
ers who in the past have escaped this
tax responsibility virtually in its en-
,irety.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-03-11

weight tax schedules are far beloN
what they should be for "long-haul
truckers when compared with Nv
rates in effect in other states. Tn
100000 increase in estimated CIV
income as a result of slightly highe
rates imposed by the 1866 session
amounts to only token increase 81
the ''big fellows. Not only is the
GVW set-up grossly unfair to the
motorist, but it is also unfair to short
haul operators who travel on the
highways only fraction of THEN
total mileage yet must pay from 70
to 100 per cent of the full fee assessed
the ''long haul" operators. In this
latter category are those who seldom
leave the streets of Incorporated
towns, log haulers, some mine opera
tons, etc.
Legislation to eliminate the in
equities of highway cost was intro
duced by Wood (D-Chouteau), Nc
Andrews (D-Deer LODGE, Reardon
(D-Silver Bow and others, in the
form of a taxing method closely pat
termed after the Oregon weight-mile
law. This proposal was killed by
solid Republican opposition primarily
assisted by five House members from
Silver Bow and one from Cascade.
(These six were: Silver Bow: Lough-
ran, Cunningham, Mountain, Demp-
sey, Tobin; Cascade: Reagen).
Instead of a weight-mile, the
Legislature decided to ttstudy" the
proposal at least another two years.
No doubt, in the next two years
many legislators will have it firm
ly impressed upon them by their
constituents that this matter has
been Studied" long enough, and
if weight-mile isn't enacted in
1857, it will be most imprudent to
vote for extending the higher tax
on gasoline another two years. cit
Is suggested you note yell the votes
on increasing the gasoline tax and
the weight-mile as previously pre-
sented by THE VOICE, and as they
will again be presented in the COM
posite .'box score" a few weeks
hence.)
Two other highway financing meas
res that have merit are: One to in
rease the tax on diesel fuel from six
0 nine cents, for an estimated in
rease in revenue of upwards of
100000, and another to tighten up
oopholes whereby many truckers
ave been able to evade paying their
air share of diesel tax, for upwards
f still another half million.
One bill that didn't make the grade
and should have-would have ear
larked all net revenues taken in on
1ontana Railroad Commission haul
1g permits for the Highway depart
tent. These funds, although derived
rom highway usage, now go into the
eneral Fund. Had this proposal
assed it would have meant another
100000 annually to be matched with
pwards of 100000 federal funds
or highway construction.
Currently before the Governor for ,
gnature Gas this is written) is !
ii which, if placed on the books 5
ay for all practical purposes do
way with the present eight-foot {
idth limit of vehicles on the high |
ay. AS pointed out by Sen. Ander- 6
n (D-Lincoln) last week, most Mon +
ma highways are much too narrow h
permit 9-foot wide vehicles to be f
constant operation. !
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-03-11
Saloons Fare Badly

l tWo-vOte margin
, 1955-05-14

DEPI.
vitation to visit the Virgin Is
lands. Your clients have beer
coming to the Islands in ever
increasing numbers, so come
see for for yourself. Relax al
the beach, and visit our lovely
shops where attractive free
port" bargains are available.
Through our Department d
Trade the Government Of the
Virgin Islands offers you full
cooperation. We are hard al
work producing effective sell
ing teels that will serve you
and retain the interest of your
clients
AS our summer advertising
copy SO aptly states it-Sum-
mer's more exciting-in the
breeze swept Virgin Islands
t was signed by David E.
Mas, Acting Commissioner.
On the back a streamer is
printed "Old World Towns
with Danish Colonial Charm,
below is listed hotel and guest
houses in st. Croix, St. John &
st. Thomas, followed by dir
ections on how to reach the
Virgin Islands by Air, after
which are listed all the air
lines; and by sea, after which
followed steamship lines. Ad-
ditional information is also
given in connection with Free
Port facilities, and below on
the streamer is printed "Only
Six Hours flying time from
New York
o -.
dental basis, at the Health
no-a4oa.4 Hl;r;o
, 1955-05-14

Thunks and
Appreciation

Our sincere thanks to all for
the tokens Of sympathy ex-
tended On the tragedy that be-
fell our son and husband, also
during his convalescent Spe=
cial thanks to the Doctors,
Nurses and Attendants Of the
CHM. Hospital
Gods blessings be upon us
all.
Sgt. & Mrs. A. R. Davis
Mrs. Charles r.. Davis
and Family
, 1955-05-14

Dated: April 18th. 1855
Young & Rogers. Esqs.
Attorneys for the Estate
p. @. Box 982
Christiansted, st. Croix, ". /.
Syphilitic children may be
imbicilic, blind, crippled or
may die at birth. With an
adult, untreated syphilis may
cause heart disorders, blind
ness, insanity, paralysis and
death. Citizens of ST. roix are
are urged to get a blood test
& to encourage others to do so.
, 1955-05-14
! THE DISTRICT COUNT or THE VIRGIN
DIVISION OF SAINT cRoIx AT cHRIsTIAl
NOTICE OF HEARING ON FINAL ACCOUNT

/ Edwin I. Presby, Executor of the above estate in ac-
cordance with an order issued out Of the District Court, dated
May 5th, 1855, do hereby give notice to all interested persons
that they are requested to appear at the Court House Of said
Court on the 18th day Of June, 1855 at 10 am to file any OBJ
lection if any they have at the hearing on the final account
of said estate.
May, 1855.
Edwin l.. PresbY
Young & Rogers. Executor
Attorneys for Estate
, 1955-05-14

- LEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to an Order of
the District Court Of the Virgin Islands, dated April 18th,
1855 the undersigned was appointed Administrator C.TA. of
the above named Estate. All creditors of the deceased.
Charles K. Ives, are requested to file their claims with the
undersigned Administrator at the office of Young & Rogers,
his attorneys, Christiansted, st. Croix, v. /. within six (6)
months Of the date of this notice. Persons indebted to this
Estate are requested to make payment within the same time
to the Administrator or to his attorneys.
Warren II. Young
Administrator eta
Christiansted, ST. Croix, VI.
Dated: April 18th. 1855
Ynnnn q Rnnarc Eena M# s0 1890 -
, 1955-05-14
Continued from page -

ing the classification Of injuries into minor and major cate
gories and providing for summary treatment of the former
by the Compensation Officer. The Compensation Officer is
empowered to hear and determine cases involving minor IN
juries; provided, however, that either party in interest if az
grieved by the decision Of the Compensation Officer, upon
giving such notice as the Commission prescribes, and within
the time Limitation set, appeal to the Commission from the
decision of the Compensation Officer; to have power to re-
view the decisions Of the Compensation Officer; to have ORR
ginal and exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all
claims involving major injuries. Parties shall have the right
to be represented by counsel The commission shall approve
the fee for attorneys appearing for employees.
Continued on Monday
, 1955-05-14
SERGEANT

SERGEAN ...
listic field problems and ma pr, Evans feels that this Pre-
neuvers. gram will save many persons
Sergeant Simmonds, a sup from a devastating ~long-tern
ply clerk in Company Co the illness, and that It viii bene
divisions 18th Regiment, ar fit the whole health Of the
rived in Germany October community. He pointed out
1852. that syphilis spreads mainly
A veteran Of ten years Of through sex contact, but thai
Army service, the sergeant i can be acquired through
holds the Good Conduct Medal other means. For example, pre-
the World War II Victory Me spective mothers who are in
dial, the Army Of Occupation fected pass the disease on t.
Medal for duty in Germany their unborn children if they
and the National Defense Ser are not tested and properly
vice Medal treated during pregnancy