The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-02-10
WASHINGTON NOTEBOOK
BRITT" ENGLUND, Secretary to Cong Lee Metcalf

cretary to Cong. Lee Metcalf
none is planned at this time :.
Long-range plans do include storage
on the Madison, but we haven't
spotted any reservoirs yet" The
BINS have asked for a complete re-
port.
WHO'S STEERING?
What's it like in Washington? is
question often asked by friends
at home and congressional office
visitors. One answer, currently MAX
ing the rounds here is from a bust
nessman who came to government.
| tell them Washington reminds
me of the Pacific Northwest" he
says. "In the spring, the snow melts
and the water runs down the noun
tainsides, filling the streams bank
full.
'Lumbermen spill the logs they've
cut all winter into the streams until
the streams are filled with logs. On
every log there are 10000 ants
and every one of them thinks he's
steering"
KEEPS STALKING
Secretary of Interior Mckay has
served notice that he intends to
keep stalling start of construction
on the Helena Valley Unit. He has
done so since last July.
Prior to the 1854 election, and
perhaps as part of that campaign,
the Bureau of Reclamation, Depart
ment of Interior and the Bureau of
the Budget recommended a So mil
lion appropriation for Helena Valley.
was to start when a re-
payment contract, already approved
by Reclamation Commissioner Dex-
heimer, was agreed to by water users.
They have done so.
Last year, the House Appropria-
lions Committee struck out the Hell
ena Valley appropriations because
The repayment contract had not been
In June, the House over
rode the committee and restored the
So million. AS finally passed, the
oill included Helena Valley money
With no strings attached.
Then someone in the Administra-
ion shifted ground. Dexheimer ap-
,arently was told by higher-ups that
lie had to get additional repayment
ontract beverages before construc-
ion could begin.
Following protests by. Senators
Iurray and Mansfield and Congress
nan Metcalf, Mckay passed the buck
asst fall to the chairman of the Sen
tie and House Appropriations Com
nittees. He asked them: Did you
eally mean for US to start construc-
ion?
Senator Hayden, chairman of the
enate Appropriations Committee,
aid yes. Congressman Cannon, House
appropriations Committee chairman.
asn't answered-perhaps because he
cells the matter is out of his hands
nee the House over-rode the COM
littee.
The Department has used the alb
ence of a reply from Congressman
annon to delay this work. Just last
eek, Assistant Secretary Aandahl
id it again.
"In the event we do not hear from
lie chairman of the House Appropria-
ons Committee" he wrote the g.
S, "it is probable that the hearings
connection with the fiscal year
,57 appropriation request will af-
nd an opportunity to ascertain the
'sition of the House Appropriations
on this matter"
These hearings aren't scheduled to
art until about the middle of March.
MULCAST
Sometime this week, Senators Muir.
Y and Mansfield and Congressman
etcalf plan to sit down before radio
and television cameras
Washington for another round
bic discussion-this one on what
ontana and Montanans can expect
)m this session of Congress.
The tape and film should be in the
nds of Montana radio and TV sta
ms within few days and will give
,ntanans another chance to see,
d hear, the 3-Ms in action.