The people's voice., 1957-06-07

for the purpose of passage failed by 1925
margin, with seven Democrats joining 23
Republicans against the Reardon motion and
only one Republican voting for the motion.
One Republican, Nutter, passed his vote on
the motion. "Aye" votes were for the Reardon
motion and for passage of HB "a.
Other sponsors of HB "a were: Abel, Cullen,
Cunningham, Dempsey, Mangan, Emmons, Nc
Andrews.
| HB 235-by Healy ct al*-Increase pay
ments to Silicotcs to $75 a month. Because
of adverse Senate action, victims Of Silicosis
received absolutely nothing from the 35th
Legislative Assembly First the Senate killed
very mild occupational disease bill (SB
213) which offered hope to future Silicotics
of little more adequate disability compen-
sation, and then the same Senate turned a
deaf ear on any increase in the grossly in
adequate $65 a month allowed Silicotics from
Public Welfare. HB 235 would have given
such disabled workmen an additional $40 a
month to help them subsist in this day of ever
increasing living costs. Twenty Democrats
voted for HB 235 while eight Democrats
joined "a Republicans in opposition. Ringing
passed his vote. "Aye" votes were for the
$40 monthly increase.
Other sponsors of HB 235 were: Meagher,
CLANCY, Picard, Wayrynen, Strnisha, Emmons.
McAndrews, Mernin.
SB 213-to place Silicoss and other occu-
pational diseases under Workmen's Compensa-
tion. Although the bills sponsors, Sen. Nutter,
Hibbs and Walton, voted against approval of
a Senate-House conference report on SB 213,
the conference report was very similar to the
original bill introduced by that Republican
trio AS first introduced labor spokesman
believed they could Give WITH the proposed
occupational disease law, that it was "start-
ing point for eventually developing a COM
prehensive occupational disease law such as
is advocated by the present u S. Department
of Labor
On the Senate floor, original SB 213 was
amended beyond recognition and, as it stood,
by way of waiver clause, would have forever
foreclosed Silicotics from becoming eligible
for occupational disease compensation in Mon
tana. The House revised Senate-passed SB
213 to substantially it's original form. A con-
ference committee was then set up and COM
promise worked out which was given House
approval by substantial margin The COM
promise, although somewhat "watered down.
from the original bill, was still considered a
beginning" toward good law by representa-
tives of Montana organized labor.
The Senate vote was on the compromise
version of SB 213. AS on so many other issues,
a handful of "tory' Democrats joined the !
Republican Senate opposition to kill enact
ment of an occupational disease law in 1857,
by 1921 vote. Both parties, it will be re-
called, in their 1856 platform pledged enact
ment of a workable occupational disease law
as top priority item for the 1857 Legislative
Assembly. "Aye'' votes on SB 213 were for
the campaign pledges made to the
voters of Montana in 1856
Public Utilities
HB 221-by Gray ct al*-providing for
Railroad & Public Service Commission to re-
Iuire evidence of all utility rate applicants
is to operating COSTS taxes and cost of capital
invested, in considering applications for re-
yision of rates. This bill, which embodied an
integral part of the 1856 Democratic plat
orm, was aimed at providing patrons of gas,
electric, telephone and other utilities greater
protection against unwarranted and unreason-
ble rate increases S11ch as the h11pe natural