The people's voice., 1957-08-23

As you know, congressional com
mittees investigate everything. One
day recently, there were hearings on
subjects ranging from ambassadors
to racketeers, filter cigarettes to auto
seat belts.
Investigation is an integral part
of the legislative process. In order to
determine whether a law should be
passed, or amended, you must first
get the facts.
Sometimes a hearing alone pro-
duces beneficial results. There was
an example last week.
Three months ago, Senator Murray
presided at a joint hearing of the
Senate Interior and Public Works
Committees, a hearing which he had
called on the management and opera
tion of the Upper Missouri River
Basin.
A key witness was State Senator
Charles Mahoney (R-Garfield) of
Jordan. The president of the Mon
tana Transmission Electric Coop said
preference customers in the Upper
Basin-public bodies, including CO.
operatives-need more hydroelectric
power.
Last week, the Reclamation Bureau
announced that --latest estimates of
water conditions in the Upper Mis-
souri, Basin enable that agency to
make $4,000 kilowatts of additional
firm power available to preference
customers in the six-state area com
prising Montana, the Dakotas, Mime
sofa, Iowa and Nebraska.
TWENTY-O ONE YEARS
Last Tuesday, Mrs. Lois Elliott of
Poison and Shelby celebrated the 21st
anniversary of the day she first came
to work for Senator Murray.
The charming, deep-voiced recep-
zionist, wife of a former member of
the Interstate Commerce Commission,
is the daughter of Mrs. Alma Hopen
of Poison.
MINIMUM WAGE
A special subcommittee of the
House Labor Committee will hold
hearings in the West this fall on pro-
posals to extend coverage of the
Minimum Wage Law.
The schedule includes Denver, Oct.
81 and Nov. Seattle, Nov. 4 Yaki-
ma, Nov. 5; Portland, Nov. 6; and
Las Vegas, Nov. 10.
Anyone wanting to appear should |
get in touch with Fred Hussey, clerk,
House Committee on Education and |
Labor, 429 House Office Building,
Washington 25, D. C.
Montanans in Congress have mixed
feelings on the recent decision by the
Federal Housing Commissioner, who (
with one hand, lowered down pay
ments on government-backed home
loans and with the other increased
the interest rate.
Senator Murray, Senator Mansfield,
Metcalf and Congress
man Anderson had urged the FILA
Norman Mason to use
,he authority Congress gave him and
;ut the down payment.
The Montanans were pleased when
Mason finally got around to doing so.
However, they were distressed"
hat Mason at the same time raised
he interest rate on FILA loans to
II % from 5%o This, the Montanans
aid, Twill do nothing for the people
Who need homes nor for the people
Who build them-it is solely for the
,enefit of 'large eastern commercial /
inanciers." c
BILLINGS MAIL
The Montana congressional delega-
ion last week asked Postmaster Gen
raj Summerfield to take another
ook at his Departments proposal TO
discontinue the airport mail facility
It the Billings airport.
Department officials say consolida- c
ion of mail handling facilities down. : !
own will make for economy and eff 9
iciency. Postal union and airline Of h
icials disagree.
ENOUGH STOCK CARS? 8
Recently the delegation was as ?
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