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

# ALWAYS floors me, when THESE
private utilities come IN Tor raVe IN
creases to read the salaries OF their
hierarchy The Montana Power OohI-
nanv president receives 10000 dol
lars a wear Che only has $4,000 dol
lars left after taxes, OF course, anu anu
that makes it little tough on him)
and he will retire, all things beng
normal and equal at $4,000 dollars
a year. Their immediate past presl-
ident and chairman of the board, re- re-
tiring the first of September, Will
struggle along on an $4,000 doiiar
year retirement.
The Montana Supreme Court decl-
sion Tuesday upholding the constltu-
tionality of Legislative Interim Com
mittees and signed by two guberna-
torial appointees and long time JUS
tice. Albert Angstman, came as no
surprise to Capitol observers who have
expected the ruling momentarily since
reports became general that 1t was
written and ready to go two months
ago.
The opportune moment appeared
for the controversial decision when
riots and unrest at the State Peniten-
tiary started the last of July. 1t was
an opportune moment for two rea-
sons: (D One job assigned the COM
mittee was investigation of the State
Prison so much of the heat other
wise accorded the decision will be
alleviated in the presence of condi-
tions existing in Deer Lodge and the
need for action, and; (2) The re-
sponsibility for Strengthening out the
mess at the penitentiary had fallen
on the shoulders of the Attorney
General when the Governor sashayed
off on his vacation in the middle of
the most unsavory administrative
chaos to break out in public at the
prison in 50 years. The Governors
appointees on the court have thus
relieved him of some responsibility
and at the same time pulled the pin
on the Attorney General
Converging on the prison on the
30th of July were the highway patrol
and the national guard, for what had
been a planned forcing the walls in
the early dawn of the 31st to quell
riot at the state penitentiary.
That was the way things stood when
Governor Aronson headed back to
Helena.
Also among those converging on
the prison was the Attorney General,
who, at risk to his political future
took things in his own hands and
avoided possible bloodshed and fur
ther property damage.
There has been public criticism of
the Attorney Generals action, but
little has been said about where the
Governors responsibility lies, before
the riots, during and following.
Conditions at the state penitentiary
have been the subject of discussion
for many years, but since the first
few weeks of the Governors admin
stration in 1858 conditions at the
prison have been pointed out periodi-
,ally by national experts, federal in
and local people.
In February, 1853, during the leg
stature, c. T. GLADDEN., national au-
hority on prisons, made report to
| legislative committee. GLADDEN. had
'een called to Montana by the State
Board of Examiners, and attended the
committee meeting escorted by the
Governor.
At that time Mr.. GLADDEN. said of
he prison, 'It is a terrible place to
lave to live". He recommended
hanges requiring legislative appro-
'riation, but many of his suggestions
we're administrative, and as l read
ver the report of that meeting, little
f any heed was taken of the advice
.iven.
Since the recent riots we have had