The people's voice., 1958-04-04
Repr. Leroy Anderson
Reports To You From
The Nations Capitol

ferent the atmosphere now is IN Con-
gress from that of a year ago! The
contrast was dramatically highlighted
in consideration of the Health, Edu-
cation and Welfare (HEW) appropri-
alton bills in these two years. This
bill includes the federal appropria-
tions for everything in this field from
Social Security and school lunch pro-
grams to water pollution control. Last
year, the economy drive was on the
road with full head of steam. Four
teen of the 1857 sessions rollcalls
came in single day on this bill, in
the midst of the most heated debate.
Opponents of federal participation in
public health, education and welfare
programs used the club of economy
to try to beat down and sabotage
these programs by cutting their ap-
preparations, and the votes were so
close that decisions were won and lost
by only handful of votes. Now, in
the 1858 session, more liberal bill
received only token opposition and
was passed by acclamation without
single rollcall vote, even on final pas
sage. Included was three-fourths of
million dollars for joint federal-local
construction of hospitals. This is ear
marked for joint Indian and non
Indian facilities to be constructed in
such communities as Wolf Point, Pop
lar and Harlem under the terms of my
Hospital Bill which was passed in
1857.
Armed Service Pay-The House, by
an overwhelming 367 to %, passed an
Armed Services Pay Bill designed to
retain military and technical skills
in the services. Increased efficiency
and economy are expected if trained
men will continue their careers in the
military, eliminating repetition of the
costly training which now is being
lost after only short term of service.
In the electronics field last year, only
13 per cent of the eligible first-time
enlistees re-enlisted. In other techni-
cal fields, only 1878 per cent of the
eligibles re-enlisted. In fiscal 1857,
in the Air Force alone, enlistments |
of $4,000 airmen in 28 highly techni-
cal fields expired. Only $500 re-
enlisted. This resulted in a loss of |
16,500 experienced personnel, requir-
ing a replacement training cost of |
over $50 million. In addition to pro-
viding the retention of highly-trained |
and experienced personnel, this legis-
lation also protects the retired pay
status of reservists on a basis COM
parable to that of the regulars.
Space Travel-People here are talk
ing about space travel as the Presi-
dent pushes plans for space explora-
bion, and they are talking, too, about
the farm depression as record num-
Der of senators, including top Republi-
cans, appealed to the President to sign
he farm support freeze" bill. Here
IN the House, Republican Congress-
men combined both subjects with the
that Secretary of Agricul-
:ure Benson be a passenger on the
;irst ship bound for outer space.
Easter Recess = This Thursday,
Congress recesses for Easter, and
tart for good old Montana again. 1t
will be real pleasure to spend next
week making a circuit of my Eastern
dontana Congressional District. This
5 always beautiful time of year in
fontana. l hope to see many of you
nd get a grassroots idea of how
hings are going and what Montanans
re thinking, even though l know t
1any of my farm friends will be up i
o their knees in springs work. I
Cherry Blossom Time-The cherry i
rees in Washington haven't had the
dvantage of nice weather like Mon f
ana has had these past several weeks, l
nd consequently, did not bloom in r
me for the annual Cherry Blossom
estival. The festivities went forward !,
nyway, with sunshine arriving in the
apital day after the program be-
an. had the pleasure of escorting,
the festivals Introductory lunch o
on, the princess designated by the
[ontana State Society in Washing d
IN, the lovely Miss Judith Doggett,
9, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Howard Il
oggett of Townsend. Mr.. Doggett h
national administrator of the Soil
ank Proorono