The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1958-02-21
Repr. Leroy Anderson
Reports To You From
The Nations Capifo!


budget. The President has proposed
a program of deficit spending. The
proposal includes two billion dollars
for post offices, but not a penny for
school construction.
The changed attitude comes as the
recession deepens all over the coun-
try. Steel production is down to 55
per cent of capacity; construction,
building and many other industries
are in distress and more than liz
million are unemployed. Montana is
harder hit than many other states
because the farm depression is piled
on a demoralized mining and smelt-
ing industry, respondent timber and
wood products economy, and an oil
production hard hit by foreign i'm
ports.
Congress is looking at new meas
ures to help the economy. An income
tax reduction is being considered. I
have introduced a public works bill
and appropriations for government
works may be more liberal. Legisla-
ton comes slowly, though, and the
economic effects are even slower.
What Montana really needs is some
good farm legislation. The farm bloc
is pulling itself together for a real
try, but the threat of a Presidential
veto hangs over the most promising
like sword of Damocles.
Oil Imports met for a breakfast
with group of other Con-
gressmen who are concerned over the |
growing threat to our independent |
petroleum producers that is result
ng from the flood of cheap foreign |
oil pouring into America. Import |
quotas and duties to prevent killing
'ff Independent producers will be
at the time of consideration
# the Reciprocal Trade Act.
Gas Bill-The general feeling here
S that the natural gas bill has been
Knocked colder than a dead mackerel.
This bill, to remove natural gas prices
rom regulation by the Federal Power
Commission, seems to have been
rugged to death by it's own overly
rdent supporters. A hundred thou
and dollars of Texas money has been
and earmarked in the public
lew for Congressional supporters of
he gas bill. Many who voted for it
efore say they cannot vote for it now {
nd stand up to the suspicion of a ]
ayoff. {
Library Services-As a lifelong
esident of rural area, share with
lost Montanans in those areas their
lterest in maintaining and strength
ming the library facilities of our {
tate. | am supporting the full ap- !.
ropriation for extension of public l
brary services in rural areas as a
art of the Department of Health,
ducation and Welfare budget re-
lest. q
Farm Credit-An attempt is being :,
ade to bring farm credit organiza- :
ons under the budget provisions of =
lie Government Corporation Control :,
ct. The bill, HR 1892, which would = :,
ado the provision of law exempting ~
Irm credit organizations, was re-
rred to the Committee on Govern 7.
ent Operations, rather than the &c
ommittee on Agriculture, which is y
UGH more sympathetic to agricul- -
re. | Joined with friends of agri- =
lture in both parties in a fight to
Il this bill when I testified before II
e Committee on Government OBJ o.
ations this Tuesday. Should the bill 10
ach the floor of the House, we will ii
AXE stiff fight to prevent it's pas fc
ge. The present system of farm W
edit, developed over a period of m
're than 40 years, is very sound p'
Grafton, with adequate audits, and m
eel there is no excuse for the pro-
sed interference. hs
QUERIES-During the week. Con- a
essman Metcalf and l met with 81 IN
S trip visitors from rural areas of en-
'ntana, who gave their views on We
1ding legislation and allied matters. re
cries were made about durum pc
eat acreage incentives being in we
ect for the coming crop year. Last Sz
II introduced such legislation We
lch was enacted into law. AS fe'
ult, adequate stock of durum
Eat were raised and the carryover Jl