The people's voice., 1958-09-12

OF 1907, Cne OASIS IOf CHe lduu STdHC
colleges. That Act gave each state
10000 acres of land for each Senator
and Representative to which it was
entitled under the 1860 census. In
come from the land went into per-
petual fund for maintenance of the
colleges. Altogether, there are some
80 federally lly-financed or aided pro-
grams to help our schools. But those
established since the Morrill, Act have
been limited in purpose, such as COM
pensation for federal impact, or for
vocational education, for example.
Among those who succeeded in
substituting scholarship loans for
grants were congressman who a
few years ago voted to appropriate
money for scholarship grants, not
loans. to Chinese and Korean ma
tionals. In other words: scholar
ships, but for export only.
THROUGH THE CEILING
For the fifth time in five years,
Congress voted to raise the ceiling
on the national debt, this time to $288
billion. The debt, 1886 billion when
President Eisenhower took office,
$276 billion today, could hit the new
ceiling next year.
DEFENSE
The record defense money bill
upped President Eisenhower's own
estimates for missiles, planes and
Reflecting congressional
concern over the danger of 'small''
wars. we also increased funds for
manpower to meet "local
In response to the Presidents re-
quest, Congress passed legislation to
reorganize the Defense Department
to streamline the military chain of
command; give the Defense Secre-
tary authority more nearly equal to
his responsibilities, especially in uni
flying commands, assigning weapons
and directing military research.
Now this legislation gives the Presi-
dent the authority he sought. He has
the responsibility for making it work.
The American people are paying top |
dollars for our $40 billion defense
structure and we have a right to
expect the best.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Despite Administration opposi-
ton, this Congress was able to
make significant improvements in
the Social Security program while
maintaining solvency of the trust
fund from which benefits now are
going to almost IL million Ameri-
cans, 43,26O of them in Montana.
Included is a TO increase in pri-
nary benefits; repeal of the pro-
yision which formerly required pay
nents under other disability benefit
systems to be deducted from Social
Security disability benefits; payment
If benefits to dependents of the dis
lbled; postponement for three years
If the deadline for filing fully retro
lctive applications for freezing a per-
sons benefit status in cases of dis
lbility; increased appropriations for
to the states for the
public Assistance program; increased
for maternal and child
health, crippled children and child
Welfare services.
l regret that the list of improve
nents did not include some way to
lelp our senior citizens meet the
Increases both in the amount and
.ost of medical care they need. But
am sure the next Congress will go
nto this thoroughly.
dUSTS
Also on the list of "musts' for the
10Th Congress, convening in January,
S anti-racketeering legislation which
will require unions to report income
nd expenditures; guard member
hips rights in election of officers
nd their custer for misconduct, and
provide criminal penalties for en-
,loyers or Consulting firms for
'ribery of union representatives..
such a bill passed the Senate this
ear, only to die on the House floor
fter it was attacked by business
eaders. 71%o of the House Demo-
rats voted for the bill, 77@o of the
voted against it.