The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1958-03-07
Repr. Leroy Anderson
Reports To You From
The Nations Capitol

They have two choices:
First, the Senate could accept the
House bill as passed. This would not
be good, because the House bill pro-
vides for So ~ million instead of the
SIS million in my original bill. In addi-
ton. the House Committee amended
my bill and made other changes with
which 1 do not agree. One paragraph
in the committee report states that
if the Crow Tribe brings suit (instead
of accepting the $21a million in full
settlement) then the amount deter
mined by the Court of Claims "would
constitute full settlement whether it
is more or less than $21A million.
This might we'll mean that the Tribe
would be paid only $4,000. The gov
eminent in it's suit to condemn these
lands maintains that the value of the
land Gas a damsite" is not to be recog-
nized in deciding the amount of the
settlement. If the courts should up
hold the government position, then
the payment to the Crows could be
as low as the appraised value for
grazing purposes, or less than
$4,000.
Second, the Senate can ask for
Conference Committee where mem
bers from the Senate and House In
terror Committees will endeavor to
agree on a compromise to be reported
back to the Senate and House for
This is the most likely pro-
cedure. I think it might be interest
ing to speculate about the findings
of such conference committee.
With the determined fight the Re-
publicans made against paying even
as much as $21a million, there seems
to be little hope that the conference
which includes members of
both parties, will increase that figure.
We are assured that the bill will be |
vetoed if the figure is higher. There
are, however, many other concessions
hat the House might make that |
would insure that in the end the |
Crows receive full value of the dam
site. 1t may we'll be that bill which
If title and the payment of $21a mil
ion as a minimum, with authorize
ion to sue for an additional share
If the value of the damsite, will be
lgreed on. This would permit work to
ret under way, and leave to the courts
he final decision on the much-dis-
'uted question of full damsite value.
1t is important that a suitable COM
promise be enacted into law. If we
all now, the government might
succeed in condemning the
ands and taking them from the In
ians for few thousand dollars. But
ppeals would tie the matter up for
ears and everyone would lose. 1t
5 in the best interest of all concerned,
ncluding the Crows, that the matter
e equitabIy settled now.
i 4 i :
Added Responsibility The House l
Ways and Means Committee has APP S
ointed me to a second committee, ]
nat of Interior and Insular Affairs.
subsequently, l have been named to
our of its subcommittee G
fairs, Mines and Mining, Reclama-
on and Irrigation, and Public Lands.
his assignment formerly was held
y my colleague, Lee Metcalf, who .
ow takes on the added responsibility /
the Subcommittee on Labor Stand +
rds of his Committee on Education y
nd Labor. In addition to my work r
1 Interior, 1 will continue with my !,
ommittee on Banking and Currency =
hich now has under consideration
tai legislation pertaining to the De-
'essed Areas Bill and the Financial :
stitutions Act. II
Soil Bank-The Soil Bank is not "
ell thought of in the Congress. In =
ct, the House killed it at one point =
1857. However, it was revived and y
ntinued on reduced scale for a.
58. An unprecedented rush to sign y
} has exhausted the funds in MANY
unties, including many in Montana. I'll
order to be fair to those who quail II
and who tried to enter the pro- pl
am, the House has appropriated an 81
ditional $3.50 million to be added al
the $500 million appropriated in al
81 for the Soil RapI Az +Ioo eo.o.o -,