The people's voice., 1958-06-27
1857 Legislative Voting Record
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A~0a~s
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with less than fourth of the members oppos-
ing, 1922. In the Senate it was different
matter with Sens. Lehrkind and Nutter lead
ing the assault on the bill. In spite of the
efforts of Sens. Anderson (Lncoln), Durkee,
Dahl, Ruane and Keister, HB SO was killed
33-17 with nine Democrats joining "a Re-
publicans in opposition, and only one Repub-
lican voting for passage. The $1.O0 minimum
wage was also advocated in the 1866 Demo-
cratic platform. "Aye" votes taken on a COM
mittee minority "do pass'' report, were for
enactment of the long-sought $1.O0 minimum
wage law
Other sponsors of HB so Karlberg Nc
Kenna. Goodgame. Emmons, Jensen. Picard.
Nelson, Healy Tonner, Siderius.
HB 94-by Daniels ct al*-the Caboose
lighting bill. HB 81, railroad labor's longest
sought safety measure-to compel installation
of electric lights in cabooses-after having an
easy time of it in the House, was killed in
the Senate. "Aye" votes were for passage of
HB "a.
3 Other sponsors of HB 94 were: Abel Cullen
Cunningham, Dempsey. Mangan, Emmons, Nc
Andrews.
HB 235-by Healy ct al#-Increase pay
ments to Silicotics to $75 month. Because
of adverse Senate action, victims of Silicoss
received absolutely nothing from the 35th
Legislative Assembly. First the Senate killed
a very mild occupational disease bill (SB
213) which offered hope to future Silcotics
of little more adequate disability compen-
sation, and then the same Senate turned a
daaf aar on apu inoraoca in +ba orrocclu
adequate $65 month allowed Siicotics from
Public Welfare HB 235 would have given
such disabled workmen an additional $40 a
month to help them subsist in this day of ever
increasing living costs. Twenty Democrats
voted for HB 235 while eight Democrats
joined "a Republicans in opposition. Ringling
passed his vote. "Aye" votes were for the
$40 monthly increase.
Other sponso4s of HB 295 were Meagher
Clancy. Picard Wayrynen, Strnsha, Emmons,
McAndrews, Mernin.
SB 2I3-to place SiIicosis and other occu-
pational diseases under Workmen's Compensa=
ton. Although the bills sponsors, Sen. Nutter,
Hibbs and Walton, voted against approval of
a Senate-House conference report on SB 213,
the conference report was very similar to the
original bill introduced by that Republican
trio. AS first introduced, labor spokesmen |
believed they could Give with" the proposed
occupational disease law, that it was "start-
ing point" for eventually developing a COM
prehensive occupational disease law such as
is advocated by the present u S. Department
of Labor
On the Senate floor, original SB 213 was
amended beyond recognition and, as it stood,
by way of waiver clause, would have forever
foreclosed Silicotics from becoming eligible
for occupational disease compensation in Mon
tana. The House revised Senate-passed SB
213 to substantially it's original form. con-
ference committee was then set up and COM
promise worked out which was given House
approval by a substantial margin The COM
although somewhat "watered down.
from the original bill, was still considered
beginning" toward good law by representa-
tives of Montana organized labor.
The Senate vote was on the compromise
version of SB 213. AS on so many other issues,
a handful of "tory' Democrats joined the
Republican Senate opposition to kill enact {
nent of an occupational disease law in 1867, {
by 1921 vote. Both parties, it will be re-
called, in their 1856 platform pledged enact /
nent of a workable occupational disease law {
rs top priority item for the 1857 Legislative
Assembly. "Aye" votes on SB 213 were for
fulfilling the campaign pledges made to the
,oters of Montana in 1856. I
Public Utilities +