The people's voice., 1959-03-20

WASHINGTON, D. C.-Again last
week, Montanans in Congress worked
with President Eisenhower when they
thought he was right-opposed him
in Montana's interests when they
thought he was wrong.
Congressman Metcalf's statement
to an appropriations subcommittee
was an example of both. Speaking
also for Senators Murray and Mans
field and Congressman Anderson,
Metcalf supported Administration re
quests for supplemental appropria-
tions for the current year, including:
1-$75 million to the Office of
Education. Part of the money would
be for federally-aided loans to col
lege students. The other major item
would be grants to states and loans
to nonprofit private schools for sci
ence, mathematics and modern lang
uage teaching facilities.
2-$350,00O to get the Outdoor
Recreation Resources Review off the
ground.
3-$20O,OOO for the Alaska Inter-
national Rail and Highway Commits
sion.
DELEGATION ASKS MORE
FOR PARK SERVICE
The Montana delegation would add
almost $4,000 to the requests the
President sent to Congress. This
would be the Park Services share
Of the cost of building an airport at
West Yellowstone. The Forest Serv-
ice has offered the land for the air
port to serve the nations oldest, and |
largest, national park. The Federal
Aviation Agency has offered $637,-
900 toward the cost of construction.
The Montana State Aeronautics Com
mission has offered to administer,
operate and maintain the airport. In
his statement, Metcalf mentioned
letters in support of the project from
Governor j. Hugo (Aronson.
Metcalf used statistics from Mon
5ana to back up the student loan re-
quest. "Of the authorized amount
Of $186,431, we received an appro-
oriation of $23,549," he said. "This
vas little more than 16 per cent
If the requests for loan funds from
eight Montana colleges, which totaled.
S146,230. If this supplemental appro- '
,riation is provided, am told, Mon s
ana's appropriation will total $117,-
746, still under the amount needed I
~ our colleges and university"
1oI l | g
Dispensers of the bill which set up I
he Commission to make the first in c
entory of this nations outdoor rec s
cation resources and needs. The r
Commission has until 1861 to COM L
lete report on outdoor recreation
esources and needs by the years
976 and 1000, and recommendation
or meeting them.
Last year, Congress extended the
fe Of the Alaska International Rail
nd Highway Commission Charged
18th studying the advantages and
conomic feasibility of additional rail
nd highway routes between the con-
mental United States and the new
tate of Alaska" but failed to put
p enough money for the study. Com
ission members decided an made v
late study would be worse than
0ne. ~
Funds provided by this request n
ould enable the study to go forward 3,
. The Commission will recommend Fl
Congress the most feasible routes n.
lsed on a cost-benefit ratio AS q,
'illiam H. Browning, executive vice cs
esident of the Montana Chamber vi
Commerce, wrote me last year: to
Ie in the State Chamber are vitally
terested in this problem of north tu
ard route to Alaska'.' n,
"a m
Meanwhile, Congressman Anderson co
oke for the delegation at committee M
arings on legislation to restore to wi
e administrator of the Rural Elec- lat
fication Administration the indie if
ndent authority that was his prior ily
adoption in 1868 of a reorganiza- CO.
n plan the Administration sent to sit
ngress.
Since authority and control over or.
"A was vested in the Secretary of pa
riculture, che has exercised veto pa
er plans and programs of this val
sncy," according to Congressman ST.
tcalf, who voted against the re- pei