The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1959-02-05
A MINUTE
WITH Nj

The controversial issue con.
corning the Governors mansion
has been the target Of much and
varied criticism. particularly tn
thOse In the legislature who are
seeking to make q name for them.
selves by peppering the big gun.
ncrS with bcebecs.
Somehow the average man on
the street seems less concerned
than the legislative critics and
invariably winds up by laughing
il off or making some kind Of q
joke possibly In an attemL'::
to soften one more blUw on his
"lready tax.deplctcd pOckctbook.
II makes no difference how one
lo"ks at il. the so.called mansion
project" has been scandalOuS and
Whit could bc hastily termed q
"depl0rable project" since II was
first conceived. There appears to
br many phases Of the c0nstruc.
tion. planning and materials that
contribute to its being the cost.
licSt rOOflt-sS wonder Uf the state.
But. there Is an answer TO
everything. SO they say. and the
Governors mansion Is no excep-
ton To the rule 1t has been
rumored. unOfficially of course,
that the Blackfect tribe Is ser.
iously considering sending Hugo
one Of their surplus teepees as q
gift or At least to use until
they get a roof that will stay on
the new mansion.
after Buffalo will have a roof
over his head. even il the Black.
feet have To provide IT," said the
unofficial spokesman.
according to the latest Stats.
tics on mans longevity. just re.
leased by a major insurance com.
pany. the average life span OF
life has increased 10 years since
1891
The last mortality table vas
released in 1871. ~ the new table
presents q rather peculiar twist
To the trend Of mans life when
We remember all the arguments
about the younger generation
drinking. smoking and living 1t
up 70 a point where they would
h.a.I.O.n
bod" bird unless they gave up
all these bad habits
by comparison. a 50 year old
man en- cxIsr; 10 we u he ace
Of -. and a Wyear old man to
the age of ~. as compared with
- and 69 in 1871 so. IL sou
have htcn considering giving up
the vile weed or the night cap.
you have a good argument
We have been following the
legislative calendar with great in.
irrcS'. and with some expectation
n finding one or two bills that
would give the taxpayer q little
relief suppose this hope was
>on"ihln. like q hangover from
the candidates Promises prior 10
election time.
Possibly We missed the long.
looked for hill. hut So far We have
failed to SEC just one piece Of
proposed legislation tina, would
give any indication Of . cut IN
state expenditures Instead.
We fad y hopper full Of pro.
posalS designed to increase spend.
ing and further d..plc,c our pOc.
textbooks.
One piece q! proposed icgisla.
ton We we're particularly pleased
TO see voted down was the bill
requiring the voter to state his
party preference At the primary
elections.
We have always considered 20.
!i:ical preference . personal mat.
ter and q choice not given 10
explaining to anyone. To he other
wise would he In direct violation
Of the rights handed down to
Americans for centuries. and.
next TO the sacred right g! chW's
ing ones own religion.
We know such laws are man.
dat0ry In other states. North
Dakota one Of them. and Il al
ways griped Us 10 have to state
our party choice before being
given q ballot.
40. Il isn't that W. are ashamed
Of our party. nor Is Il that We
fear rcprisals such as are COM
mon IN many other countries 10
those who choose to support the
faction not IN power: II Is simply
that We don't figure It's anyone
c,sc'S business what party we
vote unless We choose IL tell
them voluntarily Voting by
secret ballot and sclf.party NC.
lection IL q cherished American
right and certainly should
b. preserved.