The people's voice., 1959-06-26

mOuCdndilS III OOHSIeSS nave dSdif
taken the lead in attempts to bail out
the sinking domestic lead and zinc
mining industry.
Senator Murray, chairman of the
Interior Committee, spoke for Is
Senators-including Senator Mans
field-and several Congressmen-
among them Metcalf and Anderson
on introduction of bill to at least
triple import duties on lead and zinc.
''The lead and zinc mining indus
tries of this country are in dire straits
as the result of worldwide overpro-
duction of the two minerals" he said
on the Senate floor. cores and con-
centrates produced by foreign miners
who, in many countries, are paid a
mere pittance, overhang the market in
such qantities as to threaten the live
lihood of every lead and zinc miner
in the United States.
He said Administration-esta blished
import quotas alone had proved to be
inadequate to solve the problem of
protecting these vital American in
dustries and the workers employed
in them from the unfair competition
of foreign labor, which in some in
stances is paid less than one-twelfth
as much as the American miner re-
ceives.
"Industry leaders have advised
that if the adjustments in duties pro-
vided in this bill are enacted, they,
together with presently operating i'm
port duties, will provide the economic
assistance necessary to assure the
continuance of these industries and
their employees as a part of the
American taxpaying community"
FEDERAL AID TO EDUCATION
The U. S. Office of Education has
verified $6,366 for immediate pay
ment to York Consolidated School
District 33, Canyon Ferry and $3.50
for Elementary School District No. 8,
White Sulphur Springs. Under Public
Law 874, federal aid goes direct to
local school districts for operation
and maintenance - including text
books and teachers salaries-in areas
of federal impact.
At the same time, Congressman An
derson served notice that he would
fight the Administration proposal to
cut this aid to education by more
than IL per cent.
ROADS AND TRAILS
Taking the Administration at its
word, the Montana congressional DEL
egation is working on legislation to
step up construction of forest develop
ment roads and trails.
Three months ago, Agriculture Sec
retary Benson submitted long-range
for development of the ma
tional forests. Last month, he esti-
mated that the recommended i'm
provements would cost SIT billion
over the next IL years. Of this total,
$720 million would be for roads and
trails.
This would be $50 million year,
double the present authorization for /
roads and trails, Senator Murray
pointed out in letter accompanying $
4 draft of bill to raise the authori- :
,ation to $40 million for 1862 and t
$50 million for 1868.
"While this is somewhat lower than
he average figure the Secretary's ,
,stimate suggests, it would step up :
he program gradually so that it (
ould be fulfilled by the end of the
2-year PERIOD" Murray said.
Cosponsors will include Senator y
Mansfield and Congressman Metcalf c
nd Anderson. +
APPROPRIATIONS =
AS it went to the White House b
rom Capitol Hill, the bill providing
money for the Interior Department a
or the year beginning July included t,
t least two increases of Importance II
D Montana and inserted in the SEN f,
te after testimony by Senator Muir Il
ay and Mansfield. vi
The Senate voted, and the confer nj
nee committee approved, 100000
,r needed improvements at the Cres- Al
IN fish hatchery, for which no money D:
as requested in the budget. in
The Senate also added $335,000 to as