The people's voice., 1959-05-22

ment of Crystal Lake recreation are
near Lewistown, expanded forest re
search for lodge pole pine at Boze
man, better working and living con
ditions for Forest Service employees
Mansfield made the case for fisl
hatchery modernization at Ennis ant
Creston and insect control work.
"You have before you the out
line of a long-range program for
the National Forests for tomor-
row." said Murray, "but budget
geared to yesterday"
FORT HARRISON REPLACEMENT
Years of hard work by a lot OF
people have started to pay off for
Montana veterans. An appropriation
bill passed by the House last week
includes money for planning and de-
sign work on a replacement for the
27year-old Fort Harrison VA hos
pital.
During the debate on the bill. Met
calf spoke also for Senators Murray
and Mansfield and Congressman An
derson. He called on the Veterans
Administration to move the plans
along fast enough so construction
money could be appropriated next
year. Current estimated cost of the
construction is $5.4 million.
Earlier this year, Veterans Admin
10 for Summon Wbi++ia,. +01J NTox,
tanans in Congress that exact bed
capacity of the new hospital sis
awaiting the outcome of VA survey
of bed needs in the Northwest, but it
probably will be no less than the
present capacity of 200 beds" Under
present plans, the existing hospital
building would be converted into an
administrative unit for VA regional
office activities.
Evidence of need for the replace
ment has come, among others from
the American Legion, the Veterans
IF Foreign Wars, the Disabled Amer
can Veterans and the Montana Vet
Grams Welfare Commission. Two |
years ago, Metcalf spoke for the del
9gation at a hearing before the House
Veteran Affairs Committee. Last
vear, Committee Chairman league
Inspected Fort Harrison and found
ABILITIES there to be poor"
During debate, Metcalf noted
that the number of veterans hos
pital beds in Montana is about half
the national average.
Last year Whittier informed SEN
tor Murray, Senator Mansfield, Con-
ressmen Metcalf and Anderson that .
"A would make it's modernization (,
lrvey of Fort Harrison sometime =
uring the year beginning July 1,
961. The delegation got him to ad- }
ance his timetable to last fall.
ITS AND PIECES /
Civil Aeronautics Board will hold r
pre-hearing conference May 28 to v
clip it decide whether an air route $
lould go from Regina to Williston q
: Regina to Minot a. . HEW granted .
1860 toward rehabilitating st. Vim X
'nt's Hospital, Billings The /;
snate confirmed Dale A. Wetzel as q
at Broadview c
EHIND THE HEADLINES ~
Ground-breaking ceremonies for "
e Northern Forest Fire Laboratory,
1ich will make Missoula the forest
e research center of the nation, A
ade the newspapers recently. l
Behind the headlines is the story g-
teamwork by Montana's congress ii
NAL delegation. b1
Two years ago, Senators Murray
d Mansfield and Congressman Met S
If introduced legislation to author w
three such centers. AS part of al
consideration of these bills. til
eport came in from the Agriculture tn
partment. That report said the sc
partment had the authority to build We
III labs, would do so ''when a speci- by
provision is made in an appropria- tn
n act for such construction"
So Metcalf made a bid for the lab tn
an appearance on behalf of the del CO
alton before the House Appropria- ia
MS Committee. Senators Murray ca
Mansfield appeared before the RI