The people's voice., 1959-09-04
Lack of Disaster Designation
Aronson's Failure To Act May
Cost Montana $3.7 Million


! the fact that these roads are 100 PEI
cent federal responsibility.
In any event restoration work BY
the u. S. Corps of Army Engineer
can proceed under Public Law 90
which authorizes the Corps to exercise
civil functions incident to flood fight
ing, flood rescue work and repair OF
restoration of flood control works
However, small business help for West
Yellowstone and surrounding areas
requires some disaster designation
worked out between the Governor anc
the Small Business Administration.
In the opinion of the members OF
Congress who helped write these laws
and during the past 10 days were in
daily contact with the officials who
administer them, the only chance for
complete aid to the stricken area of
Montana is through Public Law 875,
if it is requested and then invoked
by the President. The crisis will con-
tinue and become worse unless key
transportation arteries are restored.
$3.7 MILLION PLUS DIFFERENCE
In a nutshell, the disaster desig-
nation would make available at
least $3.7 million in federal emerg-
ency aid, plus fringe benefits for
small businessmen, veterans and
home owners. Absence of a dis
aster proclamation precludes use of
these funds or the fringe benefits.
AS Senator Humphrey states in his
introduction to the 129-page Federal
Disaster Relief Manual, because of
the vast complexities of the disaster
program considerable confusion has
existed at local governmental levels
as to (1) what federal assistance is
available, (2) which agency of the
government supplies it, and (3) where
local officials apply for relief" If
anyone wants to brush up on these
programs, Senators Murray and Mans
field have limited supply which they
will be glad to send to any Montanan.
BITS AND PIECES
The President has nominated Ken
meth M. Hall to be postmaster at Balm
vile A federal grant of $358,000
has been reserved by the Department
of Health, Education and Welfare for
construction of a new elementary
school at Glasgow Congress has
voted $4,000 for an Army National
Guard Armory at Plentywood, $780,
600 for similar Armory at Butte I.
$473,000 for Malmstrom Air Force
Base ;. The Senate voted $2,865, 1000,
an increase of $837,0OO over the
House-approved figure, for Glasgow
Air Force Base, for a field mainte-
nance shop, engine inspection and re-
pair shop and powered ground
equipment shop. The Senate and
House difference over construction |
Of cafeteria at Glasgow must be |
worked out in conference Charles |
w. Wood of Volborg has been named |
field assistant for the 1859 Census
If Agriculture, charged with assem-
bling IL crew. leaders and lat census
,akers in % eastern Montana couties
Housing and Home Finance Agen-
~ made an $11, 900 interest-free loan
% Shelby for preliminary planning
If a new high school Bureau of
Public Roads advised Senator Mans
ield that field survey work is in
progress on the Camas Greek route
n the Flathead Corps of Engi-
leers awarded $193,60O contract to
lens Construction Company and Rior-
Ian Construction Co., Great Falls,
or a ground air transmitter-receiv
uilding at Havre Air Force station
The Corps accepted the $162,688 ,
i'd of Morgen G. Oswood Construction
To-, Glasgow, for similar building ,,
t Opheim Air Force station and the
67,600 bid Of Federal Construction J
TO-, Spokane, for similar building J
t Cut Bank Air Force station.
INWARD AND UPWARD
CIo1lr -. - ~...u LIZ :.