davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1960-08-25

and its staff had been propa-
gandizing about, look like pea
nuts. 1t seems obvious that the
sud d en- change of tune and
the abitrary decision Of the
chairman to stop all further
hearings was reached because
the Massachusetts, scandals had
to be kept under cover until
after the election"
Roads Bureau Report
Mr.. Scherer made public on
August Is a letter from Public
Roads Commissioner Ellis L.
Armstrong to Mr.. Blatnik and
other subcommittee members
discussing appraisals the Bu-
reau has been making since
early this year in Massachu-
sets. The bureau retained the
Washington firm of Beasley and
Beasley to make new appraisals
of certain projects in that
State and has received several,
although not yet complete, re-
ports.
LAS a result Of information
that fee appraisers retained by
the State of Massachusetts, in
connection with Federal-aid
projects were submitting in
adequate or misleading infor-
nation in appraisal reports to
justify appraisals far in ex-
excess of true market value"
the bureau letter said, "the
Project Examination Division
Of this bureau. in cooperation
with our field Offices. undertook
a special review in January OF
this year.
Excess Valuation Seen
In addition, at that time the
bureau required that no pay
ments be made to Massachu-
sets, reimbursing it for the
cost Of the acquisition of right
of way on Federal-aid projects,
except after final audit of such
property involved"
Analysis of Beasley and Beas-
ley reports to date, the bureau
letter added, reveals that GER
tain fee appraisers retained by
the State. by using misleading
information and ignoring avail.
able data. placed values on
selected properties far in ex-
cess of values that could be
supported by available true
market data"
Evening star., 1960-08-25
Roads Probe Still Alive,
BIotnik Informs Critic

The chairman Of the House subcommittee on the multi
biondoar Federal aid highway declared today an
investigation of possible irregularities in Massachusetts still is
under with attempt to bury it, for political purposes
until after the November election.
Representative Blatnk Democrat Of Minnesota said how
Evening star., 1960-08-25
Defends McC C0rmack

He also denounced as COM
pletely false" any intimation
that House Democratic Leader
Mccormack. a prominent Mas
sachusettS supporter Of Sena-
tor Kennedy for the Presidency.
suggested that the subcommit-
tee do nothing about the Mas
sachusetts situation until after
the election.
Mr.. Blatnik said the only
thing he ever heard Mr.. Nc
Cormack say was a remark that
he disliked the loud hollering"
Of Boston newspapers that the
road building program involved
millions of dollars Of Irregular
tiles in Massachusetts.
The subcommittee meeting,
which had been postponed from
q week ago. was mainly an op-
portunity for Mr.. May and staff
Investigators to submit progress
reports. Mr.. May said that
Investigations of complaints in
West Virginia. Florida and New
Mexico are ''in advanced
stages" and will be ready for
public hearings in October or
November. Staff Investigations
relating to Massachusetts and
several other States largely are
in preliminary stages, he added.
Scherer's Statement
The Scherer statement re-
called that on June 20 all
charges of corruption and wide
spread scandal in the highway
program, coming from the sub
committee majority and its
staff, suddenly stopped"
). 1T is significant that the
chairman announced without
consultation with the minority
or without a meeting of the
committee that there would be
no further hearings until after
the November elections, prin-
cipally because he wanted to
keep any political considerations
out of the probe" Mr.. Scherer
stated.
1T is also significant that a
few days before. it became gen.
orally known that there was a
highway scandal in Massachu-
sets which was the granddaddy
OF them all and made the
others, which the committee
Evening star., 1960-08-25


ever. the inquiry will not reach
the public hearing stage until
late fall. Meanwhile. hearings
probably will be held in October
or November on complaints in
volving road building in West
Virginia, Florida and New Mex
leo. ...
Denies Charge
Mr.. Blatnik denied a charge
by Representative Scherer. Re
publican of Ohio, a subcommit-
tee member, that the group
"has ignored the Massachusetts
scandals like the bubonic
plague" because of possible bad
effect on Democratic election
chances.
He called Mr.. Scherer's as
sertions "unwarranted and un-
true" and said they were not
supported at a closed meeting
of the subcommittee yesterday.
Mr.. Scherer stood by his
charges today. He emphasized
that he did not believe the huge
highway construction program
was riddled by corruption. He
urged that it's achievements
and necessity be kept in
proper perspective"
He nevertheless made clear
that he is disturbed by what
he regards as the subcommit-
tees slowness in looking into
the Massachusetts, situation
where some serious irregulari-
ties have been under investiga-
tion by the Public Roads Bu-
reau since January.
Other Probes Under Way
The reason for apparent
delay in the Massachusetts in
quiry, Mr.. Blatnik explained,
is that the subcommittee staff
Is engaged also in varying
stages of investigations in sew
eral other States. He and Wal
ter May, subcommittee chief
counsel. said their compara-
lively small staff cannot make
definite analysis and recon-
n1endations until a private firm
retained by the Bureau of Pub
lie Roads completes it appraisals
OF certain selected projects in
Massachusetts.
I'VE simply do not know at
this time what this might
amount to-" Mr.. Blatnik said.
"But if our staff does find evi-
dence indicating scandals, you
can be sure the subcommittee
will investigate thoroughly and
hold hearings. We are not try
ing to cover up or stall any
Evening star., 1960-08-25

locrat Of Minnesota, said, how
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-02-19
WATCH ON THE POTOMAC
BY ROBERT G. sPIVACK, Washington. D. C.

"A REPUBLICAN ANALYZES
HIS PARTY =
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-02-19
SiIieosis Up, MeteaIf Asks
Prompt Action On Mine Safety

a month, but other changes may be
necessary in the event the case-load
increases beyond present expeeta-
tions. If it becomes possible through
any change in. circumstances, the
State Board will be glad to increase
the payments again"
The enclosure speaks for itself, !"
Mstcalf wrote WieF. ''Yeu will ness
that the siiicosis caseleaa has i'm
creased to $50 from CTS and will
continue to increase al a time when
this numher Of miners has decreased
due to a striks which has shut Down
our metal mines since last Auguss."
Ia 1856, Metealf headed a special
Mine Safety subcommittee which held
hearings in Montana, Minnesota,
Colorado and Washington, ID. G.
His bill would empower the u. s.
Bureau of Mines to inspect and in-
vestigate metallic and nonmetallic
mines and quarries. Inspectors would
collect information ON health and
safety conditions, causes of accidents
and eccupational diseases. Their re-
ports would be the basis for health
and safety recommendations.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-02-19
Asks Federal Control
OF Stream Pollution

WASHINGTON, D. C.-(CNS)-
eff we don't get stronger anti-pollu-
ton laws--preferably some admin
istered by the federal government
well soon be in terrible shape in this
country"
So warned Congressman John
Dingell (D-Mich.) as he pushed for
law that lets cities downstream
from an industry appeal directly to
the Department of Health, Education
& Welfare. The department would
turn the appeal over to the surgeon
generals office for prosecution.
Dingell says it takes federal legis-
lation because 'fthe polluters control
legislatures in many states. Local poll
ticians have been checked by threats
of industries to naove away and de-
prive the communities of tax reve-
nue."
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-02-19
By DAVID STROBEL, Fallon

AS permittee in the Prairie County
Cooperative State Grazing District,
was amazed at the lack of under
standing of our state grazing district
program and its accomplishments dis
played in your article by Frank Tice
of Ovando, in your january Is issue.
This article was called to my atten-
tion by one of your subscribers and
in an effort to provide, In my limited
way, the other side of the story, ]
have decided to write you and hope
that you will see fit to print this
letter.
At the start. let me assure you
that / am not an officer of the graz
ing district and never have been, but
as, one of it's permittees feel that |
am qualified to mention some of the
benefits that we small ranchers have
obtained from it, and furthermore the
benefits the state gains through leas-
ing their school lands to an organiza-
ton of this kind.
| don't think there are any state
grazing districts in the Ovando area
SO believe Mr.. Tice is actually urlln-
formed on their management and OPP
Grafton, especially in so far as our
area is concerned know of no school
sections under district control which
have been shamefully overgrazed
and worn OUT. In fact the state
lands in this area, as well as other
district controlled lands are actually
in far better shape today than they
were when taken over by the district
in the 1905. The reason for this is
obvious, for the fact is that the dis
trict board of directors who are prac-
tical operating stockmen themselves,
in cooperation with Bureau of Land
Management and Soil Conservation
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-02-19
FuIIon Runeher Takes Issue With lice
Over Grazing District Management

Service personnel manage and protect
the entire area with view to increas-
ing the productivity of all district
lands to maximum possible. This is
done primarily by control of live
stock numbers and season of use,
water developments and salt and
mineral placement to effect better
distribution.
Please understand that this protec-
ton is supplied to all district lands, in
GLIDING state lands. thereby bringing
about management and improvement
to an extent not always found on
other leases. For the state land de-
partment to provide this type of in
tensive management for their lands
would be extremely difficult if not
impossible. being as scattered as they
are, and it would require much larg-
er outlay of revenue to pay the addi-
tional expense of such management.
We're the state to charge $500 per
AUM for the carrying capacity of
their. lands, as is suggested, it is my
opinion that only the choice sections
would be leased, the remaining ones
being dropped. Furthermore, | would
imagine that many of these choice
sections are under competitive bid
ding at the present time at price
considerably above the minimum
rental.
The 1860 state land rental fee of
SAC per AUM is comparable to the
rate charged for the Land utilization
lands in our area and is over twice
as high as the 1860 fee on Public
Domain lands. However, as is the
case with most government lands, no
guarantee is made that you will get
all the grass you pay for and it is
expected that you will take care of
your own improvements, water de-
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-02-19

HIS PARTY
I Sen. Jacob *. Javits of New Yorl
reeently has delivered series o.
well-reasoned speeches along the east
ern seaboard that will undoubtedly b.
studied carefully by the Democrat
and very likely be ignored by hi
fellow-Republicans.
Javits was a Rockefeller man, who
appears more or less resigned to see.
ing Vice President Nixon head the
COP ticket next November. He does
not seem overjoyed at this prospect
But the New York lawmaker is a loyal
party man and one of the few who
was able to get himself elected when
the trend in his state and in his con-
gressional district was Democratic.
What he says, therefore, carries
more weight than might be the case
with similar observations from less
successful candidate.
Unlike the poll-takers and those
Republicans who like to think Nixon,s
election is in the bag, Javits takes a
comparatively dim view of his party's
future. His comments. it seems to me,
have not received the attention they
merit.
Javits wants to save the Republican
party. Even those who may not vote
Republican will agree that preserva-
ton of a genuine two-party system
has advantages for the nation. But
Javits is not overly-hopeful about the
of Republican survival with
out a Gen. Eisenhower leading the
ticket.
This year the Legendary hero" of
World War Ii cannot be candidate
and while Jim Hagerty will undoubt-
edly have the old man out making
speeches. there is grave doubt that
the Eisenhower magic can rub off on
anyone else.
Javits notes gloonily that "while
the size of President Eisenhower's
personal victories increased" from
1862 to 1856 the "party's victories
sIn six years, our majority has
shrunk to a minority of about one
bird of each House despite the Pres
dents success Javits observes. The
rational trend, Javits continues, has
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-02-19

WASHINGTON, d. C.-Noting ar
increase in the number of Montans
cases of silicosis, which he called 'this
nations major, occupational disease, =
Rep. Lee Metcalf (D-Mont.) as'asked
House committee to promptly con-
slider mine safety legislation which
he is sponsoring.
The request was addressed to Rep.
Roy .Wier (D-Minn.), chairman of
the Safety and Compensation sub
committee of the Education and La
bor Committee. =.
Enclosed was q printed notice from
w. J. Fouse of Helena, Montana State
Welfare administrator. Dated gan. IS,
it read:
'The State Welfare Board today
ordered silicosis benefit payments to
be decreased from $75 to $50 month
effective with the March payment,
This action is necessary because the
caseload has, increased to $50 cases
at this time and will continue to in
crease. The Legislature appropriated
money for the 1959-60 and 1960-61
fiscal years ON the basis of 675 pay
ments per month. 1t is hoped that
payments can be continued through
the biennium in the amount of $50
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-02-19
Political Tempo
Continued From Page One)


Gov. Paul Cannon. On the Republican
side, DR.. v. ". Crissey, Livingston
dentist, has filed for the position.
H -tTipl 0,Neal Helena real
estate man and supervisor of the
Highway Patrol under Gov. John W.
Bonner, has announced he will seek
the Demo nomination for the State
Treasurer post being vacated by
Casey. Under state law, person can
serve only one consecutive term in
the treasurersh;p. No Republican has
yet been mentioned for the post.
Supt. of Public instruction Harriet
Miller is presumed to be candidate
for reelection on the Republican
ticket. Demo opponents for Harriet
appear hard to find at this time.
Lewis & Clark Sem. ]. Miller
Smiths announcement that he will
not seek another term in the upper
chamber has given rise to speculation
he may run for the Associate Justice
ship now held by R. V. Bottomly.
Smith, a Republican, is. the father
of Unemployment Comp. Commission
Chairman Chadwick Smith.
There's also talk that H. Cleveland
Hall, Great Falls attorney, and Dis
brict Judge Lester Lobe, Helena, may
seek election to the Supreme Court
should Justice Bottomly retire.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-02-19

yelopments, riding, etc. This is con-
siderably different from putting out
stock to pasture with someone for
$500 per month, for in that case
the grass must be there or you would
note take it, also the water, fencing,
salt and riding is taken care of by
the land owner. By the time the pub
lie land user makes the various addi-
tional contributions to develop his
range, plus the lack of assurance that
he will get all of the grass that he
pays for, the so-called subsidy" that
Mr.. Tice mentions becomes largely
academic.
| hope this letter will serve to
acquaint your readers with the bene-
fits of our state grazing district,
which in addition to providing protec-
tion and management to our state
lands at no cost to the state. pays
the required fees for such use and in
addition provides stable source of
grazing for it's members. large and
small.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-02-19

been even worse for Republicans al
the state level.
THE BOX SCORE
In 1853 there were 80 Republican
governors. Today there are only H.
Seven years ago the Republicans con-
trolled 26 state legislatures Now they
control seven.
What has caused this spectacular
decline?
In Javits' Judgment 'stand-patism" (.
That, he says, is the Republicans "big-
gest enemy. 81 am no disciple of
pessimism regarding the Republican
chance in November-but do advo-
cate hard-headed realism Javits said
in an address at Kingston, N. Y.
In New York. he went on, the
party's chance of winning is good
only if the national leaders can "con-
vince New Workers that it is the mod
ern element in our party which is
predominant"
Javits, unfortunately, does not
come to grips with the problem he
pOSCO sCACOpIk NY oOliO uO6dIiNO W.
servations. 81 do not believe that Vice
President Richard Nixon deserves to
be identified as a conservative" he
says.
He notes that the party is under
the closest scrutiny" it has exper-
fenced since 1913. Its programs and
ideas are being examined as never
before. What does the New Yorker
think of these programs and ideas?
'sThey must be MODERN" he insists.
eve must present candidates who
will be representative of the best
Lincolnian tradition and in tune with
the times" he continues.
Where are they to be found? He
does not say.
The Javits' speeches are significant
in many ways and worth close study
by anyone interested in the future
of American politics. But what they
really add up to is his conclusion that
the COP is essentially a "one-man"
party, that Eisenhower did not allow
ideas or possible successors, except
Nixon, to flourish.
| wonder if this could be the be-
ginning of a new Rockefeller-for-
President movement?
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-02-19
FRANKLY SPEAKING

Facts and figures about the project
take long time to find according
to the public relations department
When | asked the Bureau of Public
Roads on the fifth floor of the Brown
Pentagon about the project, it was
still stuck between floors.
Thursday morning the Editor of
the VOICE gave me formal letter
to present to Engineer Fred Quinnell
requesting the information. / am a
pedestrian and not too vitality con-
cerned about what motorists have to
put up with. The Editor on wheels
will get these facts or you will know
the reason why / am no longer en-
ployed by this paper.
The second installment of the 40
million dollar road program got under
way with a $4,854,938 letting on
Wednesday. With the federal contract
control law in effect each state COM
petes for matching funds on a quart
erly basis. This schedules heavy bid
lettings the first part of any quarter
to try to get the funds before they
run out in Washington.-F.S.
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-02-19
State House Beat

The Highway Commission Should
inquire of Ebasco Services whether
or not it would be good idea to in
stall red and green lights above its
chamber door. Red for executive ses-
sion and green for correspondents.
/ walked in on secret session
Wednesday and instantly got the
heave-ho. Chairman Harry Burns
came out to the public relations room
and apologized for throwing me out.
was so unnerved by this newly
found mildness / lost my sense of
direction and worse, the angle to
my stories.
I'm Billings the mayor was elected
with his promise of no secret sessions.
Recently one was held; so news and
radio starters have had field day
giving the city officials the once
over.) z4'
The red and green lights might
also be equipped with a warning
buzzer when conditions are about to
change A bell could not be used
because of the implications of Liberty
The Ebasco team of Harvey A.
Sartorius and George j. Neumayer
are at it again. The pair really likes
it in Montana. This is not wholly
attributable to the generous rates the
Highway Department pays. While
Montana has serious problems with
managerial functions, corruption has
not BEEN noted to the extent of New |
Mexico where somebody's brother-in- |!
law has been the sole supplier of. road |
oil for the past twenty years, Nor
are the engineering difficulties as
great here as in the State of Wash
ington where the pontoon bridge in
the Hood River Canal is about ready
to be floated out to sea.
The press in Montana is all right
according to. the pair except for the
PEOPLES VOICE which has a ten
dency to "dramatize".
According to the pair the PV's
circulation is so small and the
power Of the leadership SO limited
they will be able to get along nicely
with their nest egg Of $12, 500 for
the second chapter of .Ebasee Re
porte.
Chapter one fired Horace Williams,
The state career program engineer.
Getting information from the High {
way is tougher than might be realized. {
rhe example in the works at the {
concerns Interstate Is be- /
ween Helena and Great Falls. Tues
lay the commission accepted the pres a
mt routing in the Wolf Greek Can r
on and has asked for BPR approval. t
The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-02-19
By CONG, Leroy ANDERSON

WASHINGTON, D. Enthusiasm
is spreading throughout the House
Of Representative for the Family
Farm Act of 1860, legislation which
was developed and drafted by group
of midwest and western farm legis-
lators under my Craftsmanship who
have been meeting in my office since
last September. In its initial intro
duction, Is congressman Joined me
in sponsoring this legislation. Con-
gresham Bob Poage of Texas, vice
chairman Of the House Committee On
Agriculture, and Congressman Carl
Albert of Oklahoma, chairman of the
Wheat subcommittee worked with us
and agreed to be the lead-off men
in the introduction of this measure.
Many other responsible members now
plan to co-sponsor9 the bill.
BRAND NEW CONCEPT p
Our new farm bill represents new
concept in farm legislation in which,
for the first time, we are making it
possible for the producers of all farm
commodities to develop sef-help pro-
grams which will stabilize incomes at
reasonable level for the producer
and at the same time guarantee to the
consumer a reasonable price for the
commodities he must purchase. Pro-
grams such as those for woodland SUI
gar beets which are now effectively
functioning would continue until such
time as they encountered difficulties,
and then they, too. could participate
ia the new program,
The Family Farm Act Aof 1860 is
enabling legislation providing ground |
rules for individual commodities to
work out their problems on a national
basis. Every farmer and Main Street /
Businessman will face a brighter fu-
5ure If this measure is enacted into
aw. The continuing drop in farm
prices and income will be reversed.