The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-01-15
BY VIC RETNEMER, Exec

the decade system. We move forward
during couple of decades, rest ano
drift the next 10 years, then buckle
down again.
Conservation and resource develop
ment fits into this pattern. The recla-
nation acts, establishment of national
forests. assertion of federal interest
in hydro electric power and passage
of the Federal Water Power Act high
lighted the giant conservation strides
of the first two decades in this CEN
fury. The Teapot Dome scandal char
acterized the backward steps in the
2O's. The next two decades brought
the Rural Identification Administra-
ton. Tennessee Valley Authority,
Bonneville Power Administration, CT
william Conservation Corps, the Flood
Control Act and the agricultural con-
servation aprograms. Nothing accom-
plished in the SOS in the resource
field approaches the gains made in
those previous eras.
I believe we're on the threshold of
another decade or two of dedicated
conservation work. Getting on with
the job may also provide those addi-
tional $4,000 jobs in Montana which
Edward J. Chambers, associate di-
rector of the Bureau of Business and
Economic Research at Montana State
University, foresees need for in the
COS.
A lot of groundwork has been laid
for a serious return to resource de-
velopment. Some of this groundwork
recently became law, and some will
have the attention of the seth Con-
gress now buckling down to its Sec
ond session.
1. There's lot of steam behind
Senator Murray's proposed Resource
and Conservation Act, patterned after
the Employment Act of 1916. This
bill would set up a Resources and
Conservation Council in the Execu-
tive Department and provide regu-
lar appraisal of full development
needs.
2. The Senate Select Committee
on National Water Resources. estab-
lished by Senator Mansfield's bill last
year. has taken testimony from hun
dreds of persons concerned with re-
source development and will make it's
recommendations year from now.
3. The long range program for the
national forests is already off the
ground. The program was submitted
to Congress last year, three years
after Senator Murray and Neuberger
started asking for it. Western mem
bers Of Congress moved quickly to
appropriate $11 million to start the |
program in the fiscal year were now
in. Regardless of what is recon-
mended in the budget to be submitted |
in a few days, you can be sure that
investment in national forest develop
ment will be increased.
A. The Bureau of Land Manage
ment and the Fish and Wildlife Serv-
i've have promised to have the long
range programs requested to them
before the Interior Committee before
long.
5. Senator Humphreys proposed I
Youth Conservation Corps, patterned
on the old CCC, is already through
the Senate.
6. Thanks to law Representative
Lee Metcalf authored and pushed
through, large-scale investigation
of insecticides dangerous to humans,
fish and wildlife is underway.
z. The Senate Interior Committee
is scheduled to act soon on the wilder
ness bill.
8. There is the prospect that the
water pollution control program will
be increased to more realistic pro-
portions.
9. Turning specifically to Montana,
with the East Bench Project near
Dillon under way interest in water
development centers on Yellowtail ,
Dam on the Big Horn near Hardin
md the Paradise or Knowles Dam in
he Flathead- Clark Fork Basin.
If the President changes his mind
md decides to recommend construc-
ion funds for Yellowtail, Congress
Will quickly oblige. If Yellowtail
money isn't in the budget there'll be $
mother big fight to put it in over ]
he Presidents objection. (Since this I
vas written the Budget Bureau has