The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-05-20
Rep. Leroy Anderson
Reports To You From
The Nations canifQi

WASHINGTON, ID. C-People In
the big cities of the East, and es-
pecially the workers in factories, are
beginning to feel the pinch of the
farm depression. AS / often have
stressed in working for improved
farm legislation, agriculture is the
nations basic industry-throttle it
and you ultimately choke the very
economic likelihood of the u. S. So,
in the next couple of years, or even
sooner, we can look for increased
support of agriculture by the metro
politan area. congressman whose con-
stituents are beginning to lose their
jobs. For instance, one major farm
equipment manufacturer cut it's work
force by 1902 last month in six
plants, ostensibly ''as they continued
to balance production with inventory
and demand" This firms total en-
ployment now is down around 20
per cent as compared to year ago.
Other farm equipment producers also
report employment cutbacks in recent
months. AS these plants, largely in
the Midwest, gradually shut down,
the chain reaction spreads to the fac
tory suppliers, the steel mills, and the
specially manufacturers in the East.
1t is as plain as the proverbial hand
writing on the wall that we must get
agriculture restored to a healthy basis
lest we trigger another depression.
During the present Republican Ad-
ministration, as typified by the Eisen-
observation-disclosures triumverate, it
just doesn't seem like we can do much
about a Farm Program. The veto
waves clearly over just about any
agricultural bill. The President, at
a recent news conference, was asked
what type of Farm Bill Congress
could pass that would be acceptable
to the Administration. The Presi-
DENTS answer was recorded In this
90-word sentence.
'Now, if there were any kind of
plan that connected with
other features of the thing they could
bring something about that seemed
and fair to the farmers,
we'll, would be glad to look at it |
and, because as say, if it looks rea-
sonable to me, l will approve it be-
cause am just to this point know
hat we are in bad fix, the farmers
Are, and / have had correspondence
with some of my farmer
friends because, individuals, to get
statistics"
So, now you know what we farm
tates people in Congress face from
he Executive branch of the gov
Forest Highways: l supported leg
Station during the week which re-
ulted in local road funds of 1925
nillion in each of the years 1862 and
963. The House bill would provide
unds for primary, secondary and
rban road construction under the
o-called A-B-C Highway Program,
yhich would be allotted to states gen.
rally on a $3.50 matching basis.
he money would come from special
rust fund financed chiefly by the
ederal gasoline tax. The new legis-
alton includes provisions TO increase
unds for construction of forest
ccess roads and trails, from $50
lillion to $35 million in 1862 and
40 million in 1868. These access
Dads make possible the proper man.
cement OF our forests, which in
olives timber marketing, distribution
forest products, salvage cutting,
from fire, insects and d.
ease, and, of course, the recreational
Sc of our forest lands. The legisla-
on is of particular significance to
any sections of Montana where
UGH of the area includes Forest
arvice holdings. II