The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1961-11-10
SUNDAY, NOV. 10

fthe school foundation program"
university system financing, an6
federal support of education, will
get underway at 9:15 am.
lor said that "by comparison, teach
ers have done quite we'll" having had
average wage hikes of 70 per cent
since 1851. That percentage, she
claimed, was much better than aver
age increases of other workers. "Mon-
tana salaries are quite adequate"
she continued, and foresaw a prob
able Outright surplus" of teachers
in Montana within a few years.
CONTENDS ZINE PRINT
CONTROL
Attorney Libra, in opening his
remarks, took exception to a pre-
vious statement by Mrs. Logan that
"we are primarily citizens of the
United States. Libra went to the
Constitution as his authority in in
forming his audience that they are
citizens both of the United States
and of the State of Montana. This
side-road onto States Rights wasn't
Immediately apparent but, as Libra
talked on, did come into focus. Libra's
point, in due time came out in his
contention that education is purely
a matter of states concern" and that
it isn't right to take funds from the
weather. states to help educate the
children of poorer states.
Libra, an accomplished lawyer
lobbyist when the legislature is in
session, questioned various parts of
the pending aid bill as to their con-
stitutionality, particularly as pertains
to Montana's constitution. He also
saw as fcontrol' the minimum stand
ards the state would have to observe
to be eligible for such federal help.
He warned his audience against the
''fine print in the bill, and con-
tended that every special federal
school aid bill, from the Land Grant
Colleges Act on, incorporated GER
tain amount of federal Control"
over the schools, their curriculums,
etc.
The attorney, who was a top
manager of the Nutter-for-Cover-
nor campaign last year, said sMon-
tana is doing very well we're
doing our share and little more
besides - in educating children.
Citing the school lunch program
IS an example of control, he joined
With Nutter-appointee to the State
Board of Education, Gordon Doering,
n decrying the minimum standards"
let which make it necessary for such
programs to provide minimum Gallo
ies'' for each lunch, or lose eligible |
ty for federal assistance.
Libra questioned the authenticity |
f the figures on shortages earlier
resented by Markell. He said there
5 mo real, only hypothetical need
or teachers. And, the figures pre-
ented "are not reliable are only
stimates, and poor estimates at
hat :" (This statement was ade-
uately disproved later on during
ne question period by Markedly
Libra suggested, as an alternative
, federal assistance, that the states
e empowered to withhold five per
emit of the, total federal income tax
ayments from each state, for edu-
alton. He said this loss in revenue
Y the federal government could be
lade up by reductions or elimina-
on of foreign aid, a subject on
hich he didn't choose to dwell, but
id anyway.
Figures presented by Markell in
sbuttal showed that Libra's proposal
ould only heighten inequities in
EDUCATIONAL funds available in the
arious states. On the basis of two
pr cent Withholding, in Mississippi
ere'd be only $500 additional reve-
lie available per child as compared
it'll $71.00 in New York State. In
ontana, it would amount to $500
n child.)