The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1961-01-20

muir COhLSHQGd
HB 27, in cutting total jobless
compensation payments by half-or
from almost $12 million to approx
mately Sc million per year-will re-
duce by approximately fifty per
cent the number of unemployed who
would be eligible for compensation.
At a time when upwards of
$4,000 Montanans are out of work
and the prospects are for even more
thousands being without paychecks
in the months ahead, benefits should
be improved as provided for under
House Bills 100 and 101 and SEN
ate Bills 10 and 40.
Fraud and chiseling are INDUCED
in by only very minor number of
compensation claimants, and that adj
ninistration and enforcement of the
law is primarily at fault when such
abuses do occur.
I'm 1859 there were 36,758 claims
for comp, $4,000 checks totalling
$12 million were issued. and there
were only 60 convictions for fraud }
Cutting back of the program, as
proposed under lib 27 will seriously
endanger the livelihood Of thousands |
of Montanans, such as heavy con-
struction workers, whose work is !
strictly seasonal, and will result in
these highly skilled workmen going
elsewhere for more steady employ
ment.
q The UCC fund is in the shape it
is today because of unwise employer
premium reductions approved by the
1853 Republican-controlled legisla-
ture.
Unemployment comp is a cush-
ion, not only for workers, but for
all business in a community, particu-
larly the grocers, clothing merchants,
and others who merchandise the
necessities of living.
NC is an insurance program, but, t
Is a result of the 1853 amendments, !
las not been so operated. f
Management spokesman gave as
their principal reasons for urging f
enactment of HB 27: r
1t will eliminate those who are 2
lot sincere part of the work e
orce, but work only for extra money
r wish to work only ''long enough to b
e eligible for unemployment COM v
M. F. Olsen of j. M. f
1cDonald (Fligelman's), Helena. l
Q Under present law there are too
lany "who won't work when they e
o have a chance" Lloyd Helmer, d
olson Chevrolet dealer. p
lib 27 is designed to. protect W
he honest laboring man Rob p
rt Helding, st. Regis Paper Co., v
libby. (PV emphasis). ?
Enactment of HB 27 will help -
Kill our own snakes. Norman r.
levins, Montana Hardware and I'M :,
CEMENT Association. .
HB 27 will, benefit those SAC
tally deserving and who are ready =
Id willing to work at any job that
available. Albert j. Gates, Lew be
town, Montana Lumber & Hardware to
0. (Does Mr.. Gates have in mind m
lie worker undertaking another pc
a California in Grapes of Wrath" LIZ
Iys-and workers "ready and will ist
G" to indulge in strikebreaking if
casion arose.-PV Editor.) Sh
3 27 I'm BRIEF III
Would cut off comp eligibility we
all marginal" workers, such as wy
usewives who work part of each ~
ar but are not, in the acts eyes ~
ential to the "bread-winning" for we
household; would take away comp.
'dits earned by women prior to on
ting married; discourages women ag'
m getting pregnant Ia subtle birth lev
trol act, as it were), by toughen- PEI
up eligibility requirements for IL
men who leave their jobs because ehe
would deny eligibility per
comp, to women who leave their int'
; to move to another place with wo'
r husbands (the latter who may 9o,'
forced to move because of lack are
employment in previous home suo
y