The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1962-03-09

established by the Highway Depart
ment and the Fish and Game, recent
ly joined by the Aeronautics Com
mission, serve the best interests 81
the states tax paid people in then
efforts TO assist the people who pay
them?
The specialized uses of the High.
way and Fish & Game-photo map
ping and game spotting a basis
for buying the airplanes and hello
copter in the first place but the main
function has been to cart officials
around. The Aeronautics Commission
stepped into the air force picture on
the pretext of hauling only the Gov
ernor's friends and family around.
Although they are appointees they
have taken the phrase of Serving
at the Govrnor's pleasure" far too
literally. The fuel taxes they are
collecting from the dealers in avia-
ton fuels were intended to improve
the airports of Montana, not to
cater to the personages Amounted
with tax emoluments.
However the Governors airplane
serves to point up the loophole in
the administration of our laws
through which many more unwar-
ranted expenditures can drain the
of our efforts to make
Montana work for the benefit of
those who choose to spend their lives
in this state.
The Controllers office has been
used as the patsy for the fiddling of
accounts to Justify the expenditures
for the private flight service. The
'egular processes of the office, name
Y the calling for bids which assures
hat all aircraft manufacturers are
siven a chance to compete for Mon
ana's business, were suspended.
Why? Is there someone on the Aero
lautics Commission getting a kick
'ack? L doubt it, but the irregular
BUSINESS procedures which can now
e practiced by the Controller leads
ne to believe that perhaps the last
nd little lamented Legislature made
very bad move by not having all
Purchases run through the Board Of
Examiners where at least it can be
cen that the items are placed UP
or bid.
Reluctant as the Examiners may
seem to assume the duty of pouring
over the purchases and the per-
sonnet records it is about the only
way the electorate of the state
has to control the expenditure Of
it's money.
Does the state really need to hire
1other pilot?
Kennedy and Khrushchev are en-
ring into a space pool, couldn't
lie departments of the state enter
to an air pool? Perhaps there are
her offices which would be operated
ore efficiently if they had air trans +
,rtation available to them. 0
The petty power struggles between
e departments are wasting our
oney. Prestige instead of service d
ems to be the watchword-who
ants to work for a department "
lich doesn't even own an airplane? q,
Other officials may find their :,
dgets can be made to accommodate =
wing a plane or two setting down W
the airport. Indeed other officials "
e more justified in having a plane 81
their disposal than the Governor. n,
ey must do specific things at spe- n
ic times while the Governors gen g,
alities can easily be handled by =,
, modern communications we have
Montana. The occasional CD trips .;
tside the state could easily be D.
red for at much less expense by 90
flights. ~,
The other elected officials have ca
lally important business in and flo
! of the state, but is an aircraft co
,irely suitable conveyance?
The sight of our Supreme Court tn
stices tumbling around in their "
ok robes trying to get out of en-
ne after a rough flight-the sight FL
their emerald gills-no, the Court tn
r. e..