Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-07-31

boards OF commissioners. ines conSutuS
ton does impose upon counties the obh~
inhabitants. We should work out soms
plan whereby the boards of commits
sioners may be given additional powers
to care for their people.
Poor Funds Are Low.
'In some counties the poor funds will
be exhausted within the next 30 days
then the problem arises as to how those
counties can care for their poor fami1
lies.
IF we can empower the county cons
missioners to issue bonds for relief, IL
seems to me this is the only direct reliet
we can bestow. / have asked the at
torney general to prepare bill, SO
enlarging the powers of the county cons
missioners. It has been suggested, and
with considerable merit, that the state
of Montana stand back of these pro-
posed issues of bonds. The objection to
this is that the state cannot lend its
credit. / hope this is a mistake.
parts of Hill, Toole and some other
counties find their citizens in actual
destitution and these sections will prob
ably lose some of their citizens and the
investors in farm securities may lose
some of the interests they there hold"
In opening his address TO the execut-
I've session, Speaker Belden said that.
after a conference with the goveHngEs
members of the board of land comMfs-s
sioncrs and others and without e1
ing plan. he believed the legisla4e
could indicate to the land board N1At
would be wise policy TO follow in To-
matter Of the payments on land sale -
lease contracts.
Needs Every Dollar.
He said the state was in need OF
every dollar OF revenue. but that SO
great in some communities is the need
that upon some showing of inability to
pay. it might be arranged to excuse
such contract signer from payment OF
this years Obligations. He thought the
filing by the party, supported by neigh
bors, Of an affidavit showing inability
to pay, might be worked to extend the
payments for another year. He said
he had under preparation a resolution
bearing upon this subject.
This discussion by the speaker had
followed a verbal report from Repre-
sentative Higgins, chairman of the com.
mittee of ten which had been named
at caucus Of republican members held
Monday night.
Mr.. Higgins said he had no authority
to call the democrats together, but haa
invited the republicans to discuss the
ference the committee had been evolved
This committee was to have reported at
conference of both republican ant
democratic members on Tuesday nigh
which meeting did not materlalize and.
accordingly, it had been decided that an
executive session of the house would
suffice.
He said the committee had met with
the attorney general. and had gone over
its plans with that official. but bad not
arrived at any method for giving direct
aid to the farmer.
To Remove Penalty.
One plan was that of removing the
peralty for non-p payment of annual
taxes. drouth sufferers TO make an af-
fidayit to their situation with the mat
ter to be reviewed by the county COM
missioners.
In the matter of the purchase of
state lands, he said the sense of the
committee was that no advantage should
be taken for failure to meet payments
following the filing of affidav.ts with
the land board.
The committee he said looked with
favor upon special elections authorizing
commissioners to exceed the limit for
relief of needy persons.
He said that at the present time loans
of state funds We're made upon basis
of 40 per cent of the value of the land
and that it had been proposed to amend
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