The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-06-26
SHERIDAN COUNTY
TAX TALK
By Edgar l. Syverud

~ 1NoSNA - ~ ~
Sheridan county is very chart
table, judging from the figures a.
valuable. One is surprised at the
extent to which this county is en-
gagged in Charity Work. With our
huge Indebtedness, our thousands
of dollars in delinquent taxes, and
other heavy expenditures it seems
there would be no room for char
ity wrk, we can hardly afford it.
There would not be enough to go
around.
Up to June LIST of this fiscal
year there has been expended the
tidy sum of $17,785.0O as follows:
Poor, 5000; disqualification 49,
581; Outside Institutions $1,000;
Widows Pensions $2,304; Old Age
Pensions $3.50. Several of these
funds have been exhausted so that
emergency appropriations have
had to be made from time to time,
the Poor Fund 81 900 and Old Age
Fund $500 at one time and re-
Gently an additional $1,700 for the
poor and $3.50 for disqualification.
This make a total appropriation of
$20,235 with a possible need for
more.
No one wishes to deny the cry
of the needy. There are certain
responsibilities that we must as
sumo, but at times there is too
much of a tendency of putting it
"on the county"
While the Judge has the setting
of the Widows Pensions the Com
missioners have in charge the 9TH
er funds. 1t may be of interest TO
quote a part Of the law:
"(a) The claimant must not have
deprived himself or herself direct
ly or indirectly of any property
for the purpose of qualifying for
old age relief.
"(b) The aged person must have
no child or any other person re-
sponsible legally for the support
of the aged person under the laws
of the state of Montana fully able
to support the applicant"
Altho the above law applies II
old age relief the principle shoulC
apply fully as much in many othe
cases.
Some seem 10 have no sense o
honor or shame in making de
mands on the county. While listen
ing in at the commissioners meet
ing one hears many cases that ar
most pathetic and deserving bu
on the other hand there are thOs
that seek to shove on the count
every risk and responsibility. Thi
ranges from paying for operation
down to washing clothes. In
spirit of ingratitude there are OtF
ers that fume and demand whs
they call their rights" To con
NV with ali the demands and n
quests the county would have
be what so many seem to thin
one Grand Old Santa Claus. TIC
often that is as far as a gre;
many think of it.
But back of it all is one tn;
has very little to say, but 20 pa
He is the Taxpayer. He is the OF
who owns a home, a farm, or OF
er property. He has a hard stru
gle to keep the home going f
himself and family. and whether
not he gets any income he nu
pay for all this, he can't get aw;
from it.
Several suggestions have be-
made that our Taxpayers Assoc,
alton should check up on this wo
as it is felt that unworthy on
are receiving county aid and to
certain extent this might be dor
It is also suggested chat the R
Cross ought to help, but it seel
they are not in a position to
so except in case of disasters a
calamities. We may soon quail
for this however, if depression a
other conditions keep up. But
can help 10 avert such situati
somewhat if more consideration
used in our spending.