Montana labor news., 1936-07-09
Montana S Old Age
Pension Law Goes In
Effect On July LIST

o,OUU and /,UUU men and women, past
the age OF 65 years, a great army that
is waiting patiently for the final sum
mons, will have their hearts gladdened
by receiving from the county boards
their old age pensions. Montana's law,
passed by the last legislature, will final
ly go into operation on that date.
On Tuesday of this week, Governor
Elmer Holt sent wires to the county
boards of every one of the So counties
stating that the federal funds had been
received, the Montana law had been
finally approved at Washington and
that the State Old Age Pension COM
mission was ready to cooperate with
the counties in making the payments to
those applicants whose claims had been
approved. From each OF the So coun-
ties he received replies that they were
ready to go ahead.
Under the law the county old age
pension commissions, consisting of the
county commissioners, the county at
torneys and the county relief boards
pass upon all applications. Any per-
son refused the pension has the right
to appeal to the state board.
The theory OF the law is that the
county boards are in closer touch with
their own people and in a better posi-
ton to judge on the merits OF each case.
Under the law no pension of more
than $50 a month can be paid to any
one person. The amount may be less
than that. Conditions in the county
or conditions Of the applicant may de-
termine that.
NO PERSON WHO HAS AN IN
COME OF MORE THAN $50 A
MONTH is ENTITLED TO A PEN
SION.
That refers to incomes from diyi-
dends, interest, rentals, salaries, an
nuties-in fact to any regular income
source.
1t does not mean that a person who
has a home where he or. she lives from
which there is no income, is in any
manner deprived OF the right to a pen
sion.
AT the recent meeting Of the state
convention OF county commissioners,
held in Great Falls, Acting Admins
traitor Joseph Watson answered ques-
ton after question on these mooted
points.
How about applicants having to sign
a pauper's oath to get a pension ? asked
one commissioner.
No applicant is asked to sign any
thing that can in any way be termed
a pauper's oath" answered Mr.. Wat
son.
Mr.. Watson urged the county COM
missioners to impress upon every ap-
plicant for a pension the fact that
there is no such thing as a pauper's
oath involved in any with the
operation of the old age pension law
in Montana.
The counties will pay the pensions
direct and at the end of each month
will receive from the state rs per cent
Of the amount paid OF which rs per cent
will be the states share and 50 per
cent the federal governments share.
Applicants who have not had then
applications approved by July l will
not necessarily have to wait until Au-
gust l to receive their pension first
payments as for the first month pay
ments will be made every five day:
upon applications approved within
these periods. After the first month
definite dates will be set for payments
Persons who W property will moi
be compelled to assign such property
to the state. That was an erroneous
impression.
In the case of applicants having ar
income of less than $50 a month, as
s~istance will be given to increase the
income to $50 a month OF whatever sun
the county board decided as just.
Financial assistance given person;
will become a lien against such proper
ty as they may W in case the prop
erty is sold or probated
The story of the efforts that have
finally eliminated in putting this new
law into effect covers a period Of some
years.
Montana was the first state to adopi
an old age pension law. 1t was drawn
and presented and put into operation
through the efforts Of Lester Loblt
who was then a member of the legis.
lature. Under this law there wa.
adopted a pension plan in some coun-
ties.
Some three years ago the fight for {
new law that would be state wide start
ed. When the legislature met severa
members introduced bills. Represen.
tatives Phil Goodwin, Cain Connors
Mike Mulholland, Ed, O'Byrne, San
Spiegel, and Harry Mitchell, all o
Butte, Representative Hugh Egan o
Fergus, and Representative Charles |.
Stevens Of Cascade county all intro,
duced bills. These were finally re.
ferred to a special committee on ole
age pension legislation consisting o
Representatives Stevens, Goodwin
O'Byrne, Byrne and Egan.
This committee reported out Hous,
Bill No. 1876 which became a law. Thi.
was the bill introduced by Representa-
tive Stevens after a conference will
the special representatives from Wash
ington. The bill was passed by boil
House and Senate and signed by Gov
ernor Frank Cooney. 1t was expected
to go into effect July l, 1885, Blu
through te~chnicalities raised at Wash
ington, there has been a delay of
WAR Il, -nattinn Il into onerntinn