The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1938-04-21
Administrator Condemns Spending of
Relief Money for Drinks and in Gambling

HELENA. April Information
of a general character is coming
from various parts of the state To
the effect that some persons receiv-
ing public assistance are wasting
their meager funds in drinking and
gambling. This information Is al
ways incomplete in this that it fails
to give specific cases. All the same
it appears evident that some relief
funds are wasted in this deplorable
way.
Some feeble excuses may be
made for this lamentable practice
by relief clients, but no real iusti-
fication can be found A few of
them may drink because they are
poor, but many Of them are poor
because they drink. Some OF them
may gamble from hopelessness and
despair, but many of them have
been brought to hopelessness and
despair on account of gambling. 1t
/ NAV not be unnatural for dis
couraged and doWnhearted man to
attempt to pour JOY down his throat
in liquid form; and it may not be al
together strange for man IN pow
erty to gamble for quick gains, but
verify the man who is deceived
thereby is not wise" Inevitably
these practices will lead to greater
poverty and deeper despair.
These lament1ble practices are
especially deplorable in the case of
man with family. 1t will result
in less food, more rags and more
misery for the children, III more
stinting, more heart-rending suf-
fering and agony for the wife. The
practice is altogether harmful, de-
plorable, lamentable and condem-
nable.
In the case of direct relief, the
county welfare departments have q
speedy and effective remedy at their
disposal; where there is evidence to
show that the recipient is dissipat-
ling his relief allowance, the relief
allowance may be changed from
cash to disbursing orders. If this
doesn't help, the disbursement or
ders may, of course, also be dis
continued.
: When it comes to old age assist
ance, the finding of remedy is 9
little more difficult because under
the statutes all old age assistance
grants are paid by individual checks
, directly from the state department
: Federal funds are also involved. The
: inference may, however. reasonably
: be made that such part of ole
: age assistance as is spent in drink.
, ing and gambling is not really need
| ed by the beneficiary. At any rate
he does not use it for his supper
and comfort, but in manner tina
) is harmful to himself and his family
!. No complaints have been made tt
this department, and we have M
evidence tending to show that an,
money given for aid to dependen
children is dissipated in this Woefu
] way. This would be the most flag
; rant and despicable misuse Of relic
! funds.
We request every county Welfar
worker and every supervisor OF wei
fare workers in every county of tn
state to watch closely for the vast
ing of relief money in any mannel
and to report promptly specific vic
lations to the county welfare board
We ask every county welfare boar
to take prompt and efficient actio
in all cases reported. All count
welfare departments may count ur
on the full support of this depar
ment in all their lawful and INTEL
gent efforts toward checking an
stamping out this injurious and III
pardonable misuse of relief fund
We make particular appeal to won
ems clubs and organization
throughout the state to collabora
in the persistent work that is n
CURED for the preservation and pr
lection of human lives against the
terrible temptations Attention mu
be given to individual cases. v
call upon all civic and religious 0
CARNATIONS throughout the state
help these unfortunate people
utilize these funds in obtaining u
highest human values.
/. w. BRANDJORD,
Administrator