Montana labor news., 1939-03-30

in the face of the unemployment
situation prevailing in that town at
the present time, that even Butte
would come under the classification
of Glass One. So it is very evident
that the total revenue derived would
be relatively small and would not
approach the fabulous figures men,
toned by the proponents of the bill.
In other words, the chief purpose of
H. B. 1927, was not to raise revenue,
but to legalize gambling. AS a reve-
nue. raising measure it was COM
parable to the Hickey bill which
did moi raise the revenue which it
was claimed it would do, but merely
enabled the short card artists" to
have a Roman holiday under the pale
of the law.
Now let us see where the alleged
revenue would go. Sec. 80 of the
bill clearly states hal all revenues
drived shall go to the general fund.
The charges have been freely made
that by killing this bill there was
caused a shortage in the appropria-
ton for the Welfare Act. AS none
of this money was allocated specifi-
cally for any purpose, this charge is
without any basis whatever. The
money for the Welfare Act is appro-
priated from the general fund, and
if there is no ready cash to meet the
appropriation, warrants can be
issued. Of course this would lead
to an unbalanced budget which is
Objectionable to our chief executive
of the state. Placing the Importance
of keeping a balanced budget over
the welfare of the people of the
state, possibly caused the action
taken by the administrator of Public
Welfare to cut the sums allocated
for the various departments.
But let us see if it was necessary
to make these cuts.
There was appropriated for the
period beginning with March 2, 1899.
and terminating June 30, 1899, the
sum of $847, 800 which was ear
marked as follows: Old age assist
ance, $780, 900; aid to needy dependent
children, 500, 500; aid to needy blind.
$4,000; service to crippled children.
$12, 900; child welfare service, $4,000.
for general relief and contingencies
1926, 1000; for administrative costs
$50, 900. In addition there was APP
propriated all balances remaining
unexpended from appropriations
made for the department for the
period terminating March l, 1899.
The bill passed the House with
the above provisions, but the Senate
cut the total sum to 100000. I was
a member of the joint conference
committee to consider the Senate
amendments and was requested by
the liberal bloc to "hold tough fol-
the House appropriation. W. re-
quested the attendance of the state
accountant at the meeting of the
Joint committee and we were in
formed that there was unexpendec
in the Department of Public Vel
fare the sum of $145, 900 and that
there would also be recovered from
the various counties from sums adj
vanced by the state the sum of $780,
900 which would revert to the fund.
making a total sum available for all
purposes of $895,000 or more than
was originally appropriated. How
ever, the Senate, which had orig
inally refused to earmark the appro-
priation, receded from this amend
ment, feeling that if the sums were
not earmarked, it would be possible
for the administrator to use all OF
any amounts for administrative pur-
poses.
This undoubtedly led to the adj
ministrator becoming disgruntled
and led to the arbitrary action Of
reducing the amounts to the clients
The entire mistake was in the
Governor not needing the recon-
m%endations of the committee which
investigated the Department of Pub