Montana labor news., 1939-07-13
Contrasting Pensions
High Class Pensions

Sutherland of U. S. Supreme Court
resigned from the bench at the age
of 70, having served Is years, he
retired on a full yearly salary of
$4,000 per year for the rest of his
life; no property qualifications re-
quired and only n proviso insert
ed-"that he might be called on to
serve in the lower courts, if needed"
Likewise, retiring presidents, or
their widows, receive a $4,000 an
nuity from the Carnegie Endowment
Fund with the only proviso attached
that they shall have performed their
duties satisfactorily while in office.
L0w-Class Pensions
Years back, old age pensions were
non-existent all over the union; the
only course open for the INDECENT
aged was to take a pauper's oath
and go to the poorhouse, unless he
had relations or friends willing to
take care of him. Of recent years,
state old age pensions are becoming
more numerous throughout the coun-
try. With most, if not all, state old
age pension setups the applicants
have to sign over their little homes
OF take what amounts to a pauper's
oath in order to get old age relief.
Generally they get but a vague
amount set by the different pension
boards and considered by them to
keep the applicants in decency and
health. This runs in Montana all
the way from S. to SIS, the federal
government adding an equal amount,
the government share in no way ex-
ceeding SIS per month.
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Extracts from Montana Old Age
Pension Law session 1885, Chap
ter ITO:
Sec. g.. The State Old Age Pen
sion Commissions duty is to see that
assistance is administered uniformly
throughout the state, having regard
for the varying costs of living in the
different counties. Rules made shall
be binding upon the County Old
Age Pension Commissions and the
counties.
Sec. II. Granting of Assistance.
Upon the completion of such in
vestigation, the County Old Age
Pension Commission shall decide
whether the applicant is eligible for
and should receive an old age assist
ance grant under this act; the
amount of the assistance and the
date on which the assistance is to
begin.
Sec. 81. Claims Against the Estate
of An Assisted Person. AT the death
of a person to whom the assistance
is granted or the last survivor of a
married couple, the total amount of
assistance since the first grant, to-
gether with 5 per cent of interest,
shall be deducted and allowed by
the proper courts out of the pro-
ceeds of his or her property as a
preferred claim against the estate
of the person so assisted and re-
funded to the state and county in
the proportion Of the assistance paid
by each, leaving the balance for dis
tribution among the lawful heirs in
accordance with law.
Sec. %. Assignment Of Property
by Recipient. Commission may re-
quire that property be assigned to
county commission.
Sec. 26. Fraudulent Acts. Any
person who by means of a wilfully
false statement or representation, OF
by im~personation or other fraudu-
lent device, obtains or attempts to
obtain, or aids or abets any person to
obtain:
l.. Assistance to which he is moi
entitled;
2. Greater assistance than that to
which he is justly entitled;
8. Payments of any forfeited in
stallment grant;
4. Or aids or abets in buying or in
any way disposing of the property
of the recipient of assistance with
out the consent of the County Old
Age Pension Commission shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor.
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