Montana labor news., 1939-09-14
WELFARE MEETING AT
HELENA SETS BLAME
ON STATE OFFICIALS
Continued from Page y

Continued from Page y
Brandjord, in the presence of the
assembly, that the Public Welfare
Department knew since last March
that there wasn't sufficient money
to operate the department and that
Mr.. B~randjord had done nothing to
obtain additional money that he
knew was needed. 1t was further
pointed out that Mr.. Brandjord and
the state board refused to apply to
the State Board of Examiners for
the necessary money; that suit had
to be brought against Mr.. Brandjord
and the state board to compel them
to apply to the State Board of Exam
liners; that Mr.. Brandjord and the
state board hired private counsel to
appear for them in the action,
though the Legislature had provided
a special assistant attorney general
to advise the department and act as
its counsel; that the state boards
answer filed in the Supreme Court
alleged that the Legislature knew
that it was appropriating too little,
when it was a matter Of public
record that the reduction in public
welfare appropriations was request
ed by the Governor upon the promise
that relief standards would not be
cut; that the legislative committee
was led to believe that there was a
balance of over $4,000 carried over
from the previous period and other
money in the sum of $25O,OOO would
be available to the Welfare Depart
ment; that Mr.. Brandjord knew that
the public welfare accounts were
many thousands of dollars in the red
at the time, and that the $250,0OO
was not available; that Mr.. Brand
jord, knowing these facts, did not
appear before the legislative as
sembly committee or attempt to ex-
plain the true condition of the Public
Welfare funds.
The question as to who is to blame
is not important to those who are
looking for enough to eat-nor does
the sympathy expressed, help.
Everybody from case-workers to the
Supreme Court have expressed
sympathy. All the public officials
of the state and counties admit that
there is not enough money to care
for those in meritorious need, The
Supreme Court has declared that
the Legislature alone has the right
to appropriate money for the Public
Welfare Act. The whole thing is
thus boiled down to the absolute
necessity for a special session of the
Legislature. And the Governor is
the only person who can call a
special session. The assembly was
unanimous that a demand be made
for a special session. Each locality
represented pledged itself to make
known its wishes to the Governor
and to the local members of the
Legislature. The committee of IS
was instructed to make demands,
through the secretary, that the Gov
ernor meet with the committee on
a day to be named by him. In case
he refuses, an application will be
made to the Supreme Court for a
writ of mandate compelling the Gov
ernor to meet the committee and
hear its petition for a special ses-
sion and its remonstrance at his
failure to act upon previous demands
that something be done to relieve
the necessities of the people.
The Public Welfare Council has
tried every means to obtain action
from the administration. The ques-
ton has been taken to the Supreme
Court. Indeed, the attorney for the
Council has made many appearances
before county and state boards; and
relief committees have been active
in presenting the cases of persons
actually hungry, to the local boards.
Five deaths are attributed to the
failure of the Welfare Department
to provide for the needy; children
are unable to 60 to school; and the
health and decency of large num-
bers of citizens of the state has been
endangered. It is unbelievable that
the Governor will not even consent
to talk to those who have, at great
personal inconvenience and expense,