The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1939-02-16
RELIEF CRISIS IS EASED
WITH A PARTIAL PAYMENT
Funds For Dependent Children
Released-COunty Order Is
Drawn On Contingent Fund
OUTLOOK sTILLUNCERTAIN

With picture of "real suffering" in
the offing because Garrett county re-
lief functions were at standstill when
it was found that a So, 700 county order
couldn't be cashed because there were
no funds collected on the 1889 levy,
this situation became partially eased
early this week when the County Com
misSioners issued cashable order of
$310.55, which was enough to release
funds for aid to dependent children,
pay drayage for surplus commodities,
and pay two weeks of administration
costs.
Miss Ethel Miller, executive secre-
tary of the Welfare Board, had stated
that there would be "real suffering"
this week when clients on the relief
rolls began to run out of food and
fuel. Up to Saturday some of the
grocery stores had been extending
credit, she stated, but some of the
managers called to tell her that they
had gone the limit on relief clients.
The situation was precipitated, she
said, by the lack of Garrett county
funds to match State OUTLAWS for old
age pension receipts, dependent chill
dren, the blind, and those entitled to
general public assistance, a
Other Funds Held Up
Even with the amount forthcoming
from the Commissioners on Monday,
funds for $40 old age pensioners, 9
blind persons, and about 1870 cases on
general public assistance, were being
held up, but Miss Miller expressed
hope that something might be done
this week. Old age pension checks
were due on Wednesday.
Outlook Is Unchanged
But the outlook remained unchanged
up to last evening, as far as any pay
ments of old age pensions were con-
cerned, but several issues were cleared
and an announcement made for pro-
posed bill in the legislature that might
eventually correct the situation.
The County Commissioners asked
bank officials to meet with them yes
terday at II o'clock to discuss the
matter. Blaine Giessman president of
the Commissioners, said the meeting
was being held "to get together with
the banks to solve the problem" At
torneys for some of the banks of the
county met in the office of E. R. Jones,
with Horace P. Whitworth and Walter
c. Capper, Allegany county attorneys
and counsel for the County Commits
sioners, included, but the meeting with
bank officials did not materialize.
Whitworth announced later that he
would draw up bill for possible pas
sage through the legislature, to allow
the County Commissioners to borrow
money from time to time at a rate
of interest not to exceed 3 percent,
instead of percent. This, it was
pointed out, would enable the Com
missioners to borrow money up to
about one-fourth of the taxes, approx
mately 100000, in the early months
of the year when no tax money is
coming in, which would be paid back
later in the year, and would relieve
situations such as had come up in re-
gard to relief.
Levied For Relief
The County Commissioners included
in the recent levy an amount calcu-
lated to take care of its share of the
relief burden, but the 1889 tax bills
were just printed this week, and pay
ments are not due until April l. Tax
payers get a two percent discount if
they pay by June 1, and they don't
have to pay penalties until October.
Funds for the county order of
$310.55 were available from the 1889
Contingent fund, because money had
been forthcoming from beer tax re-
ceipts, according to Jesse J. Ashby, Jr.,
county treasurer.
Cheston H. Browning, County COM
missioner, said he didn't know when
other funds could be raised but hoped
a settlement could be reached with
bank officials soon. Banks, which had
been cashing county orders, had
stopped doing so when the Commits
sioners announced that their attorney
had advised them not to pay interest
on them," Mr.. Browning said.
Bankers Comment
Miss Miller announced yesterday
evening that she still had the $1,000
county order but no money, which
meant there were no funds for old
age pensions or general public as
sistance.
H. C. Riggs, cashier of the Garrett
Continued on Page Five)