The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-10-16

1t was declared that there was
plenty of "buck" passing between adj
ministrators, the county boards and
the state board, and no one seemed
to be able to pin any of them down to
definite decision.
Confinement cases were declared to
be badly handled.
| Economy seemed to be the watch
word rather than the well-being of the
patient.
Complaints were also registered in
the manner in which commodities
we're being distributed that although
plenty of the desired articles were in
stock, the recipient was often denied
his request on the grounds that the
department was out of that particular
size.
The methods of checking off the
articles on the forms provided by the
department was declared to be anti
quated and out of date; that 1t was
possible to credit said articles to the
recipient after he had signed the form
and left the office; that in several
instances when the recipient had re-
turned at a later date for other ar
ticles, he was denied the articles on
the grounds that he had received them
in the first instance.
It was declared by the witnesses
that 1t was almost impossible to ar
rance meetings with the state board |
in order to carry appeals to them from
the county boards.
There seemed to be no one in a
position of authority who knew just
when the state board would meet.
Cases were cited where the case
in the various counties
showed partially toward recipients.
Complaint was also registered over
he fact that some counties paid by i,
ssuing disbursing orders while the
aw requires that payments be made I
n cash or in warrants payable in cash i
IN demand Il
Several counties were represented f
nd the evidence from those counties s
vas along the same lines.
Your committee feels that in view a
f the foregoing facts, a change in the h
ntire administration both in the adj 6
office and the board is f
and necessary; that closer
upervision be maintained by the ad-
Illustrator over the various county
nits so that there will be more uni
)rm method of administering relief;
nat the meetings of the board should
OF be as secretive as they have been
the past; and that arrangements d
aould be made so that meetings of
lie board would be advertised in the a
arious newspapers so that those con- h
srned could have an opportunity of a.
opearing before the board. tc
Your committee is of the opinion
lat the amount of money made avail Il
,untes, state, and national govern Oh
ents is sufficient to provide ade- pl
late relief and old age assistance to
of those entitled thereto in the
ate of Montana, provided that the
oneys were properly distributed and
4 unQuly dpSOTpcu lfiiou9H C*PcH- -
,e administration policies. 1t is the pr
Union of the committee that the m
eIfare Board, and in particular the 81
ate administrator, is lacking in the
cessary administrative and execu-
e ability for such an important Of
e.; and it Is the thought of this COM
ttee that said board should be so
organized that the administrative Ay
iIity be provided.
We feel that if we failed to make
according to our ah
dings that we would be remiss in
duties as an investigating COM
tee:
i. That the office of public rela-
rs representative be abolished; a.o
That closer supervision be had
the board through its administra- uu'
over the activities Of the county
is; r
That salaries of department :.
DIS and supervisors be graduated
inward in an effort to cut admins op'
ion costs, and that a closer check
K