The people's voice., 1940-02-28

ment's Food Stamp plan for distripu-
tion of surplus agricultural products
to approximately 1900 Cascade county
public-assistanc households was as
sured today when Secretary OF Agri-
culture Henry A. Wallace, at Wash
ington, announced selection OF CASCADE
county as the first area In the state
for operation of the plan.
1t is anticipated that the plan VIII
start operating here in about MONTH
or as soon as the necessary machinery
can be set up, Jonathan Garst, region
al director of the Food Stamp division
OF the Federal Surplus COMMODITIES
Corporation, declared.
Based on the corporations expert
ence in other areas where the plan
has been operating, Garst estimated
that the Food Stamp plan will pro
vide annually an additional $4,000
worth of important surplus food pro-
ducts for the persons in Cascade eeHH-
ty now supported by some form or
public assistance. This will mean an
increase of at least this much IN the
annual business of Cascade countys
retail food stores, as the Stamp plan
provides for distributing these curplus
commodities through the regular chan
nels of trade.
Garst recommended extension OF the
plan to Cascade county after con-
ference with l. M. Brand1ord, state re-
lief administrator. He announced that
Robert D. Fem will be acting local
representative of the Food Stamp d.
vision of the Federal Surplus Com
modfties Corporation and will set up
an office in Helena to supervise the
Food Stamp plan activities in Cascade
county
A special committee Of the food in
dustry has been formed to acquaint
all local grocery operators with the
plan and seek their cooperation. All
retail food merchants will be invited
to attend a general meeting In the
near future at which the plan will be
explained in full.
Farmers TO Be Aided
The primary purpose OF the FOOD
Stamp plan is to assist farmers pro-
fitably to dispose of their surplus
food products, Garst said. The plan
is ideal in that it not only aids the
farmers, but in addition makes two
other distinct contributions to the gen
eral welfare. 1t provides more food
and q better balanced diet for public
assistance families That will improve
the public health and benefit the fu-
ture of our people. And it increases
the volume of surplus foods moving
through the regular trade channels.
That will help business generally.
Better business in the city means more
income and hence an increased market
for farm products. Increased business
activity also leads to unemployment
with corresponding purchasing power
available for additional farm commodi-
ties.
In areas where the Food Stamp plan
has been in operation, housewives,
other than public assistance recipients,
also have been benefited by the plan.
This has been due to the fact that
the increased sales volume OF surplus
food products has resulted in savings
which tend to be passed on to all GUS
toners by the retail food merchants
competing for this additional business.
over 5000 Eligible
1t is stated that out of a total pop
ulation shown in the last census as
A. ,846 in Cascade county, there are
about $500 households representing
some 5000 persons eligible to receive
some form of public assistance. This
figure includes approximately 2,400
persons in WPA families.
Participation in the Food Stamp
plan is entirely voluntary. However,
all persons certified by the State De-
partment of Public Welfare as eligible
to take part, may purchase with their
WPA earnings, old age assistance, aid
to dependent children, aid to the blind,
or public welfare department checks.
as the case may be-orange colored
food-order stamps at the rate of ap-
proximately $400 to $500 month for
each member of their family.
These orange-colored stamps are
good for the purchase of any foods
or other household commodities, nor
mally bought at a retail grocery store
other than beer, wine, liquor, tobacco,
or foods consumed on the premises.
They may be used in all participating
retail food stores, including bakeries,
meat markets, and retail dairy outlets
i'm other words, in all retail food
stores having a fixed retail place OF
business. Two blue-colored surplus
food stamps are given free with each
four orange food-order stamps pur-
chased thereby giving the purchaser
$150 worth of food for each dollar
spent. Both the orange and the blue
stamps have a purchasing value of
25 cents each.
Stamps Issued in Book Form
These food-order stamps are issued
in books similar to those used for
postage stamps. Each stamp is about
the size of an airmail stamp. The
total value of the orange stamps in
the books will range from $500 to
$1,000, and included in each book will
be half again as many free blue sur
plus food stamps. Food stamp books
will be issued from Stamp Issuing
office to be maintained jointly by the
Montana State and Cascade County
Departments of Public Welfare, the
exact addresses of which will be an
nounced at later date.
The blue surplus food stamps are
good only for foods currently desig-
mated as surplus by the United States
.lo,ort,,oopt of a apriclIlturp and so