Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-07-13

/. M. BrandjOrd, state admins
traitor Of public welfare, states that
during the calendar year ending
Dec. 81 the state department Of
public welfare paid TO counties
from state and federal funds 81
2I5,239-5O. This included payments
for Old-age assistance, aid TO de-
pendent children, aid 70 needy
blind, general relief and admins
trative costs Of county welfare de-
partments.
''Under the statutes of Montana"
said Brandjord. counties are required
to reimburse the state department one
sixth of the total payments for two OF
these welfare activities, old age as
siStance and aid to needy blind. They
are required to reimburse the state
one-third of all payments made for
aid to dependent children and they
are required to reimburse the state
one-half of the money distributed to
them for county administrative costs.
These repayments, If made In fun,
would amount to $3.50 ,842.43, which
would still leave a net gain to the
counties for the calendar year Of S.
375, 39707.
at is realized, of course, that the
people in each county pay their share
Of state and federal taxes, but as
RCbWCC4A GUILTY llLlIo Oll tllC O1lC nddkQ
and state and federal on the other,
the net gain to the Sc counties in fl
nancing the public welfare program
amounted to $3,375, 397.07.
Counties Fail to Pay
Some counties failed to make re-
Endorsements required. OF the reim-
burSements required from the counties
accrued prior to Dec 81, 1899, the sub
stantial sum of $210,823.60 remained
unpaid at the close of business May
81, 1940 Eventually, these delinquent
reimbursements will no doubt be paid
but for the present they tie up that
amount Of money which should have
been paid out as assistance to old
people, as aid to needy children and
for the other benevolent purposes In
tended by the public welfare act. These
delinquent reimbursementS automatic
ally reduce the sum available for these
purposes by the same amount.
TN addition to the foregoing ac-
tivitieS in which the counties pay
share of the expenditures, the state
department of public welfare and the
federal government are carrying on q
number of other joint activities OF
benefit to all the people Of the state
in which the counties pay no part.
The principal ones are as follows:
Services for crippled children, child
welfare services and the distribution
of surplus commodities
Other Expenditures
During the calendar year total ex-
penditures of state and federal funds
for locating. and examining crippled
children, for surgical and medical
treatment and disqualification, for
after care, ETC., amounted TO SIT, 1881.
The sum spent from federal and state
funds during the same period for help
ing orphaned, neglected, dependent and
delinquent children, and finding homes
for these children, amounted to $751;
SO8.34.
THE state department is also spon-
soring a WPA project for distribution
Of surplus commodities to needy peO-
pie The cost OF this project during the
last calendar year amounted 30 $42,-
0O5.31 and the retail value Of the COM
modities distributed including clothing,
has been calculated as amounting %
81 1871 ,594.96.
SThe total of these three activities
Is 81, 50O, 522.11.
Counties are not required to pay
any part of the cost Of these three
humane programs. No attempt has
been made to calculate the benefits
10 each county, but 1t Is evt-
dent that they are very substantial
They average more than $2.70 for every
man, woman and child In the state.
For Medical Treatment
During the year the state depart
merit spent several thousand dollars
exclusively from state funds for medi-
cal and surgical treatment Of needy
blind persons. AS q result Of these
activities about 20 blind persons had
their eyesight restored.
Through its superintendent Of
charities and reforms the state de-
Dartment is also carrying on the wogk
that was formerly entrusted 70 the
state board Of charities and reforms.
The superintendent is regularly visiting
poor farms and county hospitals
throughout the state, al city end
county jails and other charitable ana
correctional institutions. Better quar-
5erS and better treatment Of the me
mates are the objects, and substantial
have taken place"
The average annual temperature at