The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1940-01-04
Thursday, January 4, 1910
Study of Relief Situation In Montana
Gives Much Important Information

In the December issue of the
Montana Taxpayer" there is an
Instructive article dealing with the
relief situation in Montana II is
we'll worth anyone's time to read
it. 1t follows, in part:
From 1920 to 1880 the poor fund
of all Montana counties each year
totaled 100000 although $2,500,000
could have been raised without ex-
ceeding the 6 mill levy limit if it
had been thought that finances were
inadequate to fulfill the county OBJ
legations to the needy. Prior to 1888
the entire expense of general relief,
county poor farms, county hospital
ization, old age assistance, widows
pensions, ETC., was met by the poor
fund. Practically all the recipients
of public assistance Werea unemploy-
ables.
Drought, low prices of basic COM
modities. and severe unemployment
required unusual measures. AL
though tremendous governmental
expenditures on credit except in
times of war violated fundamental
economic principles, but most peo-
pie were willing to subscribe to the
theory and not only justified the in
creased amounts appropriated, for
outright relief grants to unemploy-
ables, but also encouraged the slim
ulatlon of industry and attempted
speeding up of our whole economic
system by governmental spending
The number of publicly assisted
unemployables in the state varies
little with economic conditions, par
ticularly now that much of the cd
ium connected with being on relief
has been removed Public funds
were never originally intended to
be used to take care of the aged,
unfortunate children, or handi-
capped needy whose families could
care for them But now as high
as 10 or 80 per cent of all those SIS
years old or over in some counties
are getting old age assistance. This
change in attitude toward relief has
been principally responsible for the
steady increase in the number of I'M
emp1oyables receiving public grants.
Only the fact that increased funds
could not be provided by the 1889
legislature called a halt in the
steady growth in this group.
About the WPA
WPA was established as an outlet
for public spending and to serve as
cushion between the unemploy-
ables on relief and workers engaged
in private industry. When the num-
Der of workers on private employer
payrolls dropped from $1,000 in
July, 1887, to $4,000 in January,
1888, WPA was rushed in to provide
employment. Even with about 49,
600 on WPA there were still nearly
5000 employables on general re-
lief in March 1888. While there was
general increase in employment
both in private industry and WPA
up to the fall Of 1888, ahput-~tt2e
only effect was to reduce the numN
Der Of employables on relief.
In January. 1899, the gradual in
crease in employment in industry in
the state was checked, otherwise a
drop in WPA should have occurred.
WPA, being organized on a project
basis whereby the local sponsor and
federal funds are provided often
several months ahead of actual ex-
penditure, is not quickly responsive
to increases in private employment
As a matter of fact, il there is to be
real recovery, private payrolls
should expand SO as to squeeze the
WPA entirely out of the picture.
While the WPA may have served
legitimate purpose in the general
public welfare situation, a good
many communities are wondering
how they are going to pay not only
for the capital investment but for
the maintenance of the many public
Improvements that have been I'M
dertaken AS an example, Great
Falls not only increased its net in
debtedness over a half-million dol
lars this year but also has acquired
an airport, civic center, and park
and, playground system that maxi
mum tax levies will not support
without sharp curtailment of other
city operation. Bozeman has reached
the point of saturation of public
projects with new county court
house, a new county high school,
four new grade school buildings and
a greatly expanded recreation plant.
If WPA is to continue, civic leaders
are beginning to wonder about fu-
ture local finances.
Farm Relief and Farm Incomes
The same relationship that should
exist between private industry and