The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-02-05
Your Legislature
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welfare department has been referred
to the appropriation committee for
consideration. l am firmly of the
opinion that all members of both the
house and senate desire to increase
the payments to the needy aged of
65 years or more and to the needy
children and blind as provided for in
our welfare act There is considera-
BILE sentiment in favor of the proposal
of matching the federal governments
offer of participation up to $4,000 a
month and provide a monthly old age
pension of $4,000 per month. Two al
ternatives have been suggested to pro-
vide the states and counties share of
these payments, one would be, of
course to discover new methods OF
revenue and the other would be to
effect economy in our state and coun-
ty government to offset these in
creased welfare payments. Two years
ago. after adjournment of the 1889
session, the welfare board, arbitrarily
reduced payments to recipients and
publicly placed the blame on the legis-
lature for not appropriating sufficient
money. 1t is my belief that if the
last session had any idea that welfare
payments would have been reduced no
support for the proposal would have
been found. 1t is certainly hoped that
the welfare board will have no excuse
for making any reduction after the
conclusion of this session | am sure
the members of this legislature will
leave no stone unturned in working
out satisfactory solution of this
pressing problem.
Several bills have been offered along
the line of the governors recommen-
dation for some type of legislative
bureau or committee to start re-or-
ganization and consolidation in state
board offices and bureaus. House Bill
No. so introduced by Cannon and
Toole would create a legislative coun-
Gil, with power to hold hearings on
proposed legislation of all types and
make recommendations to the incom-
ing legislature. This bill is now in
the judiciary committee for considera-
tion.
Another bill provides for a seven
member committee to consist OF two
members of the house and two OF the
senate and three other members
elected at large and to be appointed
by the governor has been introduced
in the senate and will no doubt receive
early consideration of both houses.
House Resolution No. l by Toomey
has been signed by the governor.
This provides for a committee of six,
three from the house and three from
the senate to study government re-or-
ganization to report back to the as
sembly by February 18th.
House Bill No IA by Mernin and
others relating to recognizing Silicosis
as an occupational disease and plac-
ing the same under the scope of the
workmen's industrial compensation
laws has been referred to the work
mems compensation committee for
consideration.
Senate Bill No. dealing with the
same subject but placing the Silicotic
victims under the provisions of the
state welfare act has been passed by
both houses 1t is now conceded by
all factions that Silicosis sufferers
are entitled to compensation. How
ever, whether the payments should be |
made by the welfare department or |
from workmen's industrial compensa-
ton fund is the question at issue.
House Bill los introduced by Oliver
for a sales tax is now in the commit
tee on revenue and taxation for con-
sideration. Considerable opposition
has made its appearance to this meth
cd of taxation.
Several gambling bills have been
introduced and are now in committee
on revenue and taxation for consider
alton One or more of these will no
doubt find its way to the floor of the
house for action within a very short
while
House Joint Memorial No. to con-
gress by Mrs. Martin requesting the
enactment of the Townsend Plan
passed both houses by an over-whelm- |
ing majority, which is conclusive evil
dence that our legislators feel that |
some action must be taken to settle |
our old age pension problem.
The fish and game committees of
both houses, of which Arnold is chair
man of the senate committee and Can
non, acting chairman of the house
committee, have held joint committee
in an effort to work out a
revision Of the entire "fish
and game CODE" Considerable prog
Tess has been made and a flood of
bills covering the out-growth of these
should make their ap- I
9earance in the house before the dead