The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-04-15
Says There's q
Reasonable Answer
To Ford's Complaint


In a recent radio broadcast Gov. |
Sam B. Ford charged an economy
minded legislature with RESPONSE
bilitv for lack of sufficient funds
for the running of state institutions.
This has caused much argument
over the state. The other side OF
which is given by Tom Stout, edl-
tor of the LewistoWn Democrat
New. member of the legislature
and also member of the approprla-
tons committee of the house. Says
Stout in an editorial.
In a radio broadcast Saturday ev-
ening. Governor Ford takes the 18th
legislative assembly severely 10 task
for what he claims was is failure
to appropriate enough money for
the states custodial institutions.
Whether or not the Governor IS
justified in making this serious
charge against the coordinate
branch of our state government only
time can tell. Admittedly the full
amounts of the sums requested by
the heads of the institutions and
by the state board of examiners of
which the chief executive IS as
sumed to be the dominant member
were not granted by the assembly.
But it is also a fact that substantial
increases were granted to all the
institutions referred to. BY way OF
example. the appropriation Tor the
state hospital at Warm Springs
DIETER known as the insane asy-
lum1 for the coming blennlum IS
Sl99.250 greater than the budget
/ for the present biennium. Compar-
/ able percentage increases were CIV
en- to all the other institutions.
The Governor complains that
whereas $4,000, by way Of a de-
ficiency appropriation, was asked
for the state hospital to meet ad-
ditional expenses up to the end
of the fiscal year, June Both, only
/ S35 900 was granted by the as
sembly. In this connection, a spe-
/ cial Joint committee from the two
houses made personal investiga-
/ ton of conditions at that institution.
They found that large quantities OF
surplus foodstuffs had been pur-
chased and were on hand, wise
action. we believe, on the part Of
the management of that institution,
and it was the judgment of the COM
mittee that $4,000 would carry It
through.
Tn drafting the various institution
appropriation bills, fhe members
took into consideration the in
creased cost of foodstuffs and sought
to make allowances for them. Il
they did not provide enough funds
to meet any emergencies which
might arise, the next assembly car
be dependent upon to receive any
act favorably on any deficiency
bills which may be presented. tn,
writer found the members OF tn
assembly just as much concerne'
) over the proper care of the inmate
of our custodial establishments a
the Governor processes to be, bu
t their combined judgment did no
permit them to accede to all of tn
, extravagant requests for funds 70
all manner of projects requested
or suggested by Governor Ford TO
| the reason that they were desirou
; of keeping intact some of the sub
! stantial surplus in the states gen
eral fund against the time whe
much additional money will mos
2 certainly be needed to meet som
i future war and postwar emergen
cies. 1t is the deliberate judgmer
!, of the writer that the members {
the assembly were more intent uE
< on safeguarding the welfare Of tn
|. taxpayers and people generally {
J the state than were Governor For
: and his associate spenders.
The writer, having been only a
c inconspicuous member in the m
nority in the house, should perhaE
: leave it to Governor Fords oW
party members to reply to h
S charges, but we do not feel dis
n posed to permit to 60 unchallenge
!, his attacks on many capable reput
:, lican legislators whom we found
4 be sincerely DESTROYS of perform
It ing their duties with Intelligent
and devotion to the best interests
the state.