The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-04-01
Funds Not
Large Enough
Says Ford
Not Enough Money
Provided For Care
OF States Wards.
BLAMES SOLONS AND
PUBLIC'S INDIFFERENCE
Bq Harry T.. Carlson

HELENA-W.H = Post-lepislative
repercussions sounded from Gov.
Sam C.. Ford's office this week fol-
lowing stern reprimand to the
citizens of Montana and to the 1913
legislature dealt by the governor
in radio address last Saturday
night.
The outlook for inmates of Mon
tana's penal and custodial institu-
tons is desperate" Gov. Ford de-
clared and blamed short-sigf7ted
economy minded legislature for the
unfortunate conditions that exist
The legislature, guilty as it is of
almost utter disregard of the well
fare Of Montana's unfortunates, is
alone to blame. 1T is a most unfor-
tunate fact" Gov Ford said, that a
great majority of the people of
Montana show little or no interest
In these institutions and are indif-
ferent to their management and
care given the inmates.
For instance, the governor cited,
How many of my listeners would
want to live on six cents a meal?"
That sum, he said, is all that is
allotted to each inmate of the over
crowded state hospital at Warm
Springs.
In considering appropriations for
the balance of the present fiscal
year for state institutions, the legis-
lature failed to take into account
greatly increased costs of food and
clothing, he said. Not only has the
cost OF these necessary items in
creased 40 per cent during the past
year, but many of the cheaper
items used in large quantities can
not be had and we have been forced
to buy more expensive items, thus
greatly increasing the cost of OPP
Grafton"
Because of the far insufficient
funds appropriated, a serious crisis
faces the state hospital, the orphans
home, industrial school for boys. vo-
cational school for girls, state pris-
on and the school for the deaf and
blind, he said.
The state board Of examiners,
the business head of your govern
ment,' gave the most careful con-
sideration to requests for such APP
preparations, spent days in arriving
at amounts we believed absolute
ly necessary if we were to operate
these institutions effectively and
properly" and submitted the budg-
ct to the legislature
But unfortunately they were
brushed aside and the legislature
substituted its judgment for that of
the heads of the institutions and
the state board of examiners
For the state hospital we asked
for an additional sum of $4,000;
they gave us $4,000; for the state
training school at Boulder, $4,000;
they gave us $4,000; and similar
ill-considered cuts were made in re-
gard to the other institutions, he
said.
Il can say to you now that these
institutions cannot be operated I'M
til June 80 on funds available. We
cannot starve these Unfortunate peo-
pie and we cannot close the institu-
tons. 1t is obvious that we must
operate on credit to large extent
and present deficiency claims to the
next legislature. Whether this can
be done under existing laws is
doubtful Thus, you will see we are
face-to-face with very desperate
situation"
Additionally, he said, the appro-
priations made for the next year are
$4,000 less than requested by the
board. Just how we will be able to
carry on and give these inmates the
care they should receive is a ques-
ton most difficult to answer"
Another disgraceful condition al
lowed to continue by close-fisted
legislature is that some 30 to 40
predetermined children are now
housed with the insane, many of
whom are hopelessly insane. We
had planned on removing these
youngsters to the training school
where they properly belong, but
now this cannot be done.
Consequently, these children
must continue to live with the in
sane and the overcroWded condi-
ton at the hospital must continue
all because of the lack of sufficient
funds to do what should be done
for these unfortunates."
Il am thoroughly convinced" the
governor concluded, that until such
time as the public takes a greater
interest in its institutions, until such
time as you demand the appropria-
ton Of sufficient funds for the
proper operation and conduct of
these institutions and provide suit
able care for the inmates, the legis-
lature will not make adequate pro-
vision for them.
Public sentiment and active pub
lie interest alone will awaken the
members of the legislature to the
responsibility we owe and should
cheerfully assume for the inmates
of our custodial and penal institu-
tons.
I'VE cannot maintain our self-rp-