The Western news., 1943-01-28
Seeks New
Set-Up
Bill in Legislature
Would Change Handling
of MOntana's Finances.
PLANNING TO CARE FOR
RETURNING SOLDIERS
BY David Loehwing

HELENA-W.P)-A bill calling for
complete new Montana financial
code was scheduled to be introduced
in the Montana house of representa-
tives this week, according to Rep.
r. c. Dillavou, R., Yellowstone,
chairman of the house committee
on reorganization and majority floor
leader.
AS contemplated by Gov Sam c.
Ford's state reorganization pro-
gram, the bill will call for the
creation of state department of
finance governed by the board of
examiners.
The board would appoint state
director of finance, who would in
practice become the czar of Mon
tanas fiscal structure, controlling
all state expenditures subject only
to review by the board.
The new code would also set up
an allotment system of state bud
getting to provide greater control.
over spending by melting out funds
appropriated for state departments
in quarterly portions.
If the code is adopted by the
legislature, Montana will become
the thirteenth state in the nation to
have adopted such a plan within
the past decade, according to a re-
port by the Municipal Finance Of
ficers' Association.
What is termed lack of coordi-
nation of the processes of financial
administration in Montana by the
firm Of experts employed to set up
the reorganization program would
presumably be corrected by the
new code.
The experts, Griffenhagen and
Associates, claimed that latter the
appropriation acts are passed the
various spending agencies are left
ia handle financial matters very
much as they please and to use the
appropriations as if they were bank
accounts"
The fiscal code bill is the most
important and probably the most
controversial portion of Gov Ford's
reorganization program, which also
calls for establishment of state
personnel administration under the
proposed department of finance.
The State, County and Municipal
Employees Union (AFL) had ap-
parently beaten the reorganization
forces to the punch, however, with
a personnel bill Of their own.
Rep. Barney McGreevy, D., Deer
Lodge, gave notice in the house of
intention to introduce a bill at the
request of the union which would
set up a merit system for the en-
ployment of all state workers. It
would function under the direction
of a separate department of per-
sonnel, consisting of three members
and director to be appointed by
the governor with the consent of
the senate.
The facilities of the personnel de-
partment under the union bill,
would be available to- city and coun-
4,r rrnxyarr, ", on4c for ,tca II, cp1aotipu q
their employees The bill calls for
a $4,000 appropriation.
Sen. Leonard Plank, D., Liberty,
and Rep. Paul Cannon, D., Silver
Bow, the two minority floor lead
ers announced the democratic par
ty will seek to have the states es-
timated $4,000,O00 surplus impound-
ed to provide funds for postwar
rehabilitation.
They said democratic members of
both houses had agreed at party
caucus that program for the re-
hahilitation of returning Montana
service men after the war is the
paramount issue of this legislative
session"
A committe was named at the
meeting to draw up necessary legis-
lation to provide for the impound-
ing Of all surplus funds, now exist
ing or to be accumulated, pending
legislation for its disposition.
Companion bills will be drawn
to set up a postwar state planning
board which would include state
officers, members OF both houses o1
the legislature and representatives
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