Laurel outlook., 1946-09-04

PLAN BODY PROPOSES
TO SPEND S4,500,O00
While the nation went deeper in
debt the state of Montana accumu-
lated an unspent surplus and is
now faced by the problem of judi
ciously spending four and a half
million dollars, a situation it has
never before known. To keep the
luscious jackpot from being sucked
up by crackpot schemes, the legis-
lature authorized Governor Sam
Ford and IL others to make a sur
vey of state owned and operated
institutions, with the view of
spending the money where most
needed and for the states best in
terests. The commission, without
authority to go farther than to con-
duct a survey and make recon-
m%endations, has completed its work.
How the survey was made, what
was found, and the thickness of the
proposed slices was a subject re-
viewed Tuesday at the weekly
luncheon of the Rotary club by
E. A. Blenkner, Columbus attorney
and Saltwater county representa-
tive in the legislatures lower house.
Blenkner is vice chairman of the
postwar planning commission that
conducted the survey. He was in
PRODUCED by B. NJ. Harris, president
of Yellowstone banks at Laurel and
Columbus and member of the Ro-
tary clubs September program
committee.
The surplus has varied from four
and a half to five and a half mil
lion, accumulated in about four and
a half years. The planning CON-
mission consists of three from the
house, three from the senate, four
appointed by the governor and the
governor himself. With one excep-
ton none of the members are from
counties containing state institu-
tons, a design intended to prevent
harity-at-home distribution of the
surplus in the states general fund.
When the Legislature was Great
ing the commission, Blenkner OPP
posed paying per diem to its men,
Ders. Later he found himself one of
he II who were to work without
pay. However, necessary expenses
we're provided.
Every institution owned by the
state has a leaky roof. That rang
IS from an earth roof on a build
ng at the industrial school for hard
.o-manage boys at Miles City to
buildings elsewhere with tile and
Upper roofs. All are old, have !
'een repaired many times and all
iced fixing. .
In most instances the sites ap-
ear to have been chosen with the
Jew of finding the worst possible.
,ome are in cattail swamps, one |
S menaced every year by two riv- |
RS, others are on barren, gully-cut
There are one or two excep-
ions. Those in the low spots are
eriodically subjected to flooded
asements, and all the roofs leak.
One by one the speaker told
richly of condition of the plants. a
for the normal school at v
'illon, all need repairs, extensions n
nd even rebuilding if they are to e
satisfactorily perform the work for IL
hich they were intended. At first c
lie four and a half million looked c
Ike a good-size piece of money, but
hen the needs were summed up it s.
as found to be rather small. is
AS he was going down the list, Il
lenkner paused to pay tribute to Il
lie too small, under-financed tuber- n
llosis hospital at Galen. It's pres 81
It head, DR.. Terrell, was a patient ty
ERE in his youth. He vowed to m
turn when cured and do his best
r others with the white plague. m
e eventually graduated from medi- to
] school, served his i~nternship and So
udied on the Continent. When he Pr
turned to America he came to &C
allen and has done much. With
hospital of sufficient size he is tn
nfident he could stamp out tuber- w
in Montana. pl
The commission found its work SO
and consequently inter- a
ting despite the frequent instanc- til
of pressure brought by chambers Sc
commerce. The chancellor of the al
eater University has expressed er
Continued on Page Ten) pr