The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1952-04-04
LETTERS TO The EDITOR

cial need should not automatically de-
prive anyone of the common rights en-
! joyed by the citizenry of which he is
a part" This philosophy is not only
American in spirit but carries on the
spirit of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights proclaimed by the Cen
eral Assembly of the United Nations
Cart. 12) mo one shall be subjected to
arbitrary interference with his privacy,
! family, home or correspondence, nor to
attacks upon his honor and reputation.
Everyone has the right to the protec-
ton of the law against such interfer-
ence or attack"
Does this protection of the private
rights of citizens receiving public
aid mean that the taxpayers money
is wantOnIy thrown about and that
he has no right to know how it is
spent.
Welfare administrators are acutely
conscious of their responsibility to the
taxpayers (most are taxpayers them
selves) and are as careful of expendi-
lures as time, energy, and obtainable
knowledge permit At the same time,
according to law, they must give serv-
ice to those in need. Administrators
are anxious for your interest. The So
cial Casework Council of the National
Social Welfare Assembly states Quot
ed in the Bulletin noted above): "Wel-
fare programs do not operate behind
an iron curtain of secrecy. Everything
about them is and should be open to
the public except the identity of the
individuals being helped. Under pres
ent legislation complete Informal
ton about individuals receiving public
assistance is available to legislative
Investigating committees, grand juries
and law enforcement officials as need
ed in carrying out their duties related
to the administration of the assistance
programs. Public welfare policies, pro-
cedures, regulations, budgets and sta
tistical records have always been open
to the public. Such information should
be more widely used. The taxpayer
himself should understand the kind of
program his money is used for and the
kind Of need it is intended to meet.
He should know whether it's admins
tration is efficient and is doing it's
best to maintain and rehabilitate those |
Tor whom the program is designed. To |
this end those charged with the adj
of the program have an
obligation to carry on a continuous in |
depreciation to the public of general |
Information concerning the causes of |
dependency, the standards and methods
used in determining need for help, the
'iNO
alton to the cost of living, the efforts
made to assist people to become self
the total expenditures, the
number of persons receiving such help
md the number and kinds of employees.
such information should be dissemin-
tied by every means of public commun-
cation - the press, radio and public
Drums. All agencies should have
strong citizens boards representing a
ross section of the community"
Let us think wisely and humaneIy
before we Iegislate away the rights
of some of our citizens. Except for
the grace of God, there go II
ELIZABETH COWARD SHIPMAN,
st. Ignatius, Montana
c Lewistown Daily News
c Peoples Voice.
EDITORS NOTE+ Should Rep. Paul
Workings proposal become law it
yould prove embarrassing to many of
ur citizens, not on relief For ex- 3,
mple, consider if you will the case of
he mother of one prominent member
t the 1851 Legislature, who, through :
o fault of her own, must have old age
ssistance. Should she, or any other
lother be Inundated by publicity, all !
ecause her several children can't or |
ont provide for her in her few re- I
laining years? g
Or, take another exampIe-the 622
silicOtfcS, who, longer able to G
work because the company will ! |
not clean up its mines, must try and t
subsist on 81 pitifuI $50 per month |
from Public Welfare. Should the i
names OF these unfOrtunates be pub t
icized: OR-shOuId the ACM and
other mining-smeIting companies be t
DubIicised for what they are-para- 2
sites on the body pOIitics