The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-12-17

other words, the Federal Government Con
S55 month basis) would pay S35, the state
1888 and the county S6.67. Any amounts
over $55 are paid by the state
1t is necessary to point out that S55 is in
adequate when the cost of eating the cost
of clothing, the cost of everything a poor
man buys has sky-rocketed to new heights
Mr.. Legislator: What would you do in times
like these if all you had to spend for living
was $50 per month?
That is not the worst of the situation. Under
the Montana law the Welfare Board is au-
thOrized-and does-file liens against any
property old people own, and, of course, this
lien is superior to anything but the taxes and
a first mortgage When the old person dies
up comes this lien, and if the property is
worth the amount of the money advanced the
property is sold for this purpose unless the
heirs decide to redeem the property and pay
the money back which the aged person had
received for Old Age Assistance. In other
words as the law operates, make the
aged of our state paupers before they can
draw dime from the Welfare Board. In
short, we help the aged only when he is down
and completely out, and, if he still clings to
the little property that insures his self re
spect, we take that away. We make sure
first of all that he is pauper and an aims
beggar. If he is not completely down and
amended with a provision that funds shall
be paid to recipients as a matter of right and
not as an aims gift.
We have neglected our own people while
have been attempting to bring the four
freedoms to all corners of the earth and
feed the hungry of all the world. do not
say we should not help the starving people
IN other countries, but should not pour
out billions for that purpose without a
whirnper, while our aged and needy are in
want.
Let us keep the U. S. A., and particularly
our Montana, sound and always committed to
peoples government where all the people
shall enjoy the four freedoms. We should
never allow conditions to develop in Mon
tana where want, suffering, and distress over
take the aged, needy, and helpless. And you,
Mr. Legislator who, during the sixty-day pc
Rod is being confused and confronted by
an army of lobbyists and pressure groups
looking for something for nothing, please
give little thought to the old pioneers and
needy who made the Montana you live in
today and whom these unfOrtunateS look to
for protection when they are no longer able
to do for themselves This, in my opinion, is
your responsibility, Mr.. Legislator, because
you and you alone can help these unfortunate
people.
Let these aged and helpless people of Mon
they helped make possible, and state they
helped to build by their years of toll, is the
kind of Legislature that does not forget them.
Make it possible, by legislation that these
pioneers shall not have to stand in beggars
line, and that our loyal State and elected en-
ployes shall have the same rights and bene-
fits already given to millions of other Ameri-
can workers under the Social Security Act
as amended in 1854 Only you can help them
and yourselves to more economic security
in old agel
EDITORS NOTE: By adopting enabling
legislation permitting public employees to elect
to come under the benefits of the amended
Social Security law, Legislators can also in
crease the retirement benefits for which they
themselves will be eligible. Social Security
coverage while on the job in Helena would
keep them from losing retirement credits
which would otherwise be due them in their