The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-08-06
Continued from Page One)

in the Real Estate Law.
However, this money does not
stay with the department and will
not be used for the enforcing of
the Real Estate Law.
This money went into the general
fund, and each session the Commits
sioner of Agriculture must go to the
legislature and ask for funds to
enforce the law the fees were sup
posed to pay for.
The last fiscal year the depart
ment has worked with an appro-
priation of 5000 dollars. Out of
the 5000 dollars the department
must pay printing costs, including
the Directory of Licensed Real
Estate Brokers and Statesmen that
the law states must be printed and
distributed each year to all real
estate brokers, postage and other
costs incident to issuing licenses.
By the time the above costs have
been met one hearing held by the
commissioner can deplete the re-
mainder of the appropriation.
There are no funds for field per-
sonnet within the scope of $500
dollar legislative appropriation.
Therefor, the commissioner has
no way of knowing when dishonest
practices are being carried on.
He might perchance see in a news
paper an item that would give him
cause to question, such as law suit,
etc. Any complaints brought to him
are always investigated, but as the
commissioner says, many people do
not know where to go for redress
when they believe they have put
themselves at the mercy of an I'M
scrupulous real estate broker. Few
people, on their own guess, would
approach the Commissioner of Agri-
culture to protest real estate trans
action.
There are so many in the bust
ness" says Albert Kruse, land there
are no means of knowing when and
where any of the INSCRIPTIONS deal
ings are being carried on"
Often by the time the commission
er finds out about malpractices it is
too late to do anything. Even work
ing under economic handicaps lot
of money has been recovered for a
lot of people by the state Department
of Agriculture, enforcing the real
estate law.
With about one-third of the
money paid in fees returned to the
department, the Commissioner has
to pound the pavement for days at
time tracking down a newspaper
item or complaint he has re-
ceived to enforce the law.
Other Commissioners have been
accused of "lackadaisical" enforce
ment. 1t is obvious, however, that
as long as there is an insufficient
appropriation no amount of vigorous
activity by one man, already dele
gated multiple responsibility, will
accomplish the policing of the real
estate profession.
AS things stand enforcement of |
the Montana Real Estate Law pre- !
sents ridiculous situation.
There are violations of the law |
as shown by records in the Commits
sioner's office. Boom areas are nat !
ural habitats of the unprincipled OPP
orator, but Undecided they can OPP
crate any place. They can fail to
account for or remit money, they
can use devious routes to make added
profit from sale or they may mis-
represent or make false promises
Some of the suspected dishonest deal
ings will take research and the full
time of one man for perhaps several
months at a time. Any dealings of
this nature would not be done with
out concerted efforts to cover them
up.
The responsibility of detecting
these practices and putting an end
to them belong to the Department
of Agriculture, and specifically to
the Commissioner.
knowledge that conditions exist
that demand attention and investiga-