The people's voice., 1959-01-09
Continued From Page Two)

data is now being gathered. Worl
toward Columbia River Compact is
still in progress. 1t is stalled at the
present time due to the refusal of
Oregon and Washington to agree to
the Compact draft. Therefore. no
Compact will be submitted to this
Legislature for its approval. Never
theless, | want to commend the Mon
tana members of this Commission for
their tireless efforts.
[ am happy to note that the Lower
Willow Greek project in Granite
County will be the first one under
taken in Montana under the Water
shed Protection and Flood Prevention
Act. This type of flood prevention
and development of our water re-
sources at the headwaters is definite
ly beneficial. 1t accomplishes the job.
without flooding large amounts of
taxable land and displacing people
from their homes.
If Montana is to continue to make
progress in the future, then we must
all work together in the use of our
water My record is clear. | will con-
tinue to work in the best interests of
the development of the Treasure State
through the most beneficial use of our
water in Montana.
| hope you will give continued sup
port to the efforts of the Montana
Water Conservation Board in their
important field.
PUBLIC WELFARE
The State Department of Public
Welfare will probably narrowly miss
asking for supplemental appropria-
tion. am certain we are all we'll |
aware that this is due mainly to the
increased relief load in one or two
counties. In view of this situation,
this 36th Montana Legislative AS
sembly must face and answer square
ly two questions concerning public
welfare spending in Montana.
The first is whether people all over
the state should pay such large por-
ton of the general relief costs. These
occur in just few counties, due in
many instances to low tax base. The
second is whether the taxpayers of l
The entire State of Montana should t
support the operation of large county |
hospitals in just two counties-Silver
Bow and Cascade. I
First, you have the power to in c
,rease the four-mill emergency levy t
n the poor fund before a county could g
Iualify for grants-in-aid from the n
State. This would mean that those t
ew counties which continually re- v
eive aid could carry a greater share e
# the general relief and medical care
These costs are the ma |;
or reason for the large increase in I
he State Welfare Department. budg- e.
t request for the next biennium. Il
hey are also exclusive of the prob e.
I'm involving county hospitals. A two
ill increase in the levy would permit Sc
budget cut of more than half a p,
lillion dollars. This would be an e.
increase which could prob t
bly, be removed when the present re- pl
Justification program is completed. OF
You also have the power to enact m
'gislation so that any county wishing fl
, operate a hospital must make ia
,ecial levy for this purpose. This be
ould enable a cut of 425 thousand
ollars in the appropriation request a
n General Relief and Contingencies. FL
would also eliminate the spending fiji
funds over which the State of a
ontana has no control. Administra- an
On and control of these hospitals are as
e duties of the Boards of County an
fu
The State Public Welfare Board is of
king for increased funds from you tai
lie to nearly two million dollars Gel
4, 1,938,000) in increased anticipated pu
quirements for eight counties. Some shC
this is unavoidable. However. you un
n save nearly million dollars in she
preparations just by following the EI
o suggestions l have made. The de-
ion is up to you. A solution must
found or this situation will con- ~ ~
ue to get worse.
IILD WELFARE aut
)VISORY COMMITTEE dol
The greatest treasure in the Treas per
2 State-our youths the subject