Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1895-07-25
NO SCHOOL TAX LEVY.
Peculiar and Serious Commission From the
Enrolled School Laws Passed by the
Last Session.
Helena independently


The startling discovery was made
yesterday that the state of Montana
has no law 10y which a tax can be
levied for school purposes. There is
Il clear omission from the codes of
two sections-the most important in
the school law, too-which viii
necessitate either an exceedingly
liberal construction of the remaining
laws or a special election in every
school district in the state to remedy.
As the matter now stands not n
public school in Montana has a cent
of money to begin the new year on,
and it has not been officially decided
how the commission is to be corrected.
The trouble is laid to the typewriter
by those who ought to know. A
careful comparison OF the printed
bill, as it passed it's first and second
reading in the state senate, after hav-
passed the house, with the code,
which was taken from the enrolled
copy, gives color to the excuse. The
explanation offered is that when the
engrossments among his assistants,
either he or they ommitted page.
1t so happened that, although break
was made i'm the middle OF a sentence,
the ends connected smoothly, and
the error was not discovered. But it
was an egreglous error, nevertheless.
The sections omitted would have
been sections ,94l and l,942 OF the
Political code. As it is, the thread is
lost at 1,94O, to be taken up again
i'm that which is l ,94l in the volume
but i'm reality should be 1943.
The sections affected by the error
are under the heading school Funds. !"
The first begins:
The principal of the state school
fund shall remain irreducible and
permanent. The. said fund shall be
derived from the following sources,
to-wit: Appropriations and dona-
tions by the state to this fund; dona-
tions and bequests to the state or
common schools by individuals; he
proceeds OF land and other property
which revert to the state by escheat
and forfeiture; the proceeds OF all
property granted to the state, when
the purpose OF the grant is not
specified or is uncertain; funds accum-
ulated in the treasury OF the state
for the disbursement OF which pro-
vision has not been made by law; the
proceeds OF the sale of timber, stone,
materials, or other property from
school lands other than those granted
for specific purposes, and all moneys
other than rental recovered from
persons trespassing on said lands;
i've per centum OF the proceeds OF the
sale OF public lands lying within the
state, which shall be sold by the
United States subsequent to the
admission of the state into the Union
as approved by section 1o OF the
enabling act; the principal OF al
funds arising from the sale OF lands
and other property which have been
and may hereafter be granted to th'
state for the support OF the common
schools, AMI
Right there the break comes
After that word "and" the printed
bill continues: "such other funds a
may be provided by legislative enact
ment." Then come the two sections
mentioned above and few words o
another section. But instead of con
tinuing, land" "such other funds,
and so on, the code skips a page AM
says, "and":
At any time when in their judgment
it is advisable, submit to the qualifie,
electors of the district the question
whether a tax not to exceed 10 mill
on each dollar on the taxable prop
erty i'm the district shall be raised &c
purchase lots and to furnish addi
tional facilities for said district, or t.
maintain any school or schools il
such district, or for building one o
more school houses, or for removip
or building additions to one alread,
built, for the purchase ofglobes, maps
charts, books of reference, and othe
l appliances for teaching, or for any o
all of these purposes.
The joint fits smoothly enough t,
deceive the average observer, bu
here is the slice left out, which begin