Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-02-03
OREGON
ALUMNI
SOCIETY
File An Argument for the state Uni
versity Tax Measure.

bal, which carries an appropriation
of $125,O0O for the support and
maintenance of the state university
and which has been held up for a
referendum vote, upon the demand
of Linn county grangers and others,
Saturday filed with the Secretary Of !
States Frank w. Benson a 1000
word argument in support OF the bill |
This argument will be printed In
pamphlet form, along with argu-
ments advocating the adoption or re-
lection of other initiative and refer
.endum measures. and copy will be
mailed by the secretary of state to
every registered voter In Oregon. A
law requiring the secretary of state
to furnish these pamphlets TO the
voters was enacted by the last legis-
Iature.
The argument filed by the Oregon
alumni Is a plea for a better state
university. II shows that the uni
versity attendance has increased 2S
per cent since last year, despite the
referendum, and that there are now
400 students in the departments at
Eugene, exclusive OF the department
OF music and all other side issues.
Lowest Appropriation I'm Union.
Figures are cited TO show that the
present appropriation OF $47,5O0 per
year is the smallest in any state In
the union for the support OF Its state
university. A table OF figures shows
that the entire cost per student TO
the state Is less in Oregon than in
any other state in the union, with the
single exception OF Iowa. The sal
aries of the president and members
OF the faculty are compared with the
salaries received by college presidents
and instructors in other states, show
ing that oregon pays smaller salaries
than are paid in other states.
In the matter OF equipment and
building II Is shown that oregon Is
at the foot OF the list, the total value
OF land, buildings and equipment a.
Eugene being s350.000.
The present condition of the uni
versity is dwelt upon, showing that
olassrooms and laboratories are over
crowded and that no relief can come
until new buildings are erected.
The effect OF n veto OF the appro-
priation bill by the voters OF tho
state upon prospective immigrants Is
dwelt upon at some length, as Is the
tendency OF oregon's young men and
women to attend colleges In other
states. IL is urged that a well-equip-
ped and -well-supported state uni
verslty would keep within the borders
of the state some 900 young men and
women who yearly go elsewhere for
their higher education.
The state university is spoken NJ
as an institution of the whole peo-
pie. where rich and poor alike can
secure an education. Statistics show
that 60 per cent OF the young men az
Eugene are earning their own way
through college, and that the lnsti-
tuition Is a poor mans school.
Head of Public School System.
The relation of the university 10
the public school system is dwe.t
upon al considerable length. IL being
shown that the university is nothing
more nor less than the head Of the
state public school system.
The arguments advanced by the
enemies OF the university In their
campaign for signatures TO the refer
endum petitions are combatted in a
most vigorous manner. A strong
argument Is made for the lump sum
o. S1z5,O0O per annum, without
segregation, and a statement Is made
as to the intention OF the board OF
regents in the matter OF the eXpendl-
ture OF money. The continuing nom
segregated appropriation, says the
alumni committee. has been tried IN
other states and has served 10 take
state institution out OF politics ami
TO prevent the necessity OF their
/ friends from running TO the legisla-
ture every dime small appropria-
tlon is wanted.
Il Is shown that In the event OF the
Eaton bin becoming a law, the cost
to the man who pays taxes on $500
worth OF property will be 12h cents
per year. while the man who pays
taxes on $4,000 worth OF property
will nay but 81 per year.