The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-09-29

Of 1887, and in sections 14s and 149
pledged this state to do it's part in the
following language:
The legislative assembly shall pro-
vide at it's first session after the
adoption Of this constitution for a
uniform system for free public
schools throughout the state, begin
ing with the primary and extending
through all the grades up to and in
cluding the normal and collegiate
course.
In all schools instruction shall be
given, as far as practicable, in those
branches Of knowledge that tend to
impress upon the mind the vital i'm
portance of truthfullness, temperance,
purity, public spirit and respect for
honest labor of every kind"
The federal government treated the
other states with equal liberality. It
Is matter of humiliation to some
Of them and to this nation as whole
that In some instances the trust funds
thus created for educational purposes
have in part been lost through i'm
proper management or unfaithful-
ness to their trust. In making these
grants. the federal government has
done its part. It rests upon us to do
our part. May we not hope that this
generation and each succeeding gen.
GRAFTON will be faithful to this trust
to the end that good citizenship and
good governmen shall be forever es-
tablished in this state?
1t is appropriate on this occasion
to suggest at least two particulars In
which, upon reflection it will be
found, think, that We have been de-
linquent. The first relates to the care
and management of the trust funds,
and the second to its use. Under the
| provisions Of our constitution the
land grants and funds derived there
from are placed in the care Of the
board of university and school lands,
which is composed of five state Of
flcers. The primary and paramount
duty Of these officers Is to the Office
which they are specially chosen to
fill. These duties are burdensome.
and Of necessity practically require
their undivided attention. Their SER
vices as members of the board Of un-
iversity and school lands is neces-
sarily Of a secondary character. It
therefore follows that the manage
men. OF the school lands and school
funds is largely left to subordinates.
When the state was in its infancy
and the school funds were small,
this organization was adequate. 1t
is now manifestly inadequate. At
this time, the interest-bearing school
funds, including bonds, mortgages
and contracts, amount to $20.SS0,-
74773. This is approximately three
times the amount of the entire capi-
tai Of the state banks Of this state,
and is $4,000, 100000 in excess of he
entire capital stock of national and
state banks. Manifestly, the manage
ment of this great and constantly in
creasing fund is business PROPOSE
tion and should be dealt with as such.
We as state owe it to the federal
government and to the citizens of the
future to administer this trust with
the highest fidelity and according 10
the best known business methods
desire to submit this question to
the educators of this stat. and TO
those who are interested in I'll, cause
Of education: Have we no. reached
GuC pCAAOu III Jul SIdtC
when the administration OF our school
funds shall be put upnn a different
basis where they will be protected
by the same business judgement, ex-
perience and skill which are applied
to the administration Of private
funds of such magnitude?
My second suggestion relates to the
unnecessary waste resulting from To-
cal jealousies between tho state in-
stitutions. There is general ten
dency upon the part of the public, as
we'll as those directly interested, To
regard each state institution as be-
longing to the community where it
happens to be located: that is, the
university as Grand Forks institu-
ton; the agricultural college as a
Fargo institution: the normal schools
as Valley City and Mayv.i's institu-
tions. This is all wrong. Each in
stitution is but an agency of the state
in carrying out its scheme OF ctluca-
ton, and the citizens of all parts of
the state are equally interested in
them and in their success. The evils
Of these local prejudices are mani
fold. They tend to duplication of
work and duplication of courses of
study, and compel an appeal to politi-
cal conventions and log-rolling leg
islation for support. Each state in
stitution Is entitled to be supported
and r'salntained in its proper sphere
and in full measure without the me-
ccssity Of resort.ng to such methods.
We have had more than twenty years
Of statehood. Is 1t not time for us to