Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1911-01-06

the fact that the authorities al
ways have a definite basis to figure
on. The legislature is more or less
a changeable body, and unless a de-
finite amount is provided, the au-
thorities and tho state institutions
never know what to count on. Very
often hardly enough is appropriated
for maintenance. Again great
deal is appropriated so that work can
be started, which must later be given
up when an economical legislature
comes into power.
Economy
3. The experience in other states
has shown that mill tax law is an
economical measure since it prevents
eXtravagant and wasteful riders"
from being voted through with the
appropriations for education. 1T
prevents log rolling" and wire pull
ing among representatives of diff
ferent parts of the state when less
worthy measures are played against
the educational appropriations. It
saves much time and annoyance to
the legislators themselves.
1t adds to the dignity and self-re-
spect of the school men themselves
by relieving them of the necessity Of
engaging in this unwilling, unplcas-
ant, but necessary struggle for eMs-
tence, which is an unwise use Of the
time, energy and ability of the presi-
dent, trustees and friends of an in
stitution, and puts a premium on
political leadership rather than edu-
cational leadership. The general
progress in this country is toward
academic freedom and the elimina-
ton of politics from education.
DR.. Cyrus Northrup, president Of
the University of Minnesota, writes
that his institution has been sup
ported by mill tax of twenty-five
hundredths of one mill per dollar
since 1878, and it will probably
never be repealed. 1t has frequent
ly been, in the past, exceedingly di fiji
cult to secure needed direct appro-
priations by the legislature, while a
mill tax covering several times the
amount of direct appropriations has
been passed without much difficulty.
A mill tax once passed generally con-
tinues for a series Of years, thus
avoiding the necessity whenever the
! legislature meets of resorting to
COMMUNICATION support my
measure and l will yours''-which
are sometimes of questionable char
acter, in order to secure legislation
which is absolutely necessary. A
mill tax is seemingly so slight that
it does not raise the violent opposi-
ton to be found in an attempt to
pass direct appropriation, and again
the proceeds of the mill tax con-
tinue to increase as the property of
the state increases The mill tax in
the state of Minnesota has doubled in
the last ten 1000 in
1900, $265,OOO in 1910.
DR.. Webster Merrifeld, for 25
years president of the University of
North Dakota, writes as follows:
Il was chiefly responsible for the
: passage of the mill tax in North Da-
kota for the support Of the uniyer-
sity and other state schools, and was
at the head of the University of
North Dakota during ten years of OPP
GRAFTON under the tax. My opinion
as to the superiority of the mill tax
is % certainty; (2) avoidance OF
eral state schools before the appro-
priation committees of the legisla-
ture CD increase of income from
from year to year fairly proportional
to the growth of the state in wealth
and the growth of the university in
numbers and needs. Before the pas.
beforehand whether or not the uni
versity was going to receive a fairly
adequate appropriation for main
tenance. There was a recurrence
each biennial period of unpleasant
rivalry between the different state
schools. There was need of almost
constant and always undignified lob
bying throughout the session of the
I legislature. ! am confident, too,
that the university has habitually re-
ceived a larger annual income from
the tax for maintenance than it
could have hoped to receive during
the same time from direct biennial
appropriations. Few members Of
the legislature Of 1899 which passed
the mill tax realized or yentured to
say how large an income 1t would