East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-05-27


uFe meets the apprOva. Of rne voters
Is TO be divided between the schools
at a ratio Of 4-lO mills 20 the o. A. c.
for every s-lO mills that goes into the
Golfers Of the University. This ratio
Is 10 obtain tor Inc Iirst year the
fund is available. after which it may
be changed by the state board. which
consists OF the governor. the secre-
tary OF state. state treasurer and the
presidents Of the respective institu-
tons. II any Encouragement is deemed
necessary.
The taxable property within the
state al present Is approximately
$3.50, 100000. Under the millage
system a Z tax would make the fund
available for the support Of the
schools Of something over S60O,OOO
annually. To assure maintenance OF
the institutions and payment for the
construction OF any buildings neces-
sary for the construction OF any build
ings necessary before the tax fund
Is available in January. 1914. the
committee decided 10 stipulate that
the present appropriations be cOntin-
ued until the tax fund is in the hands
OF the state treasurer.
The passage Of the proposed meas
'ure' would cancel all other apprOpria-
tiOns for the schools. and leave them
dependent exclusively on the tax for
their operation and for the construc-
ton OF new buildings. or any other
line of expenditure. In short. the
proposed bill will give each institution
a permanent annual fund, and its
governing officials an opportunity TO
make their plans for the future with
assurance OF means to carry them 10
completion.
Only one objection To the proposed
division Of the tax fund was made
at the meeting. President Campbell
declared an equal division. but after
the matter had been thoroughly dis
cussed the committee decided that
the present figures should stand. The
annual standing appropriation for
maintenance OF the university is
$l25. 600, and for the o. A c. $780,
! 600. These appropriations do not in
clude funds for new buildings OF 9TH
er improvements OF similar nature.
The meeting was called by Cover
nor West early in the week and was
an outgrowth of the joint meeting OF
the regents of the two institutions al
Salem two weeks ago. which conven-
ed at the call OF the governor TO con-
slider the question Of providing sup
port for the schools. At the Salem
meeting a joint committee representing
them was appointed.
The proposed Initiative bill. pro-
viding for a millage tax. il it is pass
ed next November. Will certainly marE
an epoch in the progress Of higher
education in Oregon" said Judge
Bean. with its passage. the ques-
ton Of appropriations will be taker
out Of politics, and the two institu'
tions will have an opportunity to grow
unhampered and expand as the stats
expands, The measure is directly OF
the lines suggested by the State
Grange at Roseburg recently, which
declared for a millage tax
The regents of the schools like
wise concur in the opinion that tbs
proposed system is the best Politics
always has stood in the way Of an!
comprehensive. far reaching plan Il
build I'D the university and the ag
riculturaI college. The very fact tina
the regents OF the two institutions
were uncertain as to what treatmen
their respective appropriations woulC
receive at the hands OF the legtsla'
ture effectively killed any scheme Il
build on a permanent plan
Now IL the proposed measure Il
passed, opportunity will be given t'