University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1912-09-26
THE NILL.TAX AMENDMENT.

City and decides how to spend the
funds of the state. Before it go rep
resentatives of all the state institu-
tions and men urging all kinds of
state activity, asking for appropria-
tions for their various projects. The
state is besought for funds for good
roads, for the support of the state
charitable institutions, for salaries of
state officers, for administrative eX-
penses, for the support OF the Univer-
sity and the College of Agriculture,
for the public school system of the
state, for the carrying on of the work
OF the numerous boards and commits
sions of the state and for a thousand
and one other things.
Upon the General Assembly de-
wolves the task of dividing the limited
funds at it's disposal equitably among
the various claimants. Missouri's
tax rate is low-too low in fact, as
most men of advanced ideas are will
ing to admit. Very few of the causes,
however worthy, can be given all they
need. Their work is in consequence
hampered.
The public elementary and high
schools, especially in rural districts,
are handicapped by lack of money.
About half of the school districts offer
only five months of school or less.
The normal schools are forced to exc
out their funds by fees from their
students. The University, which is
the head of the whole school system
of Missouri, and of which all Mis-
sourians are justly proud, can not
reach its highest degree of usefulness
to the people because it is constantly
in need of more money to meet its
expanding conditions. Missouri ranks
twenty-sixth among the states in the
amount spent per capita on the Uni
versity.
The present need of the state is a
separate fund for it's various educa-
tional institutions, SO that when the
General Assembly considers how
much money the University needs, or
Kirksville Normal, for instance,
needs, the amount need not be cut
down lest there be nothing left to
build good roads CT to carry on the
work of the State Board of Agricul-
ture.
The proposed mill-tay amendment |
which will be voted on in November
provides for a tax of one mill on the |
dollar, at least one-fourth of which |
much go to the public elementary and |
high schools of the state 1t is ex-
pected, although not required. that
the revenue derived from this tax
will be divided evenly among the ele-
mentary and high schools, the state
normal schools and Lincoln Institute,
and the University. 1t is estimated
that this would give the normal
schools and the University little more
than at present, but that the lower
schools would receive about S5JO, 900
more from the state than at present
They would then be able to have
eight months of school a year and
pay their teachers adequate salaries:
rural high schools could be main
tanned in every county, and agricul-
ture. domestic science and manual
could be added to their cur
ricula
On the other hand about a million
dollars from the states general reve.
nue. would be freed for other state
work such as good roads, or for re-
1ucing the general taxes
The University would not be made
Independent Of the people, as was
argued would be the case with the
mill tax amendment defeated two
Tears ago, for it would still need to
20 to the legislature for appropria-
lions from this special fund.