The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-01-22
MILL TAX FOR
The UNIVERSITY
slLL SOON TO Be PRESENTED TO
CREATE FUND FOR STATE
UNIVERSITY
MI Amend Present Laws on Tara.
ton on Real Estate for State
ard School Purposes for
Use % West Virginia
University.
tBY ~. n. kEYsER.l
(Star correspondent.J

AotAU Ooffcsponuentl
CHARLESTON. W. Va. Jan. 81
A bill providing for a mill tar TO ere
te funds for the support OF the State
university will be presented TO the
legislature soon. The bill was pre-
pared AZ the instance OF. and h being
heartily endorsed by. the alumni of
that institution. and IL IL also recon-
mended by state Superintendent of
Schools NJ. y. Shavkey. In his annual
report.
The bin would amend the present
laws relating TO the rate Of taxation
on real and personal property for
State aud State school purposes for
the use and maintenance OF West Vir.
ginia University. and the amount OF
the distributable school fund.
II proposes on all such property ex-
empt from taxation for the year 1915
and thereafter direct tax not TO ox-
coed ten cents on the hundred dol
lara valuation. for the above named
purposes. II provides that the board
OF public works shall Ak the amount
OF tho levy for the use and mainte-
nance OF the West Virginia University
al Ave cents on the hundred dollars
valuation. the proceeds from such
levy TO be appropriated as a universi-
~ fund. TO be expended according TO
the laws now in force or a. may here
after be amended
In addition TO the tax OF five cents
on the hundred dollars valuation for
the University fund. the board of pub
lie works may levy a further tax. not
10 exceed a like amount. for state
purposes or may appropriate II to the
state and state school fund
Levy May BE Reduced.
The board may. within its discre-
tion. reduce and fix the amount OF
the leyies TO any amount not less than
one cent on the hundred dollars val
uation: provided. that the amount ap-
portioned to the distributable school
fund from all sources shall not be less
than $4,000 annually. and that the
amount from all sources apportioned
as University fund shall be for each
year not less than the equivalent OF
the five-cent levy for that year The
act does not restrain the Legislature
from making appropriations OF state
funds for the use and maintenance OF
the West Virginia University, in adj
dition to the University fund created
by the act.
Origin Of Movement.
The Idea for a special tax for the
support OF state universities is not
new. The movement. however, TO OBJ
tain such continuing tax for the West
Virginia University is a new one and
originated with Hon. +. c. Cmith. of
Clarksburg. president OF the Univer-
sity Alumni association. After inves-
ugating the situation very thoroughly,
Mr.. Smith reached the conclusion that
the paramount need OF the University
Is continuing mill tax which will
"a
maintenance. When such idea was
brought before the Alumni Associa-
ton At its annual meeting last year.
1914, that body voted unanimously
favoring IT,
The Alumni Association in its cam.
palgn TO create sentiment fayorine the
proposed plan. has Issued a circular
containing arguments for the mill tar
as set forth by Mr. Smith. In an ad-
dress delivered by him en- The Needs
OF the University" before the yVasf
virginia Board OF Trade. al its annual
convention in Wheeling. last October
rms circular also contains extracts
from mill tax laws for university sun.
Port from the statute books OF Illinois.
indlaha, Michigan. Minnesota and
wisconsin. and quotes the opinions OF
several university presidents a. to
the successful working OF the plau
arguments FaVoring Tax.
In SUNNI arizing it's arguments favor.
ing the mill tax, the alumni associa-
tion says:
\ continuing mill tax. or fraction
Ihereof' for the university will make
Tor permanently and economy.
me Increase tax due TO Increase Of
values will provide for growth OF instI.
tuition.
Plans for the future DEVELOPMENT Of
a university maintained BY taxation
can be made with certainty.
II Is not a wasteful method. tho
increase In the number OF students
attending state universities. during
the past ten years. has been more