The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-29
AN xDUCATToNAL NEED

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Taxes are Inevitable. And they ng-
ure ~ largely IN political campaigns
as they do ON the days when they
must be paid. Candidates for ONCE.
from the governorship down. wage
their campaigns largely on promises
of an economical administration.
They hope either to reduce taxes, or.
at most, keep them whore they are.
And this Is particularly true of the
campaigns that have been waged for
the Kansas state offices during the
past few years. Such Intentions are
for the best and not to be questioned,
but they brush up against cold, hard
facts. when the successful candidates
duties. Their campaign promises do
the vote-getting variety do not recon-
cile witt the facts OF a developing
commonwealth and its demands. And
the problem then is for the members
of legislature and governor to di-
vide the wheat from the chan in the
matter OF opportunities for appropri-
atoms so that they can come as close
as possible to keeping their campaign
pledges to the people, and at the same
time do their best by. the state and its
institutions.
Under these circumstances some in
situations suffer worse than others
But it will be q short-sighted policy if
the legislature takes this toll on the
states educational institutions. There
is crying need at these institutions
for a more serviceab1e equipment in
the way of necessary buildings to car
~ on their work. For four years now
the edu ltiona1 institutions of Kansas
have been struggling along without
appropriate for new buildings. In
t. ) matter of such equipment. they
are far and away behind the educa-
tional institutions that are supported
by, other states. They come to the
legislature asking for approximately
100000 for thi~ purpose. This is
administration thai has supervision
over the states colleges. It Is almost
an open secret that the immediate
needs Of these institutions for new
buildings total no less than $2,4OO.0 O0.
in view Of the failure of past legisla-
lures to provide for the need of their
times. But the board Of administra-
ton scaled these down to tho bone.
and this bone is the $1,000,000. or
nearer 100000 that is asked in the
budgets of the educational institu-
lions for new buildings. And surely
no ono should be better able to Judge
the needs Of the educational institu-
tons in this and all other particulars
than the members of the board Of adj
ministration. They are as interested
in q reputation for themselves for
economy as they are for efficiency.
And their word to the legislature in
such a particular should be accepted
at its face value, as it has been by the
senate committee on ways and means.
In this connection. and in the mat
ter of taxes, it might be well for the
people to bear in mind that the ap-
propriation1 of the legislature cut only
q small fieure insthe tar receihts that
t, ey receive from their county treas
urers. Compared with county and
city taxes. the state taxes approach an
almost negligible quantity. For in
stance, in Topeka this year the total
t rate, for city, county and state
purp oses was 1.725, or $1.72h on
each 800 Of valuation. How much
Of this was for state taxes? A paltry
IL mills, or 1 cents on 500. The
county levi ID almost twice this sum,
or 20 cents on. the 500; and the city
the balance, 67.5 cents for city pur-
poses snd 20 cents for the mainte-
nance o. the city schools.
So, as matter of fact, the appro-
priation activities of a legislature has
only a small part to pla. in the taxes
that the people are compelled to pay
1t is the local, the city, the county
and township taxes that pile up the
BIT den. This being the case, the leg
islature can i'll afford to be niggardly
in its appropriations for the state
schools, and the people will have nc
complaint to make. They realize, OF
should, that the immediate future OF
Kansas is dependent in a large meas.
ure on the adequacy of it's free edu-
cational institutions, and this cannot
be attained without the equipment il
buildings that these institutions need
| .1..@..l7...-9
Another KanSas Day has come and
the commonwealth 10 able to report .
prosperity and progress that is bet
ter and larger than anything ii sha!
yet enjoyed. Ad astra per aspera
that's the Kansas motto. BY thei
works Kansans have proved their de
| .yo<Sor 70 And fnrfho ovtont tho