Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-02-05

We are forced to the conclusion that
some of those earnestly working for
the npbnildng Of our educational ia
cilities have allowed themselves to ar
rive at the conclusion that the first
aim and object of statehood is higher
education. We find that our educa-
tional institutions, instead Of being
each link in our educational chain,
are in fact, possibly unconsciously,
competitors Of each other This is
evidenced by their disposition to in.
fringe on and overlap in the particu.
lar field for which each or these insti-
tutions was created to fill. Instead
of confirming themselves to the purpose
for which they were created, each one
evidences a desire to make Of itself
great universal educational institu-
tion. This effort to build each up at
the expense of the others has produc-
ed competition, overlapping and du
plication. This duplication in courses
of study or division into small groups
of those desiring particular branches
has added many thousands OF dollars
needlessly to our tax burden and has
reduced the efficiency OF the schools
themselves. This duplication neces-
sarily increases the faculty and ap-
paratus and all the overhead charges
of our institutions 1t has created a
spirit of rivalry between the institu-
tions, when in fact they should CO.
ordinate and work together. a,,. .a
Board Of Regents,
| Your committee is Of the opinion
that the system OF the different
boards of trustees and the normal
! board of control can never correct
this. We believe that to reduce to it's
| minimum the local control of these
different institutions some other
method than the present one must be
adopted. After most careful inquiry
we are of the opinion that said boards
of trustees and the said board of nor
NAL control should be abolished, and
that one board should take over all
of the powers of management and
control of these several educational
institutions. We are satisfied that a
proper board of regents could remedy
the evils that we feel exist, in the
management of said institutions, ana
would increase their efficiency at a
great reduction of cost. We there.
fore recommend the creation of such
board. We find that some Of our in
stitutions are more wisely and econ.
omically managed than others, which
will be evidenced by the appropria.
tiOns that your committee will later
recommend.
Wasteful Leaks.
Your committee has not, to this
time, discovered anything that indi-
Gates graft. but complain of a system
Of wasteful leaks aid lack of business
efficiency. A consideration Of the fin
ancial history of the state indicates
that this lack of efficiency and 'busi-
ness management has increased rath-
or than decreased. Your committee
is of the opinion that we should at
this time make change toward econ
omy and the exercise of ordinary bus
mess Judgment, and demand Of each
etbsca Aional Institution and depart
ment that the waste and leaks there
in should and must be corrected.
The different Institutions and those
objects for which funds have here
tofore been created by the mill tax
system are now asking that the legis-
lature, by direct appropriation out Of
the general fund. reimburse them III
the amount which the decision Of the
supreme court reduced their appro-
priation.. In other words, they are
asking this body to give back to them
by direct appropriation the amount in
dollars that the supreme court said
We didn't have and therefore could
not give to them. Some Of our insti-
tutions are in such shape tha the leg
islature must. either in whole or in
part, provide them With sum equal
to the reduction in the mill tax An
appropriation Of these amounts out OF
the general fund will only further re-
duce the amount of the general fund
for general state purposes, and neces'
state another percentage reduction
by another readjustment of the su-.
preme court Instead of the fraction
al part Of mill being a reasonable
basis of income when applied to our
valuation. it has in fact become indie
ative Of nothing except that It musc,
from time to time. be reduced so that
the other departments of our govern
ment, which have precedence of our
institutions in the opinion Of the SUI
preme court. may be cared for.
Repeal Mill Tax.
In view of these facts, your CON-
mittee can find no suggestion other
than to- recommend that the mill ta>
system be. at least temporarily, re-
pealed until such time as the general
fund of the state becomes large
enough to take care of our several
branches of state government. Under
60 poo I.Isr<a n