The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-04-19
APPROPRIATIONS
ARE VERY heavy
EDUCATIONAL BUDGET BEFORE
LEGISLATURE is NEARLY
TEN MILLIONS
UNIVERSITY REQUESTS CUT
INSTITUTION SECURES ALMOST
$1,3OO,OOO LESS THAN RE-
GENTS ASKED FOR

GENTS ASKED FOR
st. Paul, April 16.-With the For
tieth Minnesota legislature fast draw
ing to a close the principal concern
of house and senate members is the
several appropriation bills. Each car
ries some item of interest to every
member and his main interest is in
seeing that this district is not left out.
When this letter was in he making
the house had given it's sanction to
the educational budget, carrying to-
tai of $9,736,S23, the largest amount
ever set aside for educational pur-
poses in the history of the state. Still
in the balance was the budget for the
state appropriations for the conduct
of the various state departments and
miscellaneous activities, remains to
be heard from. The last named car
ries the greatest interest. Senate and
house are in tangle over the amount
to be set aside for the use of the state
board of control-nearly $3,25O,0O0-
but settlement is in sight. The SEN
ate wants about 100000 added to this
particular budget and it is understood
that the house will agree. A good
part of the excess is for the school for
the feeble minded at Faribault which,
because of the crowded condition,
needs aid. While this educational bud
get is the largest in the history of the
state the house was hard pushed to
keep it down to the amount named
and the chances are even that when
the senate is called upon to give it's
approval additions will be made.
While nearly $1OO,OOO,OOO is amount
set aside for state educational pur-
poses the figure comes nearer being
$11, 100000, as both houses have al
ready approved an appropriation of
$1,O74,0OO made some time ago to
cover a deficit in school aid growing
out of the appropriation for such pur-
poses two years ago. In agreeing to
the total of $9,736,S23 for school pur-
poses the state university was cut
nearly $1,3O0,000. There will be no
new buildings as a result. Aid for
high, graded and rural schools totals
nearly $6,OOO,OOO.
1t has been stated that of every dol
lar raised by taxation in Minnesota
over 80 cents goes for the support of
the states educational institutions.
The present budget is partial verifi-
calon of the charge and the chances
are excellent that the figure will Icon
tinue to grow with the years if some
thing is not done. State aid for high,
graded and rural schools is now fought
Tor as eagerly as in the days when the
biennial cutup of the road and bridge
fund was the chief legislative event.
Former Governor Eberhart and former
State Auditor Iverson were confident
enough five years ago to indulge in the
prophecy that within the next ten
years Minnesota would be a state
without tax levy. Extraordinary re-
celpts at that time and to come were
supposed to do the trick. Instead of
dropping, however, the state tax rate
is climbing, and rapidly at that. Next
year will see the highest rate in
the history of Minnesota. AS chair
man Of the house appropriations COM
mlttee Representative Theodore Chris
Hanson of Dawson has consistently
fought every increase in any item in
the several budgets, but the odds at
times have been overwhelming and
he has had to give way.
Relief from the alleged the excessive
ephone tolls and telephone corporation
abuses will either have to be obtained
from the state railroad commission or
the next legislature. The commission
is In charge of public telephone affairs
In the state and is now engaged IN
making a physical valuation of tele-
phone properties in the state with
view of ascertaining whether the rates
now charged are just and proper.
Hopes OF relief from the present leg
Islature went glimmering when the
senate sent to the discard the Glotz-
bach bill directing that all telephone
rates in the state be returned to the
figure they were in 1915 1t was fol-
lowing the passage of the telephone
control bill two years ago that the
big companies, anticipated a cut
raised their rates from 33 1-3 to so per
cent. Though there are nearly 100000
telephone users in the Twin Cities
alone and their annual contribution to
the big telephone companies runs into
the millions impending telephone leg
islation did not even receive passing
mention in the Twin City papers.
Minnesota will be fully equipped to
cope with all war troubles when the
differences growing out of the passage
of the Sullivan public safety commits
sion bill are adjusted. Because of
amendments made by the house the
measure went to conference. This bill,
in way, puts Minnesota on an imme-
date war footing to the exent of pro-
viding a commission of five to handle
all interior troubles, enlist and assem-