The Ordway new era., 1920-10-29
Carl Bryant Urges
Aid for Colleges

Carl Bryant, a student at tho Uni
yersity of Colorado at Boulder sends
the New Era letter for all the pc
ople of this community and in it
he urges q vote of yes on the edu-
Sational amendmens. Carl fs an
Ordway boy and well known here.
His letter follows:
Boulder, Colorado.
October 10, 1920.
Editor of the New IRA.
ordway, Colo.
Dear Sir:
1t is without the knowledge as to
how your readers stand in regard
to the Educational Amendment which
is to be voted upon at the coming gen.
eral election, and because of q de-
sire to contribute to the success of
that amendment, that this letter iD
written.
No doubt the people of Crowley
county-have. long before now, heard
some propaganda relative to this mat
ter, and are heartily in favor Of it;
but as stated above, 1t is a lack of
this knowledge that prompts tho
writer to contribute this.
The Educational Amendment, so
called. is an amendment to the con-
stitution CT the state of Colorado,
which will give the legislature Of the
state power to levy higher millage
for the up-keep of state educational
institutions, namely: the University
of Colorado, Agricultural College,
State School of Minos, State Teachers
College and the State Normal.
According to the constitution at
I . fl...
mills on the dollar may be levied for
state purposes. Tho amendment pro-
vides that the rate OF taxation for
state purposes shall never exceed four
mills on each dollar OF valuation ex-
cept that in the discretion of the leg
islature an additional levy of not
more than one mill on each dollar
may be authorized for the use, bene-
fit, maintenance and support of the
otato educational institutions, pro-
vided further that taxation for state
purposes shall never exceed five mills
on each dollar of valuation:
Such is the substance of Amend
ment Number Seven, proposed to the
constitution of Colorado. The legis-
lature will have power to levy an ad-
ditional mill on each dollar, which
can only be done fer the benefit of
Colorado's educational institutions,
and taxation for state purposes can
never exceed five mills ON the dollar
Why are Colorado'g institutions of
higher education supporting this
amendment one hundred per cent?
For tho past four years the Univers-
ity of Colorado and other state in
stitutions as well, have faced the
| increased costs of maintenance with
out q word of complaint. Tho limit
has been reached and these institu-
tions cannot continue, even at pres
ent standards, without an increase
in available funds. Two conditions
have made this step necessary. One
is, the increase in labor costs and
cost of equipment. Labor on the
campus is sixty per cent higher now
than when the writer entered the
University, while the salaries of pre-
fessors have not been increased In
accordance with increased costs of
living. AS consequence Colorado
has lost some of her best educators to
institutions of other states because
higher salaries were offered, which
enables them to maintain their stand
ards of living. Cost OF lumber and
equipment have increased from cne tc
three hundred per cent, especially
laboratory equipment.
Tho second condition which has
caused demand for more funds is
an increased student body. When
we entered the University of Colo
RADIO the student body numbered
twelve hundred. Today II exceeds
two thousand. Th,B increase has
come for the most part in tho past
two years. Like conditions exist at
the other institutions of higher learn
ing in the state. This year accord
ng to the most conservative estimate
the University of Colorado will face
deficit. The enrolment last year
was fifty per cent above normal and
THIS year il iS twenty per cent above
what is was last year. This means a
much larger equipment, more build
ings, and larger faculty.
The people of Colorado are de-
manding more of their educational
institutions who in turn must de-
mand moro of the people. If, edu-
| cation in Colorado is to be maintain
ed at standards which will permit the
hiring of educators who are equal to
those of other state educational in
tftutions, and afford the young men
and women of Colorado the same op-
portunitfes which are offered in
schools of other states. and thus per-
nit those who should study in Colo
| rado TO do SO, then Amendment No.
q must be passed by the people of
this state.
There is another side to the ques-
tton. That is the eide of the tax
payers. VIII tho passing of the
amendment Increase taxes? There is
but one answer and that is yes; but
the increase is so email that IL is
scarcely noticeable even IL the one
mill extra is levied. The increase in
taxation will BIO fifty cents on each
thousand dollars of valuation. Who
in Crowley county CT in the state of
Colorado is not willing to yoto for
this increase in orde- that Colorado's
standards of higher education may be
maintained and that our state may
not lose its high rank among tho 9TH
er states of the union.
IL We allnW our ndncatinnaI nuntar,