Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-03-30

AuCAC 0Ic SUHc WHO mHtiHdlI tHHt ~
cannot be done and in support Of thoi1
position it can be said that a ccr:a,
proportion Of the people have not ye|
appreciated the cost.
| Taking up his second point, Pfesiden,
Atkinson said that the educational in
stitutiOns of the state have experienced
! the same increase in expenditures af
fectlng every other institution, but that
| no provision has been made for securing
- corresponding, or any, increase il
| revenues. This year the state schools
| were compelled to choose between re-
ducing the standard of the schools and
the volume Of the work, or going for
| ward in the certain knowledge that q
deficit would be shown at the end of the
year. 4 decision was reached in favor
| will be substantial sum.
The third point made by the speaker
| was that there has been in Montana,
as elsewhere, sharp student increase.
Contrary to all precedents, ex-servicc
men returned to their studies at the con-
clusi0n Of the war, and the increase
from other sources has been large. The
same is true of all universities, Presi-
dent Atkinson stated. Wisconsin this
year has $500 more students than last
year. and Columbia now has an enroll
ment of $4,000. making it the largest
university in the world. Minnesota has
very substantial increase. California
enrolled up to 10000. and then turned
away all freshmen applicants. At Boze-
man the increase was 30 per cent and
at Missoula the gain was probably as
large.
1t has been said,' said President At
klnson, that the presentation of these
measures now is not timely: but in reply
l would say that they are not being pre-
sented-they are presenting themselves.
The state must decide what must be
done, and that extremely pertinent
question is before the people now-what
are we going to do about it? The people
cnly fair to let them know the situation
as it exists. and at the same time they
should know what the consequences will
be II the measures are rejected.
The Montana university is now near
ing the end of the twelfth year during
which there has been no increase in the
university maintenance fund. Housing
space is somewhat smaller than it was
at the beginning of this period. The
legislature has made appropriations for
new buildings, but there have been no
additions for the reason that the money
has never been made available. 1t is use
less to go to the legislature in the
future. said President Atkinson. although
that body has ever been disposed to
deal literally with the university. APP
preparations at past legislative session
have exceeded the states income from
SjOO,OOV to 81 600, and in the nature
be cared for in advance of the university.
The state levy, the speaker said, is now
2t2 mills, whereas many other states
have lcvies ranging up to seven mills.
Of the proposed bond issue. $3.50. 900
would be devoted to state institutions
educational in nature other than the uni
yersity and its branches. The remaining
badly needed buildings at the Hozcman
state college. the Butte school of mines.
the Dillon normal school and the state
university at Nissoula. The one and one
half mill levy would be permanent in
come for the university. insuring against
deficit and providing means by which
Montana can compete with other states
in securing a sufficient number of com
petent instructors.
Both measures will be initiated. An
organization has been formed and it is
intended that the petitions will be com
pleted and filed not later than June I.
The campaign expenses. President AT
klnson stated, will be largely paid hy
the communities in which the four
schools are now located. The proposal
maintenance levy would increase the
present income Of the state schools by
about 40 per cent, and would terminate
in 10 years. After that time the state
could either renew the levy or discover
another way to finance the schools
Speaking briefly and to the point after
DR.. Atkinson had concluded. Mr. Smith
stated that much the same argument had
been presented when the matter IF con-
r,1i lnF., he,
termination in 1916. Advocates of CON
solidation believed then. and still be-
lieye. he said. that efficiency could be in
creased and expenses reduced if CON
solidatiOn were effected. Mr.. Smith de
c!ared that he believed in consultations
and that some of the advantages urged
by DR.. Atkinson could be realized in that
argue for consolidation at this time. but
that he objected to the revenue measures
because their wording would forever
preclude possibility Of consolidating the
educational institutions Of the state.
The maintenance tax bill as well as the
bond will provide that the income there
in authorized must be expended for the
benefit Of the school Of mines. the normal
school, the state college and the state
at their present locations and
that the law would be invalidatcd were
the schools removed to other locations.
This would mean. said Mr.. Smith. that
the system of segregation would be per-
petuatcd. continuing the schools under
political Influence.
DR.. Atkinson replied briefly to Mr..
Smith, making the point that the lesis-
laturc aud the people have both re-
jcctcd proposals to consolidated the state
schools and that people now identified
with the management and conduct of the
schools are going forward on the plan
that has been laid down for them to
follow. Wise or otherwise. said DR..
Atkinson. consolidation has been twice
rejected and those of us who are as
sociated with tho schools in III official
way are doing the only thing that re-
mains to be going. ahead under
the plan that has been definitely ap
proved"
Tho banquet was attended by about
en- :,lu,,, y; II tho Aaut ana upiyerSitx and