Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-01-19
PECULIAR

The present state administration
49, snuno peculiar notions Of economy.
In oeder to provide funds for the or
dinaxy operating expenses Of the
lataka it not only raised state taxes to
! the highest level known since the
/ sta1A vas organized, which might
/! have been justified because of h in
creased cost of everything that must
! be paid for. but it increased its taxa
ton at = rate in many cases double
I ar treble the rate OF increase found
I necessary by counties and cities all
over tho state. Be 1t remembered.
TOO, that these increases were not
made in order to provide funds tor
tho financing of h new state indus
tries. Funds for this purpose are
4 provided out Of the proceeds OF bond
sales. for which special provision is
made in the laws authorizing these
industries.
In order to present an appearance
Of economy and silence some Of tho
adverse criticism which was heard on
every hand, there was made the
Grand bluff of reducing taxes. The
fact is that the state has been spend
ing money-for operating expenses,
not for constructive purposes-and is
bound to continue spending. at a rate
which would have rendered yer the
excessive taxation first, levied wholly
inadequate. and which is bound to
leave an enormous deficit with which
the next legislature must deal.
An illustration Of the methods m
ployed Is found in the handling of the
is tons. Take the matter of salaries
for instructors, for instance. 1t may
Lbe mentioned, by the way, that credit
has been claimed for the teachers
unjon Of Grand Forks for the salary
E1ncroases recently given the faculty
lmembers Of the University of North
That subject warrants a di-
Eession.
The sAlsry situation at the univer-
ystty was Investigated by a committee
appointed for that purpose, and. the
FINDINGS and recommendations Of that
epmnit4as were presented to the
E0oard Of administration away last
tummer. A general scale of salary in
.keyeaasD WAS recommended as being
Unnecessary under existing conditions.
kTaeee recommendations were ap-
@1oved In substance, and even before
tina tsaeheTS union was formed as
f3Hknce was given by the board that
sehe advances would DO made. AS
Fcvtdenee of its intent the board ac-
kfual1y made some of the fncreaseA
6nd rave assurance that the others
Would he made as soon as possible.
All Of this was before there was any
keaaehers' union.
! Subsequently the union was formed,
tand Il. also, urged that the remain
ding Increases be made. Presently they
J were made, %whereupon the people
ieEe1e invited to see what a wonderful
'F&hdag the union had accomplished.
FWafe the increases warranted? The
! board thought So 1t agreed to them,
mads scme of them promptly. and
monntsed the others, all without gug-
FEagaon from any union. Either the
ofhsr increases should have been
knAde or they should not. Is it to be
understood hat the increases wero
warranted. and that the board had
to b prodded by an organized body
into doing its duty? Or is it the idea
that tho increases were not warranted
and that at length the board con-
I seated to make them int to pay out
state money which it should not have
paid because Of pressure brought to
bear upon It by a union which might
ppsstby at some time command SOM
political influence and control some
s3votesf
Either way there is implied no
g1est compliment to the board. How
ever. that h a matter for the union
and the board to settle between them
ss1ves.
ABIDE from the union features,
which sve really entered into the
e.ge 1t all the fact is simply that the
board gave assurance that 1t did not
{ TnAke al the increases promptly be-
cAnaA t. had not the money. and vas
runntns behind, even on the former
- III declared intent was to N.
DIV 70 the Legislature at the special
enfsn for additional appropriations
20 coter its expanses and provide for
iAatay heraasss at the several tnsd.
hot3eas pndsr tn charge. The spe.
icael ssaion was held, but the people
g eharss I'D not dare to present q