The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1920-10-07
A CRITICAL SITUATION
AND THE REMEDY

Is it any wonder that the Univer-
sity has already lost men who can
not be replaced, and is threatened
with a general exodus7
Fortunately, many of our ab,sst
men are refusing more lucrative
positions because they have faith in
the future Of the University But
that faith will have to be Justified
soon or there will be general emf.
grafton of the faculty and the Uni
versity will be so crippled and weak
ened by irreparable losses that the
people of Colorado will have to seek
in other states the right kind of edu-
cational advantages for their boys
and girls.
Even now, Notwithstanding that
we are capitalizing the loyalty of our
professors and employees instead of
paying them living salaries the Uni
versity is mourning considerable
deficit and the other State Educa-
tional Institutions are in a similar
plight.
It lies with the Legislature finally
to supply the remedy. But under
the present limitations it is not easy
to see how the Legislature can pro-
vide sufficient additional revenue.
The Legislature cannot increase ap-
preciably the milage rates for Ststg
Institutions because the State Consti-
tuition fixes limit Of four mills on
the dallar to levies for State pur-
poses, and this limit has almost been
reached. Under these conditions the
promptest relief is to be had through
q direct appeal to the people, and
citizens of the State have, therefore,
initiated an amendment to Section
II, Article x, of the Constitution,
making it read as follows: !.
1.-THE rate of taxation on propes>
ty, for state purposes, shall never
exceed four mills on each dollar Of
valuation; provided, however, that In
the dissertation of the General As
sembly an additional levy of not to
exceed one mill on each dollar Of
valuation may from time to time be
authorized for the erection of addi-
tional buildings at.> and for the use,
benefit, maiftehfTce, and Tuppofo
Of the State Educational Institutions.
provided further, that the rate of
taxation on property for all state
purposes, including the additional
levy herein provided for, shall never
exceed five mills on each dollar of
valuation, unless otherwise provid-
cd in the Constitution"
The adoption of this amendment
would not of itself increase taxes
one cent. It would merely permit
the Legislature to provide for the
State Educational Institutions thru
additional levies from time to time.
The institutions would still have
to justify their claims to the Legis-
laturc, but they would appeal not to
Legislature with its hands tied but
to a Legislature with discretionary
power to act.
For the present. it is estimated
that an addition Of less than half n
mill, or about four cents an each one
hundred dollars of assessed valuation
will take care Of the most pressing
needs in our State Educational In
situations.
If you believe that our Education
al Institutions should be enabled to
continue and increase their power to
serve the state, will you not only
vote for the amendment. but work
for it in every way you can?
To let or State Institutions of
Higher Education, in this critical
emergency, run down at the heel
would be nm unthinkable calamity.
IL Colorado Spending an Excessive