The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1920-04-15
TEACHERS EN-
DORSE INITIATIVE BILLS
Local Association Goes on Record
as FavOring Bills and Pass Resolu-
tiOns-Meeting Tuesday Evening
Listens to Stirring Speeches
Have Good Program.


profitable session on last Tuesday
evening at the High School and the
main feature of the program was a
discussion of the educational mill
age tax measures that will be voted
on at the coming May primaries.
Mrs. Lena Smell Shurte, county
school superintendent, presented the
elementary school bill, which pro-
vides for raising and distributing
funds among the elementary schools.
She presented facts to show that this
means providing funds to help along
the elementary schools would raise
money from a very large portion OF
property that now escapes taxatlUl-
for school purposes, except the small
amount raised by the annual state
tax. In Morrow county alone, there
is much property lying outside of any
school district that is owned by peo-
pie living out Of the county, and
with the passage Of this measure the
schools of this county will be greatly
benefited. Mrs. Shurte also express
ed the opinion, that il the measure
is properly presented before our
people it will receive practically
unanimous support. as 1t should.
F. A. McMenamin presented the
measure for higher educational in
stitutions. Mr.. Woodson was to have
spoken on this bill but was called
away and Mr.. McMenamin kindly
consented to take his place. His ad-
dress was to the point. He showed
how the higher educational institu-
tions had been made TO suffer in
times past because Of lack of proper
support, but now that conditions had
changed and everything was on a
much higher basis of cost, 1t was
next to impossible to carry on the
work. The best professors and in
structors we're leaving for other lines
OF employment, and greatly Increased
attendance at the various schools was
forcing them into a situation which,
|. not relieved by financial aid as pro-
vided In these measures, would yirtu-
ally put the State University and Ag-
ricultural College out Of business,
The past year the University's in
crease in millage income WAS only
3.S per cent, while the attendance
increased l52 per cent. The Agri-
cultural College had millage in
crease of 3.S per cent and its atten-
dance increased 14S per cent. Re-
lief, therefore. must come to these
institutions in which the state has
a Just pride, and our young people
coming on to the stage of action and
seeking higher educational privil-
eyes must not be forced to attend
the colleges Of other states, or else
pass up this part OF their prepara-
ton for life's battles. Mr.. McMena-
min stated that there will be an in
crease OF at least 5400 students for
the universities and higher educa-
tional institutions OF Oregon this
coming year. What is to be done
shall we vote down the only meas
ures that will provide for taking
care of them? A campaign of educa
tion must be waged between now
and primary election day, May Fl.
For the returned soldier there Is
also measure before the people pro
viding for small millage tax to ait
the funds already provided for b,
Legislative enactment The specia
session of the Legislature put thi'
measure up to the voters also, ant
s. 4. Notson spoke In behalf OF th'
bill. The funds already provided
have proven to be entirely made
quate and il we keep faith with ou'
BOYS who went over the water to figh
our battles for us, we will see to |
that this measure receives our unan
imous support. Lest we forget |
good slogan for this bill, and Mr.
Notson plainly pointed out that tn
great tendency at this time is to for
get all about what the boys accom-
plished over there, and our promise
made to them at the time Of thir de
parture, and he called us back t
these things in very forcible man
ner. He made the statement tha
there was one precinct In this coun
ty, which It was understood, was &c
ing to vote unanimously against al
these millage measures, and II sue
was the case with regard to this PAL
ticular bill, he would blush wit
shame for that precinct 1t will Gel
tainly not go on record as havin
forgotten the boys who made the 81
preme sacrifice on the battle field
OF France, and thus deny to thos
who we're able to return, many
them crippled and manned, thi
small favor of aid in getting an edt
cation that will assist them in figh
ing the future battles of life.
The various speeches created muc
enthusiasm in favor Of the millae
tax bills, and called forth the follow
ing resolutions:
Resolutions
WHEREAS, the two-mill elemen
airy school bill provides a just an
euuable means for raising and distr
buting a state fund which will Ell
able our school districts to maintal
efficient schools and thereby relie'
the burden Of taxation upon II
school districts, many of which al
small and have a low valuation, an
WHEREAS, our institutions
higher learning require speedy reli