Gunnison news-champion., 1920-10-22
REGARDING THE
EDUCATIONAL AMENDMENT

Ihc state OF Colorado by cnnstitu-
tional provisions is limited to . levy of
four mills on the taxable evaluation of
the entire state for al state purposes.
Of this four mills one mill Is de-
voted to road building and up-keep-
one-fourth Of the whole. The other 8
mills have been assigned, within .5S Of
the entire amount, TO all other pur-
poses.
Recent conditions have SO modified
the expense of running the state and
its institutions that there is general
and emphatic demand for an increase
OF revenues. This is easily understood
by the general public il they will only
compare the present with the pre-war
costs Of living. So Inadequate have
pe-war wages and incomes proved
that what then purchased q good liv-
ing, has recently had the power Of
buying less than half living. A dol
lar is now worth but 46 per cent of
its pre-war purchase pc ~er.
All appropriations to schools were
made before the U. S. entered into
the world war. This means that the
schools find it possible to run ut only
half of their pre-war efficiency. II is
not possible for them to meet hte in
creased demands Of the young people
of the state for higher education. The
enrolment in all the institutions
has increased fifty per cent. There
should be corresponding increase in|
teaching forces and working equip
ment. The cost Of labor has gone up
60 per cent; the cost Of materials from
100 to 800 per cent. No state school
is going to be able to run for another
year on the old budget
Just the one item Of the teacherS
demand for increased salary is likely
to bankrupt the schools, even If there
were no other demands. II a teacher
becomes dissatisfied because he is not
paid enough, only extraordinary 10y
atty to the school will cause him to
continue his services. The ordinary
human teacher--and most Of them are
such--prompdy withdraws and seeks
more remunerative fields. Unfortu-
nately for Colorado there are many
states that have met the new condf-
ton by providing well for the increas-
ed expenses Of their educational insti-
tutions. In Colorado, teachers strike
and teachers grumble and teachers
quit--and thru it all the institutions
are helpless.
To meet the demands Of the state
schools, an additional revenue Of al
quarter Of million will be necessary.
Those who argue that it can be derived
from appropriafing the .53 mills re-
naming from the present constitu-
tional limit. forget that the increase
thus derived must cover all purposes
and demands besides the schools.
Costs affect every phase Of state scti-'
witty. There are doubtless many other
things besides schools to be provided
for.
People forget also that every state
legislature is likely e play safe on this
matter of approaching the constitu-
.ional limit. They always want to
leave margin. II nothing is done to
give them a wider range, they will be
obliged to meet every demand out Of
the SO mil, and at the same time re-
tain some margin Of safety. Il is
easy to see where the schools will
come in for consideration.
II, however, the legislature is con-
stitptionalIy authorized and permitted
to 70 one mill beyond the four for the
state educational institutions, II can
rtill play safe and at the same time
provide some of the revenue needed to
save higher education in Colorado.
What the Legislature shall provide for
the schools will still be limited by the
constitution. At the same time the,
Judgment of the legislature will be
factor in the appropriation Of the rev.
cnue. The money would be assigned