The star-progress., 1921-05-04
9c FIGHT STAGED
n an AGRICULTURAL
COLLEGE, ORDINANCE
:. and One-Half Millions
SA Anf G Severance Tax is
Compromise
uALF-MILL FIXED ,o,-
nal FOR MAINTENANCE
Came Changes Made in
OSa,y Governors Proposal and
Contest Looms up

governor Parker propOooO
...ter agricultural college with
,mmeuse severance tax collected
10 sop the states natural resources sc" 9,s
~ ~ oil, gas salt, sulphur etc. ms
IaD' - set aside twelve million
'.,l,rs ~ Of that fund for that particular
O' II is figured that the tax
p s amounts to three million dol
- .rnually and If his proposition
sosn accepted by The convention
:. - tsr collected in four yers would
- ~. paid for the college. Then there
=. another angle to his propositioo-
y. - imposing Of one mill ad valorem
us m ~ ~ all taxable property in the
Cor maintaining the college
~. .a.S after to go into effect in 1925.
IN the executives proposal some
.,1. Of a contest hs been waged ami
~ and of the fight IS not yet IN
-, t,r while the general idea has
.ooonted the convention-or,
49,. the committee-can not alto
"s.sar ,a spree with the executive as to
i. amount for building the college
"A the tax rate for maintenance pur-
.,,ss This disagreement has preclp-
s,,sd something Of a fight IN the
.orvaut;on. but it is generally accept
a that as finally agreed upon the sum
: ~ and one.half million dollars OF
4. severance tax will be appropriat-
\ ,or building the college and an
a valorem tax of one-half mill f1xed
or maintenance, and this viii nave
Il satisfy the governor and his ad-
herents.
accidentally there has been some
o,hsr interesting changes in the en-
tire plan. Two thousand acres OF
l,nd situated near Baton Rouge was
bought by the governor at a price Oh
ms hundred dollars per acre. On
which to establish this greater col
,sva and il is also said that when
buildings and equipment are ready
Ar use the present Louisiana State
University will be abandoned, the
mildfngs dismantled and the real es-
tate sold. 1t is expected that the sale
q this property will bring hand
ome mice as it is situated right IN
the city limits of Baton Rouge and
!, considered desirable for either res
identiaI property or for factory sites.
The state Of Louisiana acquired the
property by donation in fee simple
nom the United States government
many years ago and the title is sala
70 be absolutely perfect.
In regard to the greater college,
/ was at first understood that 1t
would be a separate institution from
the state university, but that evident
h never was the scheme Of the ori-
unators Of the idea for now that II
Is generally known that the two in
stituions will be combined some dls-
agreement is beginning to be heafo
u the state, and several newspapers
have come out in the open and stat
Cd their objections to the newly un-
folded plan. Some oppose altogetner
the idea of spending such a huge sum
Of money on the college at ALL stat
should be placed in the general fund
ing that the entire severance tax
for state purposes, or. if used for edu-
CatiOnal purposes, should be prorateo
among the several parishes OF the
state.
A maintenance tax for each OF the
other state educational institutions
has also been agreed upon, a member
Of the convention has informed US
These institutions are the two IN
tnstrial institutes located at Latay-
ette and Ruston and the state normal
school at Natchitoches.