The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1922-04-07
mass MEETING
DISCUSSED TAKES
RESOLUTION ADOPTED CALLING
FOR ECONOMY IN PUBLIC
EXPENSE.

sembled at the court house last even
ing pursuant to a call for the dis
cussion of school and tax matters.
The meeting began at eight
o'clock and continued until a late
hour, later than it was thought
would be necessary for the subject
uppermost
Mr.. E. j. De Good was elected
chairman and Henry Rohrer, secre-
tary After his selection the chair
man announced the purpose of the
meeting and called for volunteer
talks.
Leading off, Mr.. Kundert explain
ed the burden of taxation now rest
ing on the people, making a strong
plea for some reduction, if that be
at all possible. His talk had the eff
feet of bringing others to their feet
with facts and figures showing the
necessity of alleviating the present
situation, especially in the matter of
retrenchment in the expense of con-
Quoting the business of the city and
also the public schools. All advo-
Gated a reasonable taxation that
means no backward step in progress
and no crippling or lowering of the
recognized efficiency of our city
schools.
Among those who presented their
views on the reduction of teachers
salaries and a lowering OF the salar-
les of city employees, were TO De
found various citizens and business
men anxious to see done only the
right thing looking towards relief.
Those taking leading part in the
discussions were Mr.. Kundert, Mr.
UrdahI, Mr.. Blagen, DR.. Lowe, Mr..
Henkin, Mr.. Farmer, Mr.. Robertson,
j. A. Johnson, Mayor Robertsnn and
others.
1t did appear that about eighty
per cent of the sentiment expressed
was favorable to reduction in the
salary of the superintendent OF
schools and of teachers.
Both Mr.. Farmer, president of the
school board and Supt. Nickle de-
Tended the present scale paid our
teachers, intimating that any change
to a lower level would only lower
general efficiency and the public
would feel the reaction in the educa-
tion of their children.
In response to the claims set forth
in the paragraph above. those advo-
eating less expense in conducting
our school system, pointed out that
inasmuch as the teachers salaries
reached the peak of general war
time conditions when everything else
in the way of labor was proportion
ately high, they should recede in
proper ratio along with that of a
great list of commodities that had
been reduced making living cheaper.
There was free flow of contend
ing arguments both pro and con on
the subject that has agitated our
citizens for weeks.
Perhaps the real results coming
from the mass meeting was the for
mutation, reading and approving oi
set of resolutions that purported
to be the crystalized opinion of a ma
jority of those tsesent. The resolu-
tions as drafted and accepted read as
follows:
Whereas, the salaries of all city
employees, the salary of the superin-
tendent of our city schools and the
salaries of the professors and teach
ers of our city schools, have beer
from time to time increased because
of the general prosperity of our city
and its citizens, and because of the
high cost of living during the year.
| Immediately following the worlt
war; and,
Whereas, the cost of living ha'
been substantially reduced, and thu
earning capacity of all wage earners
business houses and all other taxpay
ers has during the last year been re
duced to and still remains at th'
minimum; and,
Whereas, the taxes now exacte'
for city and school purposes hav
become too heavy burden for tn
citizens and taxpayers of Madison t
carry,
Now, therefore, be 1t resolved
by the. taxpayers of the city of Madi
son, i'm mass meeting assembled, tha
the city commissioners and the boar
of directors of our city schools, max
a substantial reduction in the salar
les of all city employees, and in tn
salaries of the superintendent @
schools, the professors and the teach
ers of our schools and all othe
school employees, until such time a
the city of Madison shall be able I
bear a heavier tax burden, and tina
in no instance shall such reductio
be less THANH per cent OF tn
salaries paid for like services durin
the past year. and where the salar
for a given service during the pai
year shall be over $1,000 per year Q
! fraction thereof, then such reductio