The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-01-27
WILL GO DOWN
LINE E0N CUT
IN EXPENSES
In Ring to Stay in Every
County in State Pres
ident Says
MEET COMMITTEES
Tell Legislators That Money
Is Being Wasted and Give
Suggestions

Demands of the North Dakota Tax
payers Association for reduction
in expenditures to lower taxation
was presented to legislative COM
mittees here last night and today.
At the same time officers of the
association announced the associa-
tion was in the ring to stay; that it
would be permanent body, and
that after the legislative session
it would carry its demands into
every county, city and to every other
taxing board in the state.
With headquarters at Fargo, Of
ficers and executive committee, the
association will also have a paid
all-time secretary, F. w. McRoberts.
formerly secretary of the Fargo
Fair Association.
"This is to be permanent body"
said J. G. Anderson of Aneta, pre-
sident of the association. Other Of
ficers include: Vice-presidents. A. L.
Martin, Sentinel Butte; w. C. Nc
Dowell, Marion; Treasurer, E. j.
Weiser, Fargo; secretary; F. w.
McRoberts, Fargo, and fifth member
of the board of trustees, T. Welo,
Velva.
Give Concrete Suggestions
Mr.. Gunderson, NJ. F. Murphy, of
Grand Forks; P. M. Madison of New
Rockford; A. L. Martin of Sentinel
Butte; T. Welo of Velva; John
Knauf of Jamestown; F. T. Gron-
void of Rugby and F. McRoberts
were representatives of the associ-
alton appearing before the joint
committee on tax and tax laws last
night and the educational commit
tees today.
Several concrete suggestions were
put before the legislators by the
visitors. These included repeal of
the three cent per acre hail tax, es-
tablishment of flat tax valuation
of so per cent of the actual value
for assessment purposes with no
exemptions except in the case of
church property, etc., enactment of
a law to prevent counties from is
suing warrants for larger amounts
than their income, and establishment
of county budget system.
M. F.. Murphy and J. G. Gunderson
Aneta were the chief speakers on
behalf of the Taxpayers associa-
tion. Mr.. Murphy declared himself
in favor of a fixed price for farm
products, and for taking steps 10
lower the wages of farm laborers. |
The holdups perpetrated by l. w. |
w. members and others against the |
farmers were outrageous he declar1
ed.
Too Many Normal Schools
Among other suggestions made by |
Mr.. Gunderson were elimination of !
appropriations for the state high
way commission, reduction of expen-
ses for schools, and elimination of
waste and duplication among the
state educational institutions.
He pointed out that it was absurd
that North Dakota should have Sc
ven normal schools or schools do
ing the work of normal schools
when Minnesota with population
several times that of this state can
get along with only six.
The session last night became an
experience meeting" in which
scores of criticisms were made.
Senator Ole Ettestad attacked the
method of using state aid for
schools. He cited the cases of two
towns. He declared persons came
into one town and told the people
they ought to build schoolho ouse,
because they could get part Of the
money from the state. They built a.
better sckoolhouse than they need
ed, and both the state and the town
paid more than they ought, he said. r
The same agitators, he said, went
20 a neighboring town, pointed to
the first, and told him they ought
% take advantage of state aid. The
same condition resulted, he said, re-
'ulting in extravagant expenditures
If money.
Lack Fundamentals, Claim
Some speakers asserted that chill
iren were not being given proper
education in fundamentals; but that
here were scores Of unimportant
subjects added. One man declared
hat three typewriters were bought
n a country school and the sons
md daughters of the farmer, who
ought to be taught subjects of use
m thes farm, were being taught how
o typewrite.
Another declared that students
we're being turned out of the COM
nercial departments who couldn't
pell or ptnctuate and didn't know
much about arithmetic, the speaker
leclaring that if the students were
aught the fundamentals they would
luickly pick up the commercial work !
n any good business house.
Urge School Reduction. /,
Elimination Of duplication in the
educational system Of North Dakots /
'as urged by delegation from the ,
ssociation which appeared today be.
ore q joint meeting Of the house
nd senate committees on education,
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