The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-10-28
5-MILL STATE WIDE
SCHOOL LEVY MEASURE %
(By Dennis A. Dellwo)
(Member of 1925 Legislature from Lake County,

A farmer who tnIs the soil for a livelihood, a member of the
legislature from a strictly agricultural county, a resident of
school district hard pressed to educate its children but persistently
doing it, ! have made a close study of the "fve mill levy and be
ieve it is the only practical and just solution for our school prob
lem.
One would think the dictates of common sense would con-
vince even the most pessimistic that a system which leaves SO per
cent of the burden of school support upon the districts is bound
to work undue hardship upon rural districts, where the cost of edu-
cation "per unit" either in valuation II children is always high.
The arguments used by the opponents of this measure are ex-
tremely unfair, both to the members of the legislature and to the
Montana Education Association who have labored increasingly and
unselfshly in the cause of more nearly equal opportunity, a well
as to scores of people who look to them as dependable authority.
In the official argument filed with the secretary of state and
published by him as required by law, IS well as in newspaper
articles all of which, it appears from their phraseology, flowed
from the same pen, tactics of common agitators are resorted to,
for instance: In one of his speeches, Mr.. Shea insists that the con-
stitution provides the manner in which the revenue from this tax
must be apportioned; and later, when speaking where he seemed
ito think taking a whack at the legislature would be a popular
thing, he warned his audience of the "mad scramble" that would
take place when legislators started grabbing more than a just snare
for their respective counties.
The fact of the matter is our constitution provides that "n
taxes levied for state purposes shall be paid into the State treas
suance of specific appropriation made by law (Sec. 10 Art. 12).
Therefore, the revenue from the "fve mill levy" will be appropriated
each biennium for the purpose specified in the bill. There is no
reason to fear there will be a mad scramble as some gentlemen
pretend to fear any more than there is a "mad scramble" for the
several million dollars appropriated by the legislature at present
The legislature is bound to be, in integrity and ability, a perfect
of the citizenry which elects it. Therefore, if we can
not trust the legsla ture, we could not trust ourselves.
Personally, the writer believes it one point in favor of theI
that no method of apportionment is specified. In as much
as a plan might be fair and satisfactory today and would be I'M
satisfactory a few years hence, it is well that the method cam be-
changed to correspond to changing conditions.
To quote from another speech, Mr.. Shea says: This revenue
where the children are" leaving the inference that the greater
number Of children in proportion to valuation is in the cities with
out really going on record to that effect. Let us see how hsI
"euess work comedies with the true situation. l.
In four counties Characteristic of the entire state the number
Of children. the revenue derived from the six mill county levy and
apportionment thereof per census child for the year ending June
n ros os fOnpxS. T.