The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-10-10

Wnen the people Oh Montana g
to the polls on November 4th, i,
addition to voting for candidates
for certain offices, they also will
vote on two referendum measures
which were submitted to the PEG
pie by the 21st Legislative AS
sembly. Because these measures
are often of great Importance t.
the people of the state, | want tC
take this opportunity of present
ing a few facts about them. 1t is
clearly the duty of every citizen
to thoroughly inform himself be
fore making a decision on such i'm
portant matters as these.
At the outset, it is we'll to re.
call that the amount Of taxes paid
by the people of Montana for the
support of state government and
the various state activities is com
paratively small. Out of every
dollar paid in taxes or property
only seven and one-half cents goes
to the state. In Montana it costs
S6.72 per capita from tax revenues
to operate the departments, Off
ces and institutions Of state, while
the average cost for the IL west
ern states, where conditions are
more or less similar, is $11.98 per
capita. The per capita cost from
state tax revenues for operating
the higher educational institutions
in Montana is $1.23 and the aver
age for the IL western states is
S1.83.
With these facts in mind it is
possible to get a better picture Of
the underlying problems which
make the Referendum Measures
necessary.
Referendum 33 will give the leg
islature authority to secure funds
through the issuance of not more
than $4,000 900 in bonds to provide
buildings and equipment at the Id
state educational, charitable and
corrective institutions. The insti-
tutions listed in the measure are
the State Hospital at Warm
Springs, State Prison at Deer
Lodge, State School for the Deaf,
Blind and Feeble Minded at Bould-
er, State tuberculosis Sanitarium
at Galen, State Orphans Home at
Twin Bridges, State Industrial
School for Boys at Miles City.
State Vocational School for Girls
at Helena, State Soldiers Home at
Columbia Falls, the State Univer-
sity at Missoula, State College at
Bozeman, Montana School of
Mines at Butte, State Normal Col
lege at Dillon, Eastern Montana
School at Billings and
Northern Montana School at
Havre.
Here, briefly, are some of the
more pressing needs which are
back of Referendum SO: Antiquat-
ID, hazardous, fire-trap buildings
ire being used to capacity in car
ng for the nearly 1000 patients at
Warm Springs. Two hundred and
iixty-ive boys and girls are
:rowded into accommodations for
i25 at the Orphans Home. The
state Prison has a rated capacity
f not more than 470 and in recent
months the population there has
I'm as high as 727. At the Indus
rial School the state is attempt
1g it's work of reform and i'm
rovement by crowding 1873 boys
Ito Accommodations intended for
OF more than 100. Men and wo-
len afflicted with tuberculosis Of .
IN must wait as long a. two :
lonths before they are admitted :
the tuberculosis Sanitarium =
scause this institution is con !.
antly filled to capacity. A de- :
y of this kind is serious in the :
eatment of this disease. :
At many of the other institu- :
ons there is serious need for re- ?
tirs, requirements and equip "
emit. Two of the states educa- :,
,nal institutions r carrying on =
cir work in temporary rented :.
.arters. Enrolment at the units
the University has inceased 119
r cent in the last 10 years. =
If the legislature should issue {
e entire $4,000 900 in bonds at :
2 maximum rate of interest, 1t
'uld cost the property owner not
,re than Is cents on $1,000 =
nth Of property taxed at 80 per be
ut of it's assessed valuation. DIT
is figure is based on the pres re,
! taxable valuation of the state. m;
The other measure, Referendum eli
is for a three-mill levy for the alb
,port Of Montana's higher edu- as
ional institutions and associat- of
departments and activities. It ia,
] replace a levy which has pro- !,
ed revenue for the educational sh,
titutions since 1920 but which TIL
this year., arr
The revenue for operating the {
tie University, State College, Or,
ntana School of Mines and the {
tie Normal College for the past wa
years has come from a special
and one-half mill levy voted 90
1920. The period of operation
this levy ends December 81,
he Montana Experiment Sta
and it's branches and coop