The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-06-27
SQuS NelU LQlUS Will
Tie Citizens Hands
Saxvik Points Out That Two.
Thirds Rule Applies to
Initiated Measures
WILL PROLONG EMERGENCY
Says Eastern School Districts
Not Affected But West
Would Suffer

Assertion that North Dakota citi-
zens will be tying their own hands in
controlling their own affairs was
made Monday by H. o. Saxvik, SUI
perintendent of city schools and
president of the state education asso-
citation. in a statement addressed to
North Dakota voters.
Once an initiated law is enacted,
he pointed out, it can be changed
only by two-thirds vote of the leg
islature or by another initiated meas
ure.
AS result, he said, law enacted
to meet the present emergency will
become permanent.
The text of Saxviks statement fol-
lows:
THE initiated measure providing
for a change In basis of assessment
is designed to place permanent re.
striction upon all taxing bodies ir
the state. Initiated legislation can.
not be repealed or amended except
upon two-thirds vote.
1T also assumes to give to the state
control of local expenditures fol-
school and municipal activities and
destroys the sacred right of home
rule and initiative.
Favors Economy
IF legislation had been attempted
to cover the present emergency only
the school people of the state woulo
not oppose it. We believe the present
cif,yo tim kA ir;A
Monty, but We cannot approve OF 9
measure that will for years to come
interfere with educational progress
and activities.
only about half of the taxing dis.
tricts in the state will be affected BY
the passage of this act. The east.
ern counties and school districts viii
not suffer, but it will place an unfail
burden upon the west. In the west
ern half of the state 10 per cent Of
the school districts will be SO serious
ly affected that not even taking ad
vantage of the law which provides
for increase of tax levy by a 60 pei
cent vote will help them. High
schools in all small towns will hav'
to close and thousands of children
from the village and farm deprived
Of high school training. The rural
schools will have to shorten terms
employ cheap teachers and curtail
expenses to such an extent as to den!
the children their proper educational
privileges. It seems unfair and un-
neighborly for the counties and dis
tricts Of the eastern half of the state
to saddle upon the west law that
will be destructive to their schools"
Would Benefit Railroads
This measure is distinctly in favor
of railroads, corporations and utilities
and against the small property own.
er. When good times return, as they
surely will. and people again will
wish to raise the standard of theil
schools to conform to community de.
sire, the only recourse taxing board!
will have is to raise valuations. Ever
the state taxpayers association adj
mits that this is what may have to b.
done. The railroad valuation is fix.
ed by the Interstate Commerce com.
mission and cannot be touched b.
local boards. Utilities are assesse.
on gross earnings and cannot b.
touched. The only recourse then il
to raise the valuations of the small
taxpayer to raise the necessary fund.-
and thus shift the burden from cor
porations to the small owner.
IF this bill should pass. the possibl
income for school purposes in 1913.
would be less than the possible in
come in 1911. or less than was spen
for construction and maintenance o
highways last year. Our children ar
our greatest asset. They are also ou
greatest responsibility and in our leg
islation to lift ourselves out of thi
depression the attack on our school
and the curtailment of educationa
privilege as guaranteed in our con
stitution should be resorted to las
Of all. Road building can wait. Gov
ernmental activities of state, count
and city can be postponed but post
ponement of educational privileges q
our futur, citizens means a loss diff
ficult to estimate
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