The Bismarck tribune., 1933-01-16
FOR THE RURAL CHILD
Bismarck. N. D..
January 10, 1893

0lClIldACAs ~,
January 10, 1888
Editor. Tribune:
The report of the budget board has
been printed and is ready to be
submitted to the appropriations CON-
mittees Of the state legislature.
It is an interesting booklet Of fig
ures and from it many facts may
be gathered. some Of which are en-
couraging, but some OF which seem
unwise.
We hold no brief against economy.
There is no argument against mea-
sures which will reduce the heavy
tax burden which has been piled up
on the small farmer Of the state
during the last two decades.
Land, which at one time was our
greatest asset. was at that time made
the source of greatest revenue, by
the heavy tax laid upon it.
Land, due to circumstances which
We as people could not control,
has become a liability, and taxes
upon it are many times greater than
the revenue which is obtained from
its cultivation.
Such conditions work a hardship
upon our citizens and should not be
tolerated longer than it takes to make
change.
Just what changes are to be made.
how they are to be made. We are not
qualified to say. Such problems are
for the economist. the tax expert
one who understands and is able to
project the plan into the future, that
it may have no i'll effects as an ulti-
mate outcome.
Some states are solving the problem
by sales tax Thus the tax burden
il shifted from the static to the dy-
manic, for sales tax is upon ex-
change and not upon land values
Of quarter century ago.
Certain we are that the small prop
erty holder should not be penalized
as is the case at the present time.
In glancing over the report of the
budget board we see that the only
drastic cut is in the public school
expense Of the state. We admit that
q the unfortunate Of the state must be
cared for. We must care for the blind,
the deaf. and the feeble minded.
These institutions have long wait
: ing list. They are over-crowded.
They are taking care OF a group that
can not care for themselves. We
must give them the best we have.
Our boys and girls at the state
training school, homeless. misunder-
stood, many times abused, many
times the victims of broken homes,
must have at all times the wise lead
ership. sympathetic understanding
and careful guidance which now
/. turns them back to the state as edu-
!, Gated young people, trained workers,
and good citizens.
We have . state hospital for the
twisted wrecks that once were clear
eyed men and women. These We
must cure II possible-if they are
ircurable they must be made COM
Portable until the tangled bells ring
their last chime.
Our penal institution is one of
which We may be proud. No sun
shine camp, no floggings, no chain
gangs, but chance to walk like
. man II the desire is there.
For all these we must give and
give. we must pay without murmu,
the bills for these people. We must
not take from these unfortunates
nny Of the necessary comforts, un-
derstandings, or opportunities.
Against none of these appropria-
tlons do we hold brief. They are
absolutely necessary. We have put
our hand to the plow. We must
not look back now.
Our care for the unfortunate must
60 on. and against none Of it do we
speak, but We ask for the rural
child.
We speak for the little boy who
In broken shoes, worn out overshoes
ragged overalls, last years coat and
hand-me-down cap trudges down
the prairie road to school,
He Is the country child. he and his
little sister, with her skimpy dress
and thin stockings. her old coat and
worn mittens, and they make up six
ty-five per cent of the children OF
the state.
His father 1t is who is building
the capitol. His father is paying the
: tax bill which cares for the unfor-
tunates. His father supports the in
stitutions of higher learning. but y
this little child We give nothing. We
promise him everything but we pro.
vide nothing.
theoretically We offer equal edu.
cational advantages We offer op.
portunities for advancement. We of.
fer many things in the name of fret
government. But this little chile
holds out his brown hands and ask.
for bread and We give him stone
Consider with me his school
A seven-month term tcut to 81,
In the interest of tax reduction
A cold, croSs-lighted frame build.
ing.
An inexperienced teacher, receiy.
ing little or no pay.
A county superintendent. put il
office by politics, kept there by poll.
tics. and removed from office If hi
20 much as dares protest agains,
such conditions.
No music.
No pictures.
Room poorly ventilated
Cold lunches.
A desk made to fit q larger chlls
and Ill day the little feet swing, thre,
inches from the floor.
Library Of twenty books, ten Of then
encyclopaedia In small print. sold b,
= smooth -tongued agent to an unwis,
school board.
The child needs glasses and q ton
sti operation.
That - our fine, free school sys
tam IN North Dakota. That Is wha
We are giving him. and that condi
ton obtains in every county in tn
Stete. Not In every school, 1t Is true
hut IN each Of the So counties Of thi
stats some such things are to b
found. The schools that are bette
oco. botter because Of the state al
-of6Eed for improving such condi
$500. & = . mistake to spend none