The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1943-01-22
MORE ADEQUATE
FINANCES FOR
'1U" IS URGED

to the people of the state and is en-
titled to their wholehearted support
Mrs. = Hazel Mumm Grover, Dee
Lodge, president of the university
alumni association, said this week il
urging approval of the 1943-44 ant
1944-45 budget requests recently sub
mitted to the legislature. The uni
versity has alumni in all sections o
the state and during the past veal
many local alumni groups have beer
organized
To show the need for support of the
, institution Mrs. Grover said figures
obtained from the university business
office show that its financial condi
| ton is worse than it was 20 years
ago. She noted that in 1923-24 $685.,
100.06 was appropriated from the mill
age fund, an average Of $275.42 for the
1882 students, whereas only $249,-
4S5.39 was appropriated In 1867
when the enrolment was 2,162 stu
dents, or an average of only $115.39.
She continued: 1.-THE 20-year peri
cd from 1923 to the present has been
one of extreme difficulty which can
partly be explained by noting the re-
lationship between student body and
appropriations in terms of averages
for five four-year periods.
From 1921 to 1925 the average
attendance of students was 1903, and
+bo ouoroor o animal opnropria tio, nor
student was $257.59; in the next four
year period the registration rose to
1,50S, the average annual appropria-
ton per student fell to $233; in the
next four-year period the average an
nual registration rose again to 1888,
and the appropriation from the mill
age fund was $232.14; from 1888 to
1897 the average annual registration
was 1874, the average annual appro-
priation per student falling to $12S95,
and for the four-year period from 1887
to 1871 the average registration was
2,O77 students and appropriation per
student $136.61.
Salary Levels Too Low
The salary situation has been and
is deplorable. By 1933-34 the highest
salary for full professors had fallen
to 1880 from previous high of
$4,000. Since the depression univer-
sity salaries have become subject to
federal income taxes and living costs
are up 20 per cent since 1889. Some
upward adjustments have been made
but the fact remains that present sal
ary levels are such that the univer-
sity can only hope to obtain individ
lals whom other better supported in
situations will not employ.
Maintenance funds for the phys
cal plant have also been inadequate
md severe damage has resulted to
many buildings.
"The question naturally comes up
Is to whether further decreases in
will make savings respon- |
'ible in the cost of operation. In !
yiew of the facts just recited this does
lot seem possible. The cost of the
physical plant and its maintenance
s very little affected by student reg
stration. On the educational side |
here are very definite limits to the
which can be made as the
esult of a falling off in registration.
1.-THE law school is an example in
'oint It's registration has fallen
rom high of approximately IS stu
ents to approximately 35. The re-
. 81 |
cen small even though the law school
aculty carries a heavier teaching
Dad. If a law school is to be main
aimed required courses must be
iven Therefore a reduction in the
lumber of students per class has
cry little effect upon total operation
| costs. In some departments the
tudent load has increased in spite
the war.
Budgets Submitted
"Dr. e. O. Melby, the new univer-
ty president, advises us that the re-
uests for the next biennium are the
minimum figure at which the univer-
ty can be maintained at reason
BILE effective level.
For the first year this figure is
507375 and for the second year,
512,375.
"The budget for the first year,
hich is similar to the second, lists
le following items: salaries and
age commitments, S410,956.64; heat,
ght, water, power, gas, S25,550; i'm
.ovement taxes, $3.50; industrial acct
ent insurance; $1,000; janitor sup
les, $3.50; telephone exchange