The people's voice., 1958-12-05
INTRODUCTION

There is growing concern Tor the
mounting costs of higher education
to state governments. In this situa-
tion it is well to remember many
facts. Among them are the rapidly
mounting Russian investments; de-
Tense requirements; maintaining the
nations economic plant; developing
new resources; citizenship training
for the young; the preservation of
life and health itself. The enactment
by Congress of the National Defense
Education Act of 1858 demonstrates
current issues. But one fact stands
above every other. A free states in
vestment in higher education is an
investment in the untrammeled search
for truth. This is the most important
quest of free men. Without it soci-
ETY. denies its most basic aspirations.
That is why the state of Montana,
with its sisters of the American union,
has established state university sys-
tenn. That is why other universities
and colleges are encouraged by the
state. Where belief in the efficacy
of sound knowledge exists. in the
necessity for the unceasing search
for truth, there a university may
flourish and spread it's benefits.
Where such belief is weak or falters,
university tends to decay.
HIGHER EDUCATION AND.
STATE GOVERNMENT
1t speaks we'll for the founders of
Montana that they dreamed a dream
of multiple campuses. They attempted
to make higher education accessible
to the people. Division of the states
resources among more than one cam
pus entails complications. 1t requires
additional investments in wealth, en-
ergy, and political wisdom. 1t is in
search of an outside point of view
with respect to future investments |
that this study has been desired.
The basic Qualifications for the
present study are many. Included are:
1. The Capitalization trend in state
Frequently since 1900,
counties, municipalities, and local dis
tricts have been unable to meet the
demands originally placed on them
in our constitutional system. There
result many problems, especially of
effective operation of rapidly increas-
ing state services.
2. The assumption by state govern
ments of many new services during
the past four decades. New state
services have crowded
the older historic state functions, in
,luding the direct state obligations in
.he field of higher education. There
we're no state welfare, highway, pub
ic health services of multimillion dol
ar character forty years. ago. The
recent expansion of state-financed
foundation programs for the ele-
nentary and secondary schools, all
formerly financed by local govern
nents. moreover. has been a central
problem in western state legislatures {
as one of the largest items of state t
So keen are local inter- t
,sts in the public schools. that his J
oric state concern for higher edu- I
alton has almost been submerged in
he struggle to establish and increase
foundation" programs.
The result of these trends confuse !
tate budget officers. legislators, and Z
axpayers. Widely competing demands t
ppear. The upward spiral of dollar
seems never ending.
'erplexed is generation of college
nd university presidents. {
Today they feel that higher educa- i
ion. once a primary state role. is in i
anger of being lost in the new well
health-public school h
They are chagrined to note 2
rom Beardsley Ruml that top salaries g
f university presidents ''in 1908
anged from $1,000 to $10,OOO," that +
Today's salaries would have to be :
rom $29,325 to $50,400 merely to y
estore the 1908 economic position, r
} say nothing about keeping relative