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About The Rimrock Echo (Billings, Mont.) 1930-1943 | View This Issue
The Rimrock Echo (Billings, Mont.), 15 Oct. 1930, located at <http://montananewspapers.org/lccn/TheRimrockEcho/1930-10-15/ed-1/seq-2/>, image provided by MONTANA NEWSPAPERS, Montana Historical Society, Helena, Montana.
2 The RIMROCK ECHO The XlMROCK ECHO Published by EASTERN MONTANA NORMAL SCHOOL at BILLINGS, MONTANA Student Editor Josephine Haug Staff Class in Advanced Composition Faculty Adviser Mary J. Meek Committee in Charge Marie Alderson, Loraine Cates, Louise Cain, Catherine Clark, Hazel Hilton, Thelma Hyatt, Orvilla Jones, Grace Kirch, Elizabeth Keller, Geraldine Kindler, Lorraine Light, Elizabeth Perkins, Elma Rautio, Marian Tooley, Violet Waldahl. Subscription Price, 50 Cents EDITORIALS REFERENDUM MEASURES 33 AND 34 When the people of Montana go to the polls on November 4th, in addition to voting for certain candidates for office, they also will vote on two referendum measures, 33 and 34, submitted to the people by the 21st Legislative Assembly. Measures Are for Good of All There is a mistaken idea in the minds of many voters—that the money provided for in these measures is to be used for education alone. One half of it, at least, will be used to meet the pressing needs of the penal, charitable and governmental institutions. Also, many people do not know that the biggest part of the tax burden is imposed for local expenses. Only 7% cents of every dollar paid in taxes goes to the state, and if both of these measures are passed, that amount will be increased only % cent, giving 8 cents of every tax dollar to the state. We, as teachers, prospective teachers, and students of Eastern Mon- tana Normal School, are especially interested in these measures, because they so vitally concern the growth of our own school, and of all other institutions of higher education in Montana. Analysis of Measure 33 Let us analyze each measure briefly. Number 33 is a bond issue for $3,000,000. It is to provide funds for the repair, enlargement, construe- tiCR and equipment .9t. the-14 . -4tate--C112-1 4 4-tal21e—e.dpsatioz and corrective institutions. The institutions 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 Boulder, 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 University at Missoula, State College at Bozeman, Montana School of Mines at Butte, Stat , 3 Normal College at Dillon, Eastern Montana Normal School at Billings, and Northern Montana School at Havre. What Depends Upon Passage of No. 33 Upon the passage of this measure depends whether or not the orphans, the deaf, and the blind, who are now housed in sadly over-crowded quarters, can be properly cared for. Upon the passage of this measure depends whether or not the present distressingly over-crowded condi- tions prevailing in our State Prison must continue, and whether or not the 183 boys in the State Reform School are going to be cared for in a building which adequately accommodates only one-half that number. Last, but not least in importance to us in the eastern part of Montana, upon the passage of this measure depends whether or not construction of buildings for the Eastern Montana Normal School will begin upon the site which has already been secured. The $3,000,000 bond issue covers these pressing needs, and provides for the payment of its own accruing interest and . eventual retirement. $3,000,000 at the present time, sounds like a large sum of money to ask from, the taxpayers of Montana; yet, when we consider that it means an increase of only_ 5. cents on every $1000 of taxable real estate, it seems a small amount, indeed, compared with the benefits to be bestowed. Montana and Twelve Neighboring States Compared Perhaps the average voter, who has not made a comparison of sta- tistics, does not realize how much less per capita Montana is spending for government expenses than her Western neighbors. A careful study of the facts shows that Montana's per capita cost of government is $6.72, whereas the average in twelve of our neighboring states is $11.98 per capita. As to the per capita amount spent in education, compared with the same twelve states, Montana shows an expenditure of $1.23, the lowest in the whole group, with the exception of Utah and New Mexico, which are a few cents lower. Analysis of Referendum Measure 34 The other measure, Number 34, provides for support and operation of the institutions of higher education in Montana. These are the original four units of the University, with the addition of the Agricul- tural Experiment Station, 'Montana Extension Service, (with agents in 34 counties), the Soil Survey, Grain Laboratory, State Bureau of Mines and Geology, Eastern Montana Normal School at Billings, and Northern Montana School at Havre. 1 1 / 2 -Mill Levy Will Expire December 31, 1930 Under the Constitution of the State of Montana, the Legislature is empowered to levy a property tax not to exceed 2 mills when the tax valuation is $6,000,000 or more, and 2% mills when the tax valuation is less than $6,000,000. This amount proved inadequate to meet the needs of the state ten years ago, largely because of a decreasing tax valuation. At that time, in 1919, the people initiated a measure providing 1% mills for the sup- port of the 4 units of the University then in existence, thus relieving the general fund of the University burden. Even with this relief, the general fund was insufficient, and the state debt increased until in 1925-26 it amounted to a total warranted indebt- edness of approximately $3,500,000, at which point it stands today. Anticipating the expiration of the special 1% mill levy on December 31st, 1930, the 21st Legislature, in accordance with the Constitutional provision, (Section 9, Article XII) is referring to the people Measure 34. This provides for a possible levy of three mills, which is an increase of 1% mills over the expiring levy. In making this increase from 1% to 3 mills, the measure proposes to include in the special levy, institutions now supported out of the general fund, as follows: the two units of the University at Billings and at Havre, the Agricultural Experiment Station, Montana Extension Service, the Soil Survey, Grain Laboratory, and the State Bureau of Mines and Geology. For those activities an appropriation of .98 mills was made by the last Legislature, making the total present cost of all these institutions 2.48 mills. The 3 mill levy of Measure 34 really provides an increase of but .52 mills above the present cost. In other words, Referendum 34, if passed, will add only % mill to the present assesment, or 45 cents on every $1000 of taxable real estate. When we consider that increase of student population is 119%, and, that tax valuation has decreased from $589,000,000 to $428,000,000, this increase is certainly a very moderate one. The passage of these measures is dependent entirely upon the con- certed efforts of Montana citizens. We feel that the facts have not yet been clearly placed before many of the voters who will go to the polls on November 4th. No citizen should be allowed to cast his ballot against Referendum Measures 33 and 34 because of ignorance of their true significance. For this reason, we are trying to give publicity to this measure. Those teachers who are now in the field teaching have a valuable opportunity to place these facts before their communities. Others, who are not in a position to carry the message directly to outside communi- ties, can aid very materially by sending word to those at home, enclos- 111g; palnchle,t5-wkie-h--sNyald clwit •^ BUDGETING TIME Several times a day, we hear students complain, \I didn't have time for that,\ yet our busiest people seem to get time for everything. They arrange their program for the day, and by the use of this systematic time budget they waste no precious minutes wondering whether to do this, or that, or the other first. School days are arranged according to schedule; otherwise we should find at the end that arithmetic had been left out, or language omitted. There is a real reason back of allotting a special period for each thing to be done; it conserves time. All of which doesn't mean that , you must have an iron clad rule for each task; merely make the most of your day, including a generous period for recreation and rest. THE LUNCHEON CLUB Did you know that the Luncheon Club of Eastern Montana Normal School is one of the few student luncheon clubs in existence in the United States? It is composed of faculty members and the entire stud- ent body of this institution. Luncheons are held at the Commercial Club every Wednesday of the school year from 12:15 to 1:30. It is a campus organization that was organized shortly after the open- ing of the normal school, four years ago, and because of lack of an as- sembly room takes the place of a regular school assembly. Why not attend the luncheons? You will get more than your money's worth from the social contacts, the programs, and the self-satisfaction derived from showing a real school spirit! Many cease striving for wisdom, because they believe they have attained perfection. *• A YEAR AHEAD At this time, when the activities of the Eastern Montana Normal School are just getting well under way, and in this, the initial edition of our paper, it may be well to make some comment on the coming year and what it may have in store. Especially if you are a new student, the coming year may be more or less vague to you, except that you know you will study a lot. We should like to assure you that the school year here may be inter- esting or dull, happy or unpleasant, just 'as you choose to make it. There are activities to suit every talent: dramatic, artistic, athletic, or \just plain studious.\ It is studentship above all other virtues, which is held in highest esteem.
