Southern Oregon Miner
School Fund Ballot Measure Is Reviewed
1 left to the state legislature, but measure. Now what ubout its
This Amendment Does Not:
1. Constitutes a sell is h “teacher the amendment would lift to six merits?
the past Oregon has depend­
grab ’ but an urgent necessity to per cent limitation from applica­ ed In very
largely on locul school
tion
to
this
fund.
save education lor Oregon child­
taxes supplemented by
ren (ducn a constitutional) sup­
Of the total sum $8,000,000 districts
tux (also u property tax)
port assurance will do much to must be applied to reduce local a county
da state elementary school
improve professional standing ol property tuxes until the year of un
tax (also a property tax until
teaching in Oregon, attract teach­ 1950; alter that the legislature very
late yeurs) for pinuncing its
ers into training, reu in present will decide how much shall be schools.
If school children were
qualilied teachers, and prevent applied io this purpose. The me­ distributed
geographically in ex­
uie trends toward the tragic con­ thod of distributing this fund, act proportion
to assessed valua­
ditions evidenced by the lack of which wil linclude the present tion the distribution
of the burd­
teachers
now
in
truinmg
in
Ore­
state
elementary
school
fund
and
perty offset until 1950.
of education would be equal­
the $5,000,000 diverted from in­ en
gon.
ized. That condition does not
3. Includes in this state fund
(It was reported at the recent come tax proceeds under the ini­ exist
for decades, if
the revenue from the state’s 2
meeting or school administra­ tiative of 1942 and the act of 1943, It ever and did. has As not
u result there is
mill elementary tax which pro­
The Bill:
tors in Salem that there are is left to the legislature.
wide disparity in school taxation.
Be it enacted by the people of duces approximately $2,000,000.00
only sixty-eight women and
When we first heard that the The writer in his message to the
the State of Oregon: That the annually. This amount added to
two men now in training in all teachers’
association was propos­ legislature in 1939 reported:
constitution of the Slate of Ore­ the $8,000,000.00 local property
of Oregon's teacher training in­ ing a constitutional
amendment
Of the 2085 school districts of
gon stall be and the same hereby tax offset noted above accounts
stitutions who will be eligible
establishment of state aid we the state. 691 levy no special tax
amended by adding to article for a total of $10,000,000.00 which
for certification in 1944-45 and for
were inclined to oppose it, as­ for elementary schools. For other
V1U tnereot a new section to be is a direct offset to present taxes
approximately 150 additional suming
that it would be using the districts the taxes range us high
numbered and known as section for education in Oregon.
wno will be eligible for emer­ constitution
for legislative rath­
50.7 mills.
0, to read as follows:
4. Provides additional and new
gency certification. This makes er that truly constitutionul pur­ as There
are two ways to equalize
Article VIII
revenue to schools of Oregon in
a total of only 220 prospective poses. A study of the amendment the tax burden:
one would be to
Section 6. In addition to the an amount of approximately $3,-
teachers from all our educa­ does not bear out that fear. It consolidate districts
into larger
income of the common school 000,000.00 and this is the only ad-
tional centers for 1944-45,
to establish as a princi- unit3, th r o u g h s u b s e q u e n t
fund, the legislative assembly diaional fund for the common whereas Oregon required appro­ proooses
.horino tn
ple -•»♦«
state sharing
in cost of .«it-
our cy,anges would again bring about
shall provide a state fund for schools of Oregon involved in the
ximately 1400 new teachers common
schools in a substantial inequality; the other method is to
support of public elementary and measure. The $8,000,000.00 is a
this year. These figures are amount. Since the principal provide
a larger sum from the
secondary schools. Said st a t e lax shift from the shoulders of lo­
truly alarming.)
would
ouiu be
oe meaningless unless
umesa tied
ncv. state treasury and lighten the
fund shall include all funds de­ cal districts to the state providing
2. Discriminate against any w
to a figure, the amendment fixes J burden on the local districts. Th
rived from state taxes, as now justifitd and needed equalization school, large or small. It leaves to 45
Gents per child per day of at- pending amendment will increas
increase
provided by law, for support of of educational opportunities.
our ligislature the method of dis­ tendance
as the measure of state substantially
...................... the amout
---* of
-* *u
the
such schools and shall be in a-
5. Leaves to the State Legisla­ tribution which naturally has not aid. This is arbitrary to be sure; state school fund; and if the leg­
mount sufficient to provide each ture the privilegt and responsi­ yet been determined.
ul be arbitary islature provides for its equitable
any figure woul
year not less than forty-five cents bility of:
3. Disturb the state irreducible but
and no figure would leave the distribution then there will be un
per child per day of attendance
a. Determining the distribu­ i fund or county school funds but amendment empty of meaning.
evening up of the burden of
for the school year immediately
' merely supplements them.
tion
of those funds.
Next t h e amendment frees school support.
preceding, as determined by the
4.
Alter
the
districts
own
tax
b. Determining the policy of
rather than restricts the legisla­
Objections are raised, especial­
superintendent of public instruc­
base .It clearly specimies that ture
offset, if any, after 1950.
.giving
it
power
(irrespective
ly
by taxpayer groups, against
tion. The power of the legislative
c. Determining the source or money received as offset by lo­ oi
of the
m e six per
pei cent
v e in limitation)
iuiuwuuu / to
»u this
mis measure on me
grou.nu that
uuu
the ground
assembly to levy or impose any
cal districts does not destroy the provide
sources
of
funds.
(Whether
the revenues from what
the income tax receipts should
tax for said fund shall no be li­
district
tax
base.
these funds shall be • .'lected
e /M ip o u o it
it p
h n n c n c or
n r can
p n n find;
f i n d * i shrink to pre-war Intmlc
Vis* L
u if -
chooses
levels I the
bur-
mited by section II, article XI, from
5. Constitute a “first mortgage sources
some one source, or many
power
also
to
determine
the
way
I
den
would
fall
on
property.
It
is
Oregon constitution.
many sources may be deter­ on the state and does not jeopar­ the fund be applied to offset i true that property is "exposed”
The legislative assembly shall
dize the state's own wherewithal 1 school district property taxes. I to additional burden by this a-
mined
from
time
to
time
as
provide further for the annual
conditions change and in ac­ to maintain state government. It Thus the amendment involves mendment, but only in the event
distribution of said fund; provid­
cordance
with the wishes of does make education a primary ! one principle: a mandate for state ¡other present or prospective tax
ed, that until June 30, 1950, eight
the
citibens
of Oregon. At the concern of the state, as it should ' contribution to schools in a de­ sources prove inadequate, or the
million dollars thereof shall be
present
time
the state has re­ be, and protects the state’s rev­ finite amount; and secondly gives legislature and the people prefer
applied each year to reduce the
duced
its
income
tax rates to enue needs by its provision of the legislature wide latitude in to have property assume this bur-
property tax levies of local school
the 6% limitation clause.
prevent
surpluses.
carrying out the mandate. The > den.
districts and thereafter the legis­
6. Causes the state to provide
Statesman has come to the con­
The Statesman suggests that it
lative assembly shall determine
Ballot Measures—VIII
clusion on analysis of the pro­ is time the people of the state
the amount to be so applied. The In a real and substantial way
Eighth
measure
on
the
ballot
is
common school of Oregon. a constitutional amendment spon­ posed amendment that it is en- looked at tneir schools from
amounts distributed from said for 7. the Establishes
a substantial
fund to local school districts shall
sored by the Oregon State Teach­ itrely proper matter both in sub­ another angle than how cheaply
not affect the tax base of any minimum for state school sup­ ers’ Association which would re­ stance and form to go into the they can run them.
The war has brought home to
such district within the limitation port-
.. x.
quire the state to provide reven­ constitution. In fact, it is hard to
o fsection II, article XI, Oregon | 8. Keeps and makes effective ues for the operation of element­ see how that step could be avoid­ Oregon school directors the fact
i the intent of the framers of the ary and high schools in the state ed if the six per cent limitation that they have to compete for in­
constitution.
(constitution to provide for the in
structors. Teachers' salaries in
amount equal to 45 cents ; is to be gotten round.
' establishment “of a uniform and per an
Washington and California are
;
So
much
for
the
constitutional
This Amendment:
child
per
day
of
attendance.
1. Makes the state responsible general system of co m m o n Method of raising the money is I amendment pointo which has substantially higher than in Ore­
been raised in discussions of the gon. The state department of
for approximately $13,000,000.00, schools”.
Editor's Note—The following is
a resume ol the Constitutional
amendment wlucn the voters oi
Oregon will baiiot on on Novem­
ber i m, generally Known as tne
scnool oin. m e local .Hi A heard
a general discussion ol its merits,
ana wnat it proposes to do at
tne meeting last inursday even­
ing. Also included is an editorial
by f o r m e r uovernor Charles
Sprague owner ol tne balem
btalesman, giving his views on
the proposed measure.
or approximately 55% of the to­
tal cost of Oregon Common
School Education, and would br­
ing Oregon out of the bottom half
into the upper third of the states
of the nation in the matter of
state support for education.
2. Guarantees the continuance
of the $5,000,000.00 local property
offset provided by the 1942 initia­
tive measure, and provides an ad­
ditional $3,000,000.00 local pro­
i
education has hud to give emer­
gency certuicaiea to «.u«.» ot
leuciiers who cannot qu«ui> uii-
ue r regulur sianuuiua.
Nor is uie con u iu u u one winch
win clear up wiui me end ui mu
wur. o u r colleges oi euueuuou
are uliuosl empty ol stUucui», in ­
cluding women, preparing iui a
leaching career, oume months
ago this editor maue u stury ot
tne changes among hign scnool
principals and supei utienucnis in
Oregon cities. Tne lacts, wmen
were publisned, should uiarm par­
ents ot children ot school age.
They showed our schools wire
becoming starved ut the top be­
cause ol the loss ot uble men us
school administrators.
We submit thut the time hus
come for the people of Oregon to
fuce the facts. These facts point
to this, that increased lunds
MUST' be provided for the opera­
tion of our schools if we ure go­
ing to maintain even the present
standards (which are none too
high). To do this by taking the
six per cent limitation off of locul
district taxes would mean that
property alone would beur the
whole burden, because that is the
only taxing power a locul school
board has.
Moreover there would then be
no limit and directors and pat­
rons might "shoot the works” for
their scnool and soak the rail­
roads, the utilities and other non­
resident property owners. The
proposed stute fund sets u limit
at *ne same time it applies a man­
date; 45 cents per child per duy;
and the legislature has broad
tuxing powers, made broader by
this amendment. The additional
revenue" is not exorbitant in u-
mount or beyond the capacity of
the people to pay.
The amendment is timely; it
is practical; it is just; it is neces­
sary. The Statesiifan strongly
urges Vote 314 X Yes.
KEEP HIM IN CONGRESS
Oregon
Women!
The U. S. A rm y Medical
Department urgently
needs you now”
MAJOR GENERAL NORMAN T. KIRK
o» General U. S. Army
r
TF there burns w ithin you a sincere desire
to do som ething active and important
to help w in the war, here is your oppor-
tnity. Join the W A C -s e r v e in the Army
Medical Departm ent, where w om en are
vitally needed now . Y ou can help bring
the war to a quick, successful end. Y ou can help bring
our loved ones—your loved ones, perhaps—hom e sooner.
And you can learn a valuable technical skill that may be
the foundation o f a career after the war.
W ith the biggest battles o f the Pacific still ahead, the
W est must take a still m ore active part in the war. Y ou
are needed here, in Australia perhaps, or elsewhere be­
hind battlefronts, to give our m en the needed attention.
T h e care and rehabilitation o f the sick and wounded
is a w om an’s noblest work. G et into it if you can. I f you
are betw een the ages o f 20 and 50 and have no children
under 14, or other dependents, call the nearest U. S. Army
YOU CAN SERVE AS
PHARMACIST
PHARMACIST AIDS
PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKER
DENTAL TECHNICIAN
DENTAL HYGIENIST
DENTAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT
MEDICAL STENOGRAPHER
MEDICAL TECHNICAN
SURGICAL TECHNICIAN
recruiting station. Post Office Bldg.. Medford. Oregon.
EDUCATIONAL RECONDITIONER
GREYHOUND SERVES, TOO
OPTOMETRIST
Greyhound is happy to publish this message through­
out the W est for the W AC. W e are in war work, t o o -
providing transportation for them and other branches
o f the Armed Forces . . . aiding in troop m ovem ents. . .
transporting w o u n d e d . . . at the same tim e carrying on
an essential service for the traveling public. And Grey­
hound is look in g ahead, planning for a finer, larger,
better highw ay travel service w hen the war is won.
X-RAY TECHNICIAN
THE
WflC
Re-elect
HARRIS ELLSWORTH
Representative in Congress for Oregon's 4th Dist.
G REYH O U N D &
S E R V I N G T H E N A T IO N W ITH D E P E N D A B L E T R A N S P O R T A T IO N
PR O V EN ABILITY
ENERGETIC
SINCERE
BROAD EXPERIENCE
SANE VIEWPOINT
DEPENDABLE
j
Paid Adv. By ELLSWORTH FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
L. E. McClintock, Treas., Roseburg, Ore.