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Show SCHOOLMAN AND TAXPAYER GIVEN HISJNSWER Mr. Cronqulst Asks That Supt. Larsen Lar-sen Go on Record as to Accuracy of Statements Editor: My attention is directed to tho article ar-ticle In your paper of January 8 on tho tax question, tho said article being be-ing signed by "A Schoolman and Taxpayer," in which tho said Schoolman School-man nnd Taxpayer, takes Issue with ono of tho statements I .made In a recent artlclo on "Another Vlow of tho Tax Question," also published- In a recent issue of your paper. I am sorry that my friend Schoolman School-man and Taxpnyor, did not come out In tho bpon and sign his namo to his article so that all could know who ho is, but as ho seems to bo afraid to do so, or from some other reason did not do so, I will take tho time and ask for sufficient of your space to set this teacher and Taxpayer right In this matter, and then If ho has any furhcr come back, let us ail hopo that he will havo tho nerve to sign his namo to what ho has to say. In my artlclo on tho tax question I made this statement: "Tho best facts wo havo show conclusively that moro than eighty per cent of tho tax money goes to the schools," and It was this statement to which my friend objected, inferred that It was not a fact, and cited a recent r ad-dross ad-dross given by County Cuporlntcnd-ent Cuporlntcnd-ent Larsen, to provo that tho statement state-ment was not a fact, and then asks mo to publish whatever Information I may havo at hand to prove my statement. My friend takes Supt R. V. Larson Lar-son as his authority, and whllo Supt. Larsen is a very nice gentleman, I think perhaps ho has enough to do as superintendent of schools to oc-cupj"hls-tlmo, without-qualifying as an expert on the state's revenues, etc., however his figures and statements state-ments should bo taken for what they aro worth of course. In my calculations calcula-tions I have taken the highest source In tho state, tho state auditor and all my figures havo come direct from tho auditor's office. Now then here Is whtit rty stato auditor says in speaking of tho appropriations made by tho tenth legislative session for tho years 1913 nnd 1014. "Tho total tax rqvcnuo to the state on assessed valuations for the current cur-rent blennlum approximates $3,150,- 000. Of this amount $1,470,000 went directly to tho support of tho district dis-trict schools and tho high schools. Out of tho remainder, 28 per cent or approximately $470,000 was sot aside for the permanent maintenance funds of the University of Utah and the Agricultural College. There remained, re-mained, then, out of tho total tax revenues, for general stato purposes, $1,210,000 from which amount thoro was still further set asldo for educational educa-tional Institutions and purposes approximately ap-proximately $835,000 additional. This makes a grand total of $2, 775,000, or 88 per cent of tho total tax revenues, all of which was dovotcd to tho causo of education. It will bo seen thoroforo, that tho tax rovenues mado a. not yield for general stato purposes of only $375,000. Tho fees from other sources, Increased this fund to approximately $1,500,000." In commenting on tho nbovo the state auditor In a lotter to a private citizen of Logan under dato of Oc-tobor Oc-tobor 20, 1014, says: "I prepared thoso figures nnd havo slnco ro-checked ro-checked them, thoreforo know them to bo nccurato." In replying to this will my friend, Schoolman and Taxpayer, Tax-payer, kindly havo tho sourco of his authority, Supt. Larsen, go on record ns to tho accuracy of his statements. Further It is a fact that many of your readers will recall re-call occasions wherein tho governor of tho stato has mado tho statement in public addresses, that moro than 80 per cent of tho tax rovenues of tho stato goes to tho causo of education. edu-cation. In fact it is so common that ovarybody Is beginning to knowt It, and no ono seems to question It ox; cept tho "schoolmen." Tho "schoolmen" apparently seem to think that tho so called public schools is tho only avonuo for education educa-tion in tho stato. They thought so at tho recent session of the Utah Educational Association, and on Do-cembor Do-cembor 20, 1015, this association do- 4 clared that only 48por cent of tho tax revenue of tho stato is expended for education in tho state. In tho Issue of Tueday, Docember 21st of tho Dosorot Nows, Stato Auditor Kelly Kel-ly answered this association at eomo length, doclarinc Unit tho figures above stated wero nccurato, and analysed an-alysed tho ontiro mattor In such clearness that nothing moro was hoard on tho matter. Furthermore, tho taxpayers know full woll that tho stato auditor is correct and they havo demonstrated it by handing out nearly near-ly 50 per cent of tho tax revenues for so called public school mainto-nanco mainto-nanco and 38 per cent for other .educational .edu-cational purposes, making a staggering stagger-ing total of 88 per cent for all edu catlonal purposes. For the Information of your readers read-ers I am handing you tho artlclo from tho desoret nows of last Docember Do-cember 20, for publication.. Now then, facts aro facts, and If theso aro not facts will "Mr. Schoolman School-man and Taxpayer," sot tho stato au-dltor au-dltor right, and if this 88 por cent is not spent for education, or for schools If you ploaso, pray tell us what it is spent for. Yours vory truly, OLIF CRONQUIST, |