4
THE BATTALION
THE BATTALION
Published every Thursday night by the Stu
dents’ Association of the Agriculturaf
and Mechanical College of Texas
Subscription price $1.50 per year
Advertising rates on Application
Member Texas Collegiate Press Association
ALL ADS RUN UNTIL ORDERED OUT
EDITORIAL STAFF
Tom Cheeves Editor
E. E. McQuillen Associate Editor
K. J. Edwards Associate Editor
C. A. Castillo Associate Editor
Bill King Managing Editor
C. W. Thomas... Assistant Managing Editor
Art Knickerbocker Sport Editor
R. V. Easley Assistant Sport Editor
F. L. Bertschler Contributing Editor
B. H. Frazier News Editor
H. S. Hudson Social Editor
Henry Fowler Cartoonist
F. M. Schiwetz Cartoonist
Mark Swain Staff Poet
REPORTERS
Company A, Arnspeiger, J.; Company B,
Franke, P. C.; Company C, Sherrill, W.;
Company D, Hatley, E. A.; Company E,
Smith, A. B.; Company F, Williams, H. W.;
Company G, Black, L. S.; Battery A, Huff,
R. P.; Battery B, Roper, W. N.; Signal Corps
Company A, Schlachter, E. G.; Signal Corps
Company B, Dillingham, H. C.; Signal Corps
Company C, Clanton, R. W.: Band Bill
Frame; Campus, Mrs. D. V. Graves, Mrs.
R. P. Marsteller.
BUSINESS STAFF
R. H. Harrison Business Manager
F. T. Bertschler Circulation
J. E. Stevens Assistant Circulation
F. Schulze Assistant Circulation
Entered as second-class matter at College
Station, Texas, February
17, 1905.
WHY A. AND M. NEEDS THE
BLANKET TAX.
(By J. T. Martin)
Today the Athletic Council and The
Battalion are operating at a financial
loss, while the Business Manager of
The Longhorn sweats blood in try
ing to finance the college annual. These
thing are run for the benefit of
the students, and we are the ones that
ought to guarantee their success. The
coupon-book system for athletics, and
the subscription method for our col
lege weekly and annual as a means
of financial support have proved to
be a failure. We need a system that
will put the financial burden of these
activities upon all students. This can
be done only by the Blanket Tax. It
will be low enough, that it will not
cause any financial inconvenience to
any student, and it will furnish enough
money for the support of athletics, of
The Longhorn, and, of The Battalion.
A tax of $13.50 is not too much. It
would furnish enough money for the
support of all, if it was distributed
as follows:
Athletics 68.5 %, or $9.25 of the
$13.50.
The Longhorn 22.2 % > or $3.00 of
the $13.50.
The Battalion 9.3%, or $1.25 of the
$13.50.
Some of you may ask why we should
pay $13.50 next year when we get all
that the Blanket Tax pays for at only
$11.50? In the first place, we cannot
get what the Blanket Tax will pay
for at $11.50 next year; for the writer
is authoritatively informed that the
coupon books for athletics will sell
for at least, if not more than, $7.50
next year. This will make the differ
ence only fifty cents in what we shall
have to pay for a coupon book. The
Longhorn, and, The Battalion from the
Blanket Tax. The difference is so
small in comparison to the many ad
vantages of the tax system that it
should not be neglected. However,
this difference is taken up by the
necessary of The Longhorn having to
put on a ministrel every year; so in
reality there will be no difference in
the amount of money spent by a stu
dent with the present method and the
Blanket Tax. The tax will do away
with the necessity of the ministrel.
In the second place, it gives a fair
and equitable distribution of the mon
ey to all three phases of student ac
tivities that are not suffering from a
financial handicap, and, it will in
sure to them a firm business bases
upon which they can operate and de
pend upon.
The tax will give sure return and
help pay the Athletic Council out of
debt. We feel sure in saying that
there isn’t 100 students in school who
knows what heavy expenses that the
Athletic Council has to bear every
year. Most of you will not believe
it, but it is a fact, that the expenses
of The Athletic Council is between
$20,000 and $25,000 per year. By
permission, we furnish you with the
following figures:
Salaries (eight people) $ 16,000
Football equipment 2,500
Sweaters, silver footballs, sil
ver bars, etc., for “T” and
all-company men _ 700
Football officials 500
Guarantees of football games
except Rice 2,350
Estimated expense of Track
equipment 500
Total $22,550
Estimated income exclusive of tax
or coupon receipts.
Gate receipts $6,500
Other sources about 4,000
Total $10,500
Difference $12,050
The coupon system yields about
$5,000 or $6,000. Where is the balance
coming from ? The Blanket Tax will
yield about $13,000 or $14,000.
In the statement of the expenses
of the Athletic Council, nothing is
said about basketball, baseball, box
ing, wrestling, tennis, and various
other sports. On an average, base
ball and basketball have been paying-
expenses within the last few years,
so they are not to be considered in
the expenses of the council. It would
take at least $2000 to build and
maintain five or six dirt courts per
year. A. and M. should have at least
twelve hard surface tennis courts.
It will take about $500 each for the
proper equipment of boxing and
wrestling, if these sports are to re
ceive anything like a fair chance in
this College. With these new sports
introduced it will make the expenses
of the Athletic Council about $25,-
000 per year. We can easily pay it
with the Blanket Tax. In addition
of the heavy expense of the Council,
there is an indebtedness of several
thousand dollars which the council
members have given their notes as
a guarantee that this indebtedness
will be paid. Every student in this
College should see that these debls
are paid—and not by the members of
the Council. Athletics are for our
pleasure, and we are the ones to
pay.
The Battalion is publishing the
paper at a loss of about fifteen or
twenty cents per annual subscrip
tion. With the advertising and a
$1.25 apportionment of this tax, will
be enough to pay the expense of the
Battalion. The same is true with
The Longhorn, an appropriation of
$3.00 will enable us to receiver a
bigger and better Longhorn. This
tax means a great deal t oour Col
lege publications; for it will enlarge
their circulation to such an extent
that they will be able to get more
advertising. It is astonishing at the
number of students who subscribe
and have their Battalion delivered to
them on the campus. A college
paper is judged by its circulation,
PARKER - ASTIN
Hardware Co.
Carries a Select Line of
Pocket Cutlery
Of all kinds.
Razors, Razor Strops, Electric Read
ing: Lamps, Themos Bottles and Many
Other Articles Needed to Complete
the Equipment of a Cadet
MAKE OUR STORE HEADQUARTERS WHEN IN
THE CITY
IF IT IS IN THE LINE
CASEY
Has it. We want to please our customers and therefore
we are always striving to give you the service you are en
titled to. If you are not a customer of ours come around
and get acquaainted.
THE
WALLACE PRINTING CO.
PRINTING
AND
STATIONERY
DANCE PROGRAMS, CARDS, ETC.
TELEPHONE BRYAN 340
i
the larger the circulation, the easier
it will be for the Business Manager
to secure advertising mattei’. The
same is true about the College an
nual.
If we pay the Blanket Tax we
shall receive in return
(1) More and better athletics.
(2) The best Longhorn in the his
tory of A and M., and
(3) A bigger and better Battal
ion.
LET US HAVE THE BLANKET
TAX.
JEWELRY
We carry a splendid line of
Watches, Clocks, Chains,
Fobs, Pins and Gold and
Silver Novelties. See us
for watch repairing.
A. M’KENZIE