The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1875-06-19
VIA Is 1T Done /?

The aggregate amount of the ssctarian and
special appropriations made by the last Legisla-
ture of Maryland is surprisingly large Under
this head the Lawmakers Of the State disposed Of
between seventy-five and one hundred thousand
dollars. This sum would have purchased the
ground and erected the building fer our new
Normal School. This imposition went far to-
wards increasing our State taxes. The injustice
of these appropriations is manifest to everybody
who spends thought upon the subject. Ours is
government that claims to be free from any
mngling Of State affairs with those of the church.
We can see no reason why the taxpayer should
be called upon TO support any institution that
partakes of a sectarian nature, to support any
institution that is not public in its character and
that is not under the control of State authority
The Home Of the Good Shepherd is given do
nation of five hundred dollars This is small
amount it is true. And the institution, as far as
our knowledge goes, is very worthy one. But
would not any ether institution of similar char
acter have just as good right to five hundred del
lars of the peoples money for the advancement
of their bsnevolence? Almost all institutions Of
this character are supported by the generosity Of
people Of moderate means. They are again taxed
by the State to contribute still further to their
support. 1t is upon this class of liberal men of
moderate means that the extra taxation fer this
purpose falls heaviest.
ST. Mary's Industrial School is furnished with
an appropriation of $4,000. Why should the
Taxpayers be obliged to make this contribution
to this Institution? Does it form part of the
machinery of the State for the government and
welfare Of the people? There is somebody con-
nected with this institution that lives by salary.
This 81, 900 would be material aid in that way.
The inmates of this institution belong to one oil
three classes. They are either people who cannot
support themselves or they are people who can
-. r.---;-h .i,-;- ;~-.--otivu, tlny .-e
people who need reformation. If they belong to
| the first class, the people are taxed to support
| comfortable aims houses for them. They are moi
entitled any more than others to special care. II
they belong to the second class, they have public
schools furnished them. If they belong to the
third class, the State furnishes House of Refuge
for them. What special claim have they to the
peoples money when the State exercises no con-
troll over the institution The State could not
place an inmate in it or remove one from it.
The Cambridge Female Seminary is donated
| one thousand dollars per annum for five years.
If we had no public school system and this were
| first class school for the education of females
| there might be some excuse for this donation
But under existing circumstances it is criminal
use of the public funds. We would not do oar
public schools and our Normal School the poor
compliment of saying that the students of Cam
bridge Female Seminary can be better educated
| within its walls than they can in the public
| schools and the Normal School. These are sup
ported by general taxation for the benefit of all.
Why impose an additional tax for the support Of
| private seminary. II the character of its work
is not sufficient guarantee for its support then ii
has no business to exist. If its instructors can
rot live without State support, they should be
obliged to enter into fair competition with the
public school teachers. Pets of this character
have been fostered quite too long at State ex-
pense. Let the public school teachers have the
money expended on these charity institutions.