The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-06-16

"Long Bar Farm" of $40 acres, "a 600
29S acres of unimproved land, $1,710
household furniture and personal property
other than that used III connection with
the iron furnace and chemical works,
about $1,000. The uuctioneer was Mr. J.
S. Richardson.
.
THE FARMERS CLUBS AND SCHooL DEBT.
"A joint committee, composed ofrepresenta-
tives Of the various farmers clubs of the
county, met in Bel Air on Monday, for the
purpose of discussing the school debt, and cx
pressing the sentiments of the organizations
they represented and the ncighborhoods in
which they live, in relation to the best meth
oil of lquidatng the debt.
The clubs were all represented. Mr.. VIM,
III. Waters, of Waervale Club, was called to
the chair, and Nathan Grafton, of the Forest
Hill Club, was appointed Secretary. The
discussion was general and earnest, and the
members were unanimous in their opposi
ton 10 funding the debt by issuing county
bonds. They also declared their opinion that
the best manner in which the debt can be
paid would he by Il suspension of the public
schools for twelve months and the appica.
ton of the money they cost to the liquida-
ton of the debt. Their views on these sub
jects are embodied in the following preamble
and resolutions, which were unanimously
adopted:
TO the County Commissioners and Tie School
Boa'1 Of HaaJom county,:
The committees of the several Farmers Clubs
OF Hartford county, representing as they do
considerable portion of the farming and tax
paying community Of the county, respectfully
represent TO your honorable bodies that the in
creasing taxes levied from year to year for the
support OF the public schools, without as they
consider \ corresponding increase in their ell
cheney as a means Of educating our childrcn
has in great measure brought the entire pub
lie school system into distavor in the minds of
many intelligent persons. While tax payers
generally are sincerely DESTROYS of supporting
coed "rd'lio~ schools ..th9y. AKA "ttt e.S9sa
the present time when the School Board is APP.
plying to The County Commissioners to be re-
leved of Il large debt incurred by previous
School Boards, the organizations we respect.
lively represent deem ii entirely appropriate
lhat we should express our views farmers.
tax payers and patrons of the public schools in
relation 10 the payment OF this debt
We have considered carefully the plan of DAY.
ing the school debt as proposed by the State
Legislature, namely, by issuing the bonds of
the county and funding The debt. In our opn.
ion such course would be in every respect op-
posed TO the best interests Of the people of the
| county, and we therefore dsapprove of this
manner of paying the debt. In support of our
position in This matter we cite The fact that in
1863 county bonds were issued amounting to
fifty thousand dollars. To pay this amount the
sum OF scyenly.eight thousand five hundred and
iorty-siX dollars was levied, making The amount
of over $?S, 200 levied for the payment of these
bonds over and above the original debt
We are therefore opposed TO entailng n large
debt upon the county which it will take years
TO liquidate, and which, judging by past expe-
rience, would be an onerous burden upon lax
payers.
After full and free expression of the views
of each neighborhood, expressed through its
representative, we have unanimously adopt
ed the following resolutions and venture to ey-
press the hope that your boards may see fit to
coincide with our views and act in accordance
Herewith:
ReSotvcd, That the committees appointed by
the several farmers clubs of Hartford county
respectfully recommend 10 the Board OF School
Commissioners that, in their Judgment the
most economical and judcious method of re
| lcving the School Board Of its Indebtedness
would be to suspend the public schools for II
months, and during such suspension to permit
| school books Tor the purpose of conducting
subscription or private schools, under such re-
strictions as TO your body may seem just.
HtSotDcd, also, that we recommend The County
Commissioners 10 unite with the School Com
missOncrs in the policy herein indicated and
appropriate such sum as may be necessary with
the State appropriation to lqudate the entire
Indebtedness of the School Board before the
public schools are re opened.
RtSOitrd ftuther, That we take this opportu-
nj N IN, INt
siomcrS and The school Board the importance of
exercising the most rigid economy, consistent
with the public good, in the disbursement of
the county funds both for school and general
WIN. II. WATERS, President. .
NATHAN GRAFTON, Scc'y.
The joint committee adjourned TO meet ut
the call of the President, and then in body
waited upon the County and School Com
missioncrs, TO present their views MS embod-
led in the above preamble and resolutions.
A respectful hearing was given them, but
no conclusion was reaced 1t was argued,
on the part of the School Commissioners, that
the law compelled them TO keep the schools
open at least three terms during the year.
and that the State appropriation and the
amount derived from the county must be ap.
piled primarily TO this object. 1t was sug-
gcstcd also, that in case of failure on the
part of the School Board to keep the schools
open, writ of mandamus would prevent the
diversion of the school funds to any other
purpose than the salaries of teachers, &c,
1t was also asserted that in the event of
the County Commissioners failing to provide
for the payment of the school debt, the credi-
tors might sue the School Board, obtain
judgment and sell the school houses. The
School Board were unwilling TO make any
pledges that schools would be consolidated,
but said, that if new schools were needed
they would feel compelled to open them. At
the same time they expressed desire to
economizc, wherever it could be DONE
The members of the farmers clubs dis.
claimed any intention to dictate to the Coun-
ty or to the School Commissioners, but as the
representatives ola large class of the tax
paying community, they vcntured to express
their views in relation to subject of great
Importance to the whole county
The County Commissioners declined to
take immediate action in the premises, and
adjourned until next Monday