The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-01-05

Our town and county matters are
in had plight. The former through
careless and inattention. The debt
is not large, however, and we can,
by energy, economy and prompt ac'
ton soon repair any damage the in
difference and neglect of oul officials
may have occaSiOned. One good
effect has already been seen, and it is
this, that the talk has at last aroused
our Taxpayers to action, and unless
all their talk and energy evapOrate
into thin air, the citizens are likely
now to ascertain to whom we are
indebted for the "dirty cloud" of in
uendo and insinuatiOn that has been
passing current in our town for the
past four or five years, and that if
any one is guilty of wrong doing it
will, as it ought to be, laid at the
right door. For once let us go
through with our investigations, and
bad as the state of things may be
found, let us see it, aid meet it as best
we can. Let the new year open upon
a new state of things, and let each
citizen make it his duty to help to
clear up what has been and what will
remain a most offensive stencil until
it has been cleared up. The debts
the Corporation owes ought to be
paid. They are mostly owing to our
people, who can ill afford to lose
them or, indeed, have their payment
any longer postponed, and every cit
izen is himself participant in the
fraud unless he now uses his best
efforts to ascertain their amount and
assist in their payment. Now is the
time to act, and with the determine
ton to do so, if only followed up,
we shall soon reach the "end of this
rope" and be prepared to enter the
new year with clean bill of health. ;
The management of our school
affairs (if one half that is asserted is
true) falls little short of cri,ninality,
criminality that is shared by each
alike-as much by the accuser as the
accused. There seems to be dispo-
sition all around when asked "who
did it," to point to the "other fellow
over yonder." Keep the investlga-
ton mill going till that "other fell
low" has been hunted down and the
extent of his criminality is ascer-
tanned and located, but don't lose
sight of that graver duty we owe to
our rising generation, who cannot be
deprived of this or next years school
privileges without working them an
injury that no one Of us ought to be
willing to assume.
Our tax payers are already groan-
ing under the burden that is laid
upon them, and they will look with
dismay, almost despair, if we attempt
to pay this load of debt-over ten
thousand dollars-in this or next
year, and levy in addition thereto
any amount that shall approximate
the needs fer schools in this and the
coming year. We cannot curtail the
session of cur schools and fund unless
by signalling the children that need
and want education; we ought not
attempt to run our schools upon
credit, nor ought our School Com
missioners be allowed to borrow
money from banks or individuals, at
high rates of interest. ..., !
What then. can be done? nu
The Commissioners, we suppose,
do not need to be told that, because
of the unexpected condition which
has been revealed Of their financial
burdens, and also because OF their IN
ternal squabbles, they have lost the
confidence Of the people-that they
will not cooperate in any effort they
may make to eXtricate themselves