The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-02-09
BLOOMINGTON GARRETT Co., Md,
February 9th, 1878.
EDITOK OF The REPuBLCAN:

party; signed and sent to the Legis-
lature the following petition, viz:
We, the undersigned, citizens of
Garrett county, Maryland, respect
fully petition your honorable body to
81 revise the School Law rs to vest
the election of the School Commits
sioners by a vote of the people at the
next general election for county of
ficers. On the formation of Garrett
county, a board of School Commits
sioners was app inted, by the Judges
Of our Circuit Court, who have re-
Inained in Office ever since, notwith-
standing the remonStrances and pro-
tests of our entire community. The
Judges of our Circuit Court refuse to
make any change in the appoint.
ments although aware of the fact that
said Commissioners were either to.
tally incompetent or neglpctful of
their duties, having involved the
county deeply in debt. and failed to
keep the schools open the limited
time prescribed by law.
Being unable to- obtain redress of
our grievances under the present hlw,
we respectfully appeal to your honor
able body for relief, and as in duty
bound, will ever pray, DEC.
The writer, as chairman of this
county's delegation to the late State
Republican Convention, had this
prof. ospd election ofthe School Com
missioners by the people, inserted in
the resolutions Of the Convention as
part of the platform of the Repub-
lican party but Democrats and Re
publicanS alike are DESTROYS of the
proposed change in the law, so that
we may be able to place good, honest,
faithful and efficient men in tie
board, who will Tot make use of their
official position for their own person.
al ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
1t has been contended by the few
that oppose this measure, that
party nominations will place into
these positions, INSCRIPTIONS poll
ticians who will use their positions
for party purposes but this evil al
ways will remedy itself by the voice
Of the people. Each party will be
put on its good hehayior in making
proper nominations as it is a well
known fact that the people are so
much interested in the success and
prosperity of the public schools that
they will vote for the best nominee,
regardless of party politics.
| will cite as an instance of this re.
suit, the District of Frostburg, Ale
gany county. During the time when
School Commissioners were elected
by the people, the Districts of Frost
burg were carried by three hundred
to four hundred Republican major
ity: yet Democrat, singly and
alone, was invariably elected AS Il
School Commissioner. Faithful in
the discharge of his duties and act
lively engaged in promoting the in
tereSts of the public schools under his
charge, he received the commenda-
tionS of all parties, continued to hold
the office from term to term until
his death and to this day the people
of Fro tburg respect and revere the
memory of John NJ. Standish.
Another important fact in this
school question which should not be
overlooked, and in which there is
decided necessity for reform, is the
sale of books by the school board.
There appears to be a ring formed
of all the School Commissioners from
the various counties, who decide on
what books shall be used in the
schools, at what price they shall he
sold and by whom they shall be sold.
Arrangements are made by them
with the publishers tn these books
shall not be sold t. any one else at
competitive rates no doubt the pub
Usher in making this concession re.
ceives a small additional margin of
profit on his sales to the Commission
ers, whilst they have entire cor troll
of the retail price at which they shall
be sold, and the following outrageous
prices are exacted and received for
them, viz:
Sold at Worth
Newell & Creery's LIST Reader. 20 cents. 10