The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-01-12

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be so guarded by the law that no one could
ever doubt the exact application of the
fund to the purposes for which it is col
lected. Our present public school system
in this State has justly been regarded as
one Of the best in the country, and under
its practical workings the schools have
steadily improved.
The annual disbursement in Maryland
for the purposes Of education is considera-
bly, over 81 5000, about one-half Of
which is contributed by the State Treasury
from direct taxation, and the balance is
levied by the counties and the city of Bal
timore upon the taxable basis within their
limits Ofthis large sum the whole amount
apportioned to the counties is entrusted to
the Board of County School Commission
ers, who are required to publish annually
a statement of their receipts and disburse-
ments, and to forward a copy of the report
to the State Board of Education. The
State Board has no control whatever over
the expenditures of the county Boards,
and has no power, under our law, even to
examine their accounts. The County
Boards are entirely Independent and act
without supervision from any one
In view Of the increasing necessities of
the public schools, and the large sums of
money levied for their support, it becomes
a question which in my judgment the Leg
islature may well consider, whether there
should not be State officer, whose duty
it would be TO supervise and examine in
detail theexpenditure ofthe County Boards,
and report to the Legislature the condition
of the schools, and the manner in which
the various duties have been performed.
This Office might, with the same effect, be
assigned to the County Commissioners.
can make this suggestion all the more
readily now because have no reason to
think that in any county of the State has
there been the least irregularity, but |
have a strong belief in the supervision of
departments as the surest way to maintain
order and efficiency. In this connection
it may be stated that some of the County
Boards have instituted proceedings against
the Comptroller to compel him to distrib-
ute at one time all the money in the Treas
ury which stands to the credit of the school
fund. The largest sums on this account
are paid into the Treasury at the begin
ming of the fiscal year, and the habit of
that department has been to estimate what
will be the sum total for the year to the
credit of the school fund, to divide it into
four equal parts, and to make quarterly
payments to the County School Commits
sioners. IF the law upol which this action
of the Comptroller is based be at all doubt
full, it is important that all doubt should
be removed, and that these quarterly pay
ments should be provided for in the most
explicit terms.
The responsibility of the Commissioners
is already great enough, and it would not,
in my opinion, be wise to give them the
care of larger sums of money long before
they had any occasion for their use.
ST. JOHNS COLLEGE.
The appropriation of $4,000 a year,
which was made for six years by the act
of 1872, will soon expire, and unless it is
renewed the College viii suffer for want
Of means to sustain it. The Indebtedness
contracted some years ago, although in n
measure reduced, still amounts to Sl3,5 25,
the interest of which is paid from the rev.
enues, and bears heavily upon the resour-
ces of the college. It will be for the Leg
islature to determine at this session what
course should be adopted for the future of
this institution. The idea which has long
been cherished by its friends, that in time
it might become State University of the
highest grade, has, l suppose, been gener-
ally abandoned, but there is no reason why
the great advantages offered by the loca-
ton and buildings of ST. John Is should not
be used for the purpose Of State College
in connection with our public school sys-
TEN. To accomplish this purpose the char
ter should be so amended by consent or
otherwise, as to place the property entirely
under State control, and complete reor-
ganization of the Board should be effected.
Unless a change based upon such reorgan-
izatiOB is adopted do not feel justified
in urging upon the Legislature the pay
ment of the present debt, or of advising
renewal of the appropriation,
The provisions of the act of 1872, re-
quiring the college to educate and board
fifty State students free of charge on con-
dition that they teach for two years in the
public schools, has been of value in fur
nishing some very efficient teachers, who,
after the expiration of the two years, could
be employed in the High Schools through
out the State.
AGRICULTURAL, COLLEGE.