Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-01-14
4 GRATUJTOUs INSULT.


tempts have been made since they assumed
the control of the public schools Of this
county to hinder, break up and destroy the
same by pitfalls, lawsuits and refusal on
the part of the County Commissioners to
furnish room and give their countenance
and aid to sustain them, with request that
the County Commissioners levy the sum of
| 81 200 for their use.
For all these evils they hold the Senator,
the States Attorney and County Commits
sioners responsible.
Now the marrow in that whole article is
the $1,000, which if just and right to be
paid, all that was necessary was to go be-
fore the County Commissioners in decent
and respectful manner with proper evil
dence and doubtless it would have been
granted them The County Commissioners
are gentlemen of integrity and honesty, fully
competent to discharge their official duties,
and in every way worthy of the confidence
of the people of this county, by whose suf-
frage they hold their positions. But this
School Board seems to have been so over
flowing with the gall of bitterness, it was
necessary TO relieve themselves by directly
attacking the Senator and States Attorney,
of this county, charging them with i'm
proper conduct in attempting to break up
the public schools of this county and State.
Now, il II were not a violation of the rules
of polite and cultivated society, and posi-
bility of subjecting ourselves to charge of
unbecomng brusqueness, weshould feel COM
PEELED to stamp these assertions of the School
Commissioners as an unmitigoted, malicious
lie, but desiring the esteem of society, and
with a due respect and regard for its rules,
we will simply say the School Commits
sioncrs were misinformed and unintention-
ally mistaken in their statement. As far as
the States Attorney is concerned the School
Commissioners consulted him upon "a ques-
ton on which he had already given an
opinion before his election as States Attor-
ney, and it would have scarcely been proper
for him to have by reason of his election to
office to change sides and betray his pre-
yous client, to say the least, such conduct
would not have been professional.
Now the charges against the Senator from
this county AS being the leader in all these
evil intcnts and purposes to destroy the
public school system, let us try them in the
crucible of truth and see how far they are
sustained. AS a lawyer he has been always
bold in the opinion that the appointing
power in the present school law is uncon
stitutional.
In this view he certainly is not alone
Judge Alvey, of Hagerstown, has unhesi
tatingly expressed his views as to the un
constitutionality Of this law, and has re
fused to make any appointments under il
Judge Lynch has SO far doubted the pro
q priety of this law as TO address several let
tiers to the Legislature urging its change
/, Judge rnck, Of Annapolis, has uhhesitat
ingly pronounced this law unconstitutional
and his argument on this point before tn
Court of Appeals was admitted by thos
/, who heard him 10 be conclusive and unan
swerable, and ii is TO be deeply regretted tina
=, the Court was prevented by the law {
estoppels from deciding the constitutions
), question.
1t may be further added that the view
entertained by our Senator are concurre
!. in by many of the most eminent jurists i
n the State, as well as the leading lawyers {
our own bar, Alessrs. Anderson, Talbot an
i, Henderson among the number,
Now let us sec how far our Senator Ia
# attempted to destroy the public schools. |
the Legislature of 1878 the school questio
was left in the hands of Senator Stump, an
;, it was well-known then our Senator W,
4 most anxious to remedy what he considere
!, owing to delays the law was not periecte
!, in time TO pass the Senate. At the Sessio
. of 1880 our Senator, though not on the con
), mittee of public schools, introduced bill I
amend this law, which bill speaks for itsel
:, and evinced most liberal provision an
earnest desire on his part to foster and pro
tect the public schools This bill vas re
ierred TO joint committee of the Senat
and House, and was by unanimous CON
"a mittee iavorably reported 10 the Senate an
,. passed that body with but one dissentn
h vote, showing that the law was well dl
= gested and prepared, when we consider tn
q diversity of opinion which exists on-this sui
a ject, Notwithstanding Mr.. A. y. Davis acte
:. as outside lobbyist and used every means i
his power to defeat the passage of the law
/. This law went from the Senate to the Hous
II and by some untoward event was misad
and again from the press of business wa
n never voted upon in the House. The labo
and care bestowed upon this law by on
Senator, all OF which was well known +
:, the Hon. a. b. Davis, one OF the Count,
- School Commissioners, is evidence conclu
sivc that when Mr.. Davis asserts that tn
~ Senator desires to destroy the schools, he as
:, serts that whereof he can not be mistaken o
h. deceived
Il Again, il Is well known that our Senate
r. enlertains the opinion, that by reason of tn
z defects in the present law, the School Com
IS missioners nor their Treasurer are legal,
/. responsible for one dollar of the publ
money which they receive, and in this opin
ion he is not alone, for the same views ar
entertained by "A number of the most emf
{. nent jurists in the State. Again, it is wei
u known to the Hon. A. b. Davis, that thes
). views are entertained by many Of the lead
:, ing jurists in the State. and we fear that /
70 may be well and truly said that our Boar,
n of School Commissioners are impressed witt
p. a holy horror of the truth and force OF thes,
views, if not they have been false and derc
4 lict in the discharge OF their duty They ad
nit that they first organized in room
e. furnished by the County Commissioners
~ when they met again this room was LOCKED
N against them, not by order Of the Count,
n Commissioners. but held by one claiming t.
=, hold, by reason Of his Office. Now thi,
:. Board ofwonderlula stuteness and diligence
d, can not tell how 10 get possession of theiI