The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-03-12
Baltimore County Union.
SOME PRACTICAL IDEAS.
Tnlnn DISTRICT. March 7tb. Is

THIRD DISTRICT, March 1tb, 1881
Messrs Editors IF all the districts dissatisfied
with some of the features of the present school law
were to comply with the wish Of your correspond
ent "X" and rise and speak, many communica-
tionS like my own would find their way to the
waste basket there would be such rush of them.
Hoping they may be heard from gradually ven
ture contribution from this district. Although
L differ with your correspondents ak" and "Sam"
in some respects, agree with them that VIC should
have the election of the School Commissioners
committed to the people. This is the opinion of
every one have conversed with on the SUBJ ect.-
All ADMIT the necessity of it, but fear the Legisa
ture will fail to carry out what the general public
demands. These fears are not altogether ground
less. If past experience in legislation, or rather
in the want of it, is any criterion by which to
judge, we may look for nothing in the shape Of
reform in the school system unless we speak out
and demand pledge from our prospective legis-
lators the subject when nominated. In the
absence of this, well meaning gentlemen, full Of
enthusiasm in their efforts to effect the changes so
much desired, have been sent to Annapolis as the
peoples representatives for the purpose Of having
the school law changed. They agitated, they
worked, they urged their colleagues, they sought
assistance from their friends, in fact they did all
that individually could be done, but at last they
utterly failed.
few years ago DIR. Burton, an intelligent and
cultivated gentleman of the 1lth district, who
the Legislature, exerted himself iDdefatigably in
this cause, knowing it to be the cause of the peo
pie, but without any practical result. He made
the subject of public school education study, he
compared the school laws of other States and
countries with our own, and prepared cOmpre-
hensive bill which would have been a vast i'm
provement the present law. The prospect for
its adoption was very hopeful This alarmed the
school officials behind the intrenchments so much
that they put in motion the secret engnery that
caused its defeat. Nearly every county had its
examiner and some commissioners at work to pre-
vent the passage of the bill. This human
natdfe but its display not creditable to their
sense of honor. consciousness of ability and
fitness for their positions should have led them to
expect continuance in office, even though
change in the mode of appointment had been
effected. An effort to thwart the will of the peO
pie, by circumventng their representatives in their
laudable attempts at reform, is not elevating in
public estimation.
If DR.. Burton would consent and publish an ac-
count of his experience in his efforts to amend the
school law while member of the Legislature, it
would prove most interesting chapter and help
the present agitation.
1t has always been doubted whether the Judges
had the right under the Constitution to appoint
the School Commissioners. Down to the present
time one of the Judges, and a member Of the Court
of Appeals-Judge Alvey-has persistcnty de-
cllUeu 10 nave W w WIFI
commissioners, although the law has extended the
privilege to him. Here we have the case of
Judge, by his deliberate refusal to obey the law,
publicly demonstrating that the course of Judge
is optional. He may appoint or he may refuse
Other Judges, entertaining similar views, made
the appointments no doubt to prevent confusion
at the time in the management of the schools in
case of their refusal. They have continued to
ercse this optional privilege to the present time,
but there has not been session Of the Legislature
since the one which took away the election of
School Commissioners from the people, in which
appeals have not been made to return to the old
mode. The Judges have not sought the imposi-
ton of this extra judicial duty, they do not ask
for its continuance, and they will feel greatly re-
lieved when it is assigned to others. 1t has been
recommended to give the appointment of School
Commissioners to the State Board of Education,
to the County Commissioners or to the Judges Of
the Orphans Court; to any one but the people,
Is there any valid reason why they should be
feared? The primary source of all power is the
sovereign people. School Commissioners have
sought and obtained great favors from them
They are competent to elect Governors, Legisla-
tors, Judges, Clerks, Registers of Wills States At
torneys, Treasurers, Sheriffs, County Commission
ers &C., but it is dangerous to allow them to elect
School Commissioners from fear of partisan infu-
ence and the changes incident thereto which an
election by the people every two years might pro-
duce. Might it not be as we'll to make all other
public Offices appontive for the very same reason,
and thus do away with elections altogether? As
has been well said by your correspondent "Sam,"
'the Legislature made the school law so We the
tax payers have nothing to do with the schools or
the salaries of the officials. The only grand priv
ilege we have is to pay our taxes once year, and
if we fail, to have our property advertised and
sold by the Sheriff." If this question is made an
issue and faithfully and unfinchingly adhered to
in the coming fall election, all those who espouse
it wfff-be triumphanty elected. 1 may suggest
some other changes besides that of the present
mode of appointment of School Commissioners if
this communication meets with the favor of inser-
ton. A.