Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-01-20

The following communication will ex-
plain ITSELF
SENATE CHAMBER,
Annapolis, Nd, Jan. 18th, 1889.
Samuel r. White, Secretary and Treasurer
School Board of Montgomery county, Nd.
Dear Sir We the undersigned Senator
and members of the House of Delegates
from Montgomery county, Nd, impressed
with the responsibility of our position and
our duty to the people of our county, and
having by petition been asked to bond said
county for large sum to pay school debt,
respectfully ask that we be furnished with
the following information-viz;
1st. When and by whom was this debt
created giveyear.
2nd. Under what law was said debt au-
'" Sra 65ds GIN ms s acSs s asfsse any
for interest, if so how much9
4th. Do your books show details of this
debt, if not, how was the amount arrived at
9TH. Give us any other details in your
power by which we can arrive at an inteli-
gent conclusion. Very truly,
Jos. L. MOORE,
JOSEPH Dyson,
JOHN MCDONALD,
THos. WATERS, of S.
The following was received by the men,
bers OF the House of Delegates in response
OFFICE BOARD SCHOOL COMMITS
sIoNERs MONTGOMERY COUNTY,
Rockville, Nd, Jan. 14th, 1882.
To the Honorable Senator and Members
of the House of Delegates from Montgomery
county, Nd.
Gentlemen Your communication, of the
18th, asking information concerning the late
school debt, is before me. In reply to your
query-viz: "When and by whom was this
debt created ?"
The records of this Office, May 1868, show
that the sum of S4077 was due to teachers
and others, with only 5000 in the Treasury
when Il. M. Williams, Secretary and Treas
urer, surrendered the books to Capt James
Anderson, Secretary and Treasurer to the
Board appointed by the County Commits
sioners OF that year, consisting OF Messrs.
VIM, Musser, b. b. Crawford, VIM. T.. Jones,
II. w. Burche and Samuel Jones. That
Board began its administration with debt
of $3174--and was in office until 1870
when it was displaced by the election of a
Board by the people-consisting Of Messrs.
Samuel Jones, s. W. Davis, Ed. Lewis, Isaac
Young and Thos, Waters, of S The pro
ceedings at the organization of that Board
show that the state of the finances was dis.
cussed, but no statement, in figures, OF the
amount Of indebtness.
In January 1873 the Board was appointed
by the Circuit Court, viz: Messrs Samuel
Jones, w. M. Talbot and VIM. r. Jones
who held the office until January 1890
AT the organization, January 1879, the pro.
ceedlngs make no mention of the finances
In June 1878 the Board asked for levy OF
$4,000 for school purposes, In June 1874
$l9.s62. In June 1875, 1923, 1866. In June
1876, $4,000. In June 1878, $lS,300 II
appears from the records that the annual ex,
penditures exceeded the annual levy, which
generally ranged from $4,000 to $4,000
except perhaps one year S18,000) With
two or three exceptions, the schools were
kept open four terms, thereby necessitating
an annual deficiency, thus increased to its
present proportions
The Indebtedness, referred to in the peti
ton, then seems to have resulted from the
annual expenditures for schools exceeding
the annual levies for that purpose. 1t consists
of notes of the late Board borrowed money
$4,100-orders drawn upon and accepted by
the Board from teachers certificates oCin.
debtedness officially signed, and few open
accounts, and all these, with a few exceptions
are in the hands of teachers, merchants and
farmers OF this county. | have recorded in
n ledger with names, dates of what each claim
consists, as reported to the County Commits
sloners last June-amount $1S,253. Since
then few others have been presented, which
with interest added will make the amount as
reported in the petition.
2nd. Under what law was said debt au-
thorized?"
If any it was the "By-law" of State Board
of Education Art. 2, Sec. g. In my judg.
ment, it was not intended by that "Ry law
TO go beyond the annual income, but only
anticipate it,
Bird docs this amount include any item
Of INTEREST,""
Answered under the first query.
4th. "Do your books show details of this
debt?
When requested TO audit the books and
report the Indebtedness, found upon ex-
animation that il could not be DONE At the
suggestion of a member of the late Board |
advertised in the county papers. As the
several claims were presented, examined
and compared them with the records, teach
ers quarterly reports and journal of proceed
ings), and found them generally to be cor.
rect, as per entries made.
or this Indebtedness, 81 900 is claimed by
the late Secretary and Treasurer as due him
He made this verbal statement January 9Th
1880, but up TO this date he has not present.
cd his account, nos can tell, unless ex-
anime the receipts and disbursements page
after page for the twelve years he was in
Office, OF its correctness | have no reason
to doubt Yours, &c,
- N