The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-07-15
For the Democratic AdrOcate.
Reply from County Commissioners.

For the Democratic Adrocate.
Reply from County Commissioners.
The preamble and resolution of the County
School Board, passed at their meeting on July
3rd, and published in the ADVOCATE of tire
sth, while not intended, perhaps, to place the
County Commissioners in an improper light,
is calculated to do so to those who are not
familiar with the duties and requirements of
the County Commissioners under the school
law. The preamble sets forth that the School
Board "has from time to time Intellectually
applied to the County Commissioners for funds
barely sufficient to enable the treasurer to pay
lipiaq salaries to the teachers and to pay for
school houses which have become absolute ne
ceSSities,' and the resolution commits the
Board to a reduction of salaries. As the
preamble and resolution stand they place the
County Commissioners in the attitude of re-
fusing to supply funds barely sufficient to en-
able the School Board to pay liriaq salaries to
teachers and to pay for schOolhOuses which
have become absolute necessities. 1t also
places the Commissioners in the attitude of
partial hostility to rendering the public school
system efficient.
The Commissioners levy, collect and dis
burse all moneys for public purposes. The
law requires them TO levy 10 cents ON the
chargeable also with delinquencies. With
this 10 cents the Commissioners have nothing
to do but to collect and pay over to the School
Board, who are alone authorized to disburse
1 it, and who are responsible for its economical
and judicious expenditure.
The 10 cents the Commissioners are re-
| CURED by law to collect for the School Board.
less delinqueneies, would amount to something
less than $4,000 per year. This less than
| $15, 1000, then, is all the lac requires of the
| Commissioners, and when that amount is paid
over to the School Board, the scAOle duty of
! the Commissioners under the law is discharged
on the school question. The law, however.
/ makes it Discretionary with the Commission
ers to increase the appropriation when public
1 interest would seem to demand IL. Only dis
! cTeficRGyy, and not mandatory even in that
case
I As an evidence Of the interest the Commits
sioners have taken in public schools, they have
exceeded the mandatory levy for some years.
In 1876 the School Board received S2l 600.
some 81, goo more than the law required the
Commissioners TO levy. Since then the
School Board has been receiving annually
$2l 900, ~ per cent above the requirement OF
the law.
Public schools are but one Of the necessities
of the people. Bridges and roads must be
built and repaired the courts must be main
tanned: the poor must be provided for; good
order maintained. &c. All these are neeeSsi-
ties as well as public schools, and must be
provided ~ the pahlle expense. Then, too,
there Is a county debt, sacred obligation
whose discharge Is Of paramount ecnsidera-
ton. The rate Of taxation Is US high rs the
people desire To meet the demand Of the
School Board the Commissioners musf either
Increase taxation or draw upon funds for other
purposes. DO the people. not the School
Board, want an increase cf taxation3 The
Commissioners think not. do the people
want the poor 10 sHdeF, OF the amoant ex-
pended on roais aad bridges reduced! The
Commissioners think hot No, the demand
Tor 81 these Is constantly increasing.
The Commissioners. thea. under present
circumstances. are limited BIZ paddle sentiment
10 a certain levy. oas II that they must NEE,
al necessities as trst they ean- They eaiea-
vor. to the best Of their Judgment, 10 do this.
They keep u9 the roads and bridges, maintain
the poor. paw couFf expensse. which must he
met NO saasses what the state Of finances Il.
and give - per ceaL m0re 10 pahlic schools
than the lac requires Then, too, this year
they have 10 provide IN part FOR Jail aad
extra expense consequent upon the burning
Of the cid ons. and haild additions 10 the
Coart Hons~.
Carroll eOansy i stiIl yoans. In c0anparison
"a NOS; coanfics u the state, yet she has
reached a. high degree o. perfection, il an
pahlic respects. a. any. Many improvements
are zee 10 BE- made, znd naasy wears wili pass
before they can be effected d - not 10 he
expcctcd that Rny AppTlach ~ perfcctnwss can
BE- reached IN forty yesrz, 4 evrF. AID i =
che same with the pebble sehool system.
which tuusi grow aud heeomr cHscicnt a.
She people are able 10 masntMfa a. Al mast
usimis that II ceHts ii The levy uf 20 eeuts i
large preFoytsoa u aae AZ the nRcesssties 81
The people This smoant, ue doubt. i rot
sufficient % meet the IDEAS ~ the Sehoal
Beard. or he demands Of the people Ia Ger
tain lacalifies for increased scheolhoss~. ~
school aeilities Bus sssrx ssaa<s eeald br
spraf RFafssAs apsa rssAds, bridges, 4e- Nes
i i uot ~ hand, aad the Commissioners musl
keep within che hoand< 81 thetF Enaaers. and
this i the coarse. L woaid sewn. that the
Sehsol Baara Should adopt 10 do this.
perhaps a rssiaclisn uf salaries a feechern "
he i,ssi mode, hsEs shey shasid mecs he re-
sVonsibilsty and a0t pail 4 os the Ceanty 4
Commissioner. Ifieaekers' salaries are suly Z
Iir3@g ones the establishments OF aew school. !
houses aad repairs 20 old might b. diSfseas.
ed WITH Thann coasideFa1i0as, however.
arr matters solely uishia The coatrol u
the School Beard. They are only Esea,ioaed /
because Of the implied ceasnre of the Com.
Eaissionesx b. the School Beard Tor Hbs sap.
plyiag snsKcient funds foe their partoses.
which saeessstaies the reductions Of the sAla.
ries ~ largs numb<r. Ia @oape inst&ases- u
poorly paid school teachers
This article i puhiished 70 eoFreet any
wrong impressions that nay have obtained
regarding the course Of the Caanty Comsain
sioners- The Commissioners have endeavored 4
20 snake plaia statement t. the puhlie, and
to th0w dat they have done their faii daty
toward the public schools. aud that the re-
dnctioa Of salaries u teachers i in no way
ehaFwcahle 20 any delia9aeneies on their part.
C0Ukr1 COMMISSIONERS