The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-08-25
Correspondence BaiiiHiorc County Usioa.
LETTER FROM THE SECOND DISTRICT


SECOND DIsrRicr, August 18th, Iss3.
M,..r.. Lonyasck.r Bro..:-Thesc are the times
Of investigation, and bosses. Cliques and rings
are on trial with every prospect In favor Of the
triumph Of the people over their combined foes
In the county, teachers and people are getting
their turn now. The School board ring has had
It's long enough. Through the medium Of your
independent paper the public have at last learned
the high prices paid by majority Of the School
Board for the books aud stationery used in our
schools. The teachers knew Of them before, but
II would not do for them to let the prices be known.
In obtaining the figures for publication you have
added % the reputation Of the good old CSIoS.---
We all now from your able editorials that Mr..
Mcdairy has had fat job Of IL, and part Of that
job is getting the School Board 90 buy largely In
Of what the wants Of the schools are. There
Is not one Of the big three Commissioners who can
deny this. IL Is question that shoild he inves.
tigatei.
Ny attention has been directed 10 this subisct
partly from your exposure Of the cxoTbitAnt prices
charged for public school books aud stationery
and partly from the eontsn,s Of the long letter Of
Mr.. b. Jenifer, president Of the School Board,
that read in the Maryi''ad Journal last week.
lie there gave his reasons for the Board paying
Mr.. Medairy the very high prices he charges for
the books and stationery. Mr.. ID. Jenifer says
in his letter that tho schools last year used
1850 dozen copy books at Si.02 per dozen. Pay.
ing for the copy books quarterly and for the nun.
her received each quarter has not been the prae-
tce Of the School Board. aud the course Il has
pursued ought TO be investigated. For the quar-.
Ter ending September 30th, 1879, according 10 the
School Report for isS0, page 81, Mr.. Medairy had
on hand 81 900 worth Of copy books belonging
10 the School Board, What did they want with
such large stock Of books when the schools were
closed aud Mr.. Medairy's contract ended hut
they renewed the contract with him aud the end
Of the year 1850 was more than that cf the year
1879. On the same page Of the same report (page
81, report Of $780, In foot note 10 a statement
that there remained q, 10000 worth Of copy books
on hand undistrihuted, September 10, 1850. There
was no need for these books, still the Board made
the purchase. and for 100000 worth moro Of
them than they bad on hand nj the end Of the
year 1879. This needs thorough investigation.
Mr.. ID. Jenifer says the policy of the School Board
u 20 pay for what they get. The 81 10000 worth
Of books ON hand at the end Of the year 1879, and
100000 worth on hand at the end Of 1850, was
policy that paid for what the schools did not get
for u yearsnd a half afterwards. The purchases
Of the School Board were 80 extrayagant that the
schools could not use them up during tbs next
year, for foot note In the report for 1881, page
90, says, "Copy books on hand 1850, 80 $1,000 I;
distributed to schools issi, 81 .3s2.39 balance TO
be distributed. $GS5.6l." Al the end Of the year
1881 they still hal on hand Of the supply
bought some time In 1850 enough copy books 20
furnish the schools for another half year. Mr.. ID.
Jenifer says "ths county schools receive their
money quarterly In pursuance Of the law Of the
land aud can necessarily only make their pay
ments quarterly" IL this statement ID correct
the School Board stand In need Of an investiga-
ton TO find out In what way they paid Mr..
Medairy 80. 900 or $1,000 for copy books one year
aud half In advance when they can only make
their payments quarterly. Not only In this dis
trct but all through the county there will DO ro-
joicing 20 have assurances that the School Board
Of this county is 70 DO thorOughly Investigated