The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-02-11
Our Public Schools.

County Commissioners Of Carroll county TO
provide for special term of the public
schools of this county, which has just
passed the Legislature, and been signed by
the Governor, has been discussed pro and
con, ever since its passage, with much earn
estness. Discussion will avail nothing now,
the act is passed and must be accepted as a
fat accompi. The discussion, however,
will 90 on, and if it leads to nothing else,
it will tend to bring all who engage in it
to more complete understanding OF the
situation, which seems to be about this =
The law requires a levy Of not less than
ten cents on the 500 for school purposes.
The County Commissioners of this county
have levied for number of years past 133
cents on the 500, on an assessable basis
of SIG, OOO,O 900, which has given the School
Board annually the sum of S21 900. Under
solicitation from the School Board, II
cents additional was added making ID cents
in the 500 for school purposes, producing
the sum of $4,000. But this was not
sufficient for the purposes OF the School
Board. They represented that school
houses must be built to supply the places
of those falling into decay. The County
Commissioners said they could not give
more without increasing the county taxes
beyond the usual rate of 80 cents on the
500, which they did not propose to do.
However, sixteen new school houses were
built, to raise funds to pay for which one
term of the schools was omitted, or would
have been omitted, but for the law just
passed. This law authorizes and directs
the County Commissioners ''to provide i'm
mediately, either by special levy or some
other means, as they may deem best, and
paw over to the Board of County School
Commissioners of said county, the sum of
$4,000, to pay the expenses of a special
term of the public schools in said county.
This sum of SIC, 900, if added to the levy
already made for school purposes, would
bring the amount up to $4,000 for the
current year.
We believe this is about as exact state
ment of the situation as can be given from
the facts, as detailed to us by gentlemen
connected with both boards, with whom we
have conversed freely, in order to arrive at
q correct understanding of the subject,
The public will make up its own judgment
upon the case as it stands before it. Every
question has two sides to it, and men look
at things differently from different stand
points. There can be no question that
both the School Board and the County
Commissioners have acted SO as to promote
what they deemed to be the public good.
1t is the duty of the latter body to guard
with Jealous care the treasure of the county.
This they have done.
For twenty-one years the Democratic
barque in Carroll county has sailed in COM
parative security over the foam-crested
waves of the fretted sea of political agita-
ton But her present pilots have steered
her directly between Scylla and Charybdis-
.r..... .bo.-.o ysd-.erHdea wing far moro
eS pro- c-ei- ior inore
money Get. iIrrt-scnoorr 1loIsSs and for other
school purposes, and those who stand ap-
palled at the prospect of an increase of
taxation, with agriculture in its present
depressed condition. The Republicans are
jubilant, and are rubbing their hands to-
gether in very glee, while standing upon
the shore and looking for the old barque to
founder or 10 go to pieces. But she has
weathered many storm in the past, and
she will survive this, affording occasion for
renewed graduation. She bears about her
charmed life, like the Old Constitution,
and is not destined to go down, by rock or
whirlpool, or through the mutiny or insub-
Vi CEcN. InCIt Will pEO-
badly be found ''some other means, in the
language of the bill under consideration
by which to comply with its spirit and in
tent, without direct levy, or the imposi-
ton of additional burdens upon the tax
payers, at this time. Ifnot, then the levy,
in the language Of the law, will be ''imme-
diately" made Let the matter be settled
how it may, let it be so that no reproach
be cast upon the Democracy of the county,
and no ground be given for the application
of the sentiment
20 Judgment, thou art fed to british beasts,
And men have lost their reason"
Whatever individuals may do or omit to
do, it should be remembered that the Dem
ocratic party at large is responsible for the
proper administration Of the affairs of the
county.
How great corporations and manufac-