The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-03-10
PUBLIC EDUCATION.


many Of the mem 3erS joined with more
or less enthusiasm. Speaker Upshnr. who
was Tor many years school examiner Tor |
Worcester county. and who takes an |
active interest in school matters, lett the |
chair and spoke III favor Of the bill D.. |
Woottou offered an amendment, which
was accepted without debate, to strike |
ont that provision which required that
the text books should be flee.
Mr.. Laird followed this up with mo-
ton to reduce the State tax rate author
IL al by the bill from - cents to 10 cents
on the 500, the latter briug the present
rate and yielding $500, 900 for school pur.
poses annually. In support of his amend
ment Nh Laird said that as there would
be no general system of free text books,
as conte mplated by the bill there was
no pressing necessity for increasing the
amount for school purposes. the present
appropriation for that p Irplse :Vlug
proven amply sufficient If his amend
ment should be LOST, lie sad. 1t would be
necessary either tn wipe out the surplus
or increase the State tax rate. which
burden the people We're not wiling to
bear. Owing t. the pressure being
brought 20 bear for appropriations, and
to the fact that much money has already
been paid ont, our financial condition
demands the most serious consideration
Mr.. Upshur-"The board of education
has recommended this increase of the
rate to help the pnblic schools and it Is a
meritorious measure. The appropriation
by the STATE for school purposes Is the
same today it was twenty years ago, yet
our population has increased and the
expenses nt our schools have increased
l.. EI -. fh.c col
of their necessary support. ! care not
what the State tax Is. but do care that
the poor children of poor parents should
be properly educated believe that our
tea cheers should be paid salaries large
enough to keep body and soul together.
They are the most poorly paid of any
class OF employees. TIE State is we .lthy
aud should not grind down its teachers
They are engaged in a noble work. Let
some other appro pration be cut down.
Mr.. Deuny.-"Why cant the County
Commissioners of the several counties
levy money for school purposes
Mr.. Upshur.-''Because they have
taxed the people to the lmit they can
scarcely bear now"
MI Graves favored the appropriation
for school purposes. He said the teachers
were not sufficiently paid, and that the
school interests are somewhat crippled.
Mr., Denny-"lu tue light OF reports
| which have come from the ways and means
| committee, do not think the State IS In
a condition to make any appropriations
| except those absolutely necessary, and l
| do not think this one is necessary. Ii the
school interests are crippled the remedy
is no, 10 our hands, but in the hands of
| the County Commissioners. The State
| does not propose to support the Puohc
| schools, but merely to encourage them
| by it's appropriate 5. Tne city educates
it's children. Why canDot the counties
| do ikewise)'
MIR. Percy.-"Are you in favor of APP
propri stiug money Tor educational Iustl-
| tutions?'
Mr. Denny.-"When they serve their
| purpose, yes, but | am uGalterably OPP
posed to giving State aid to every insti
| tution and academy. The State is not
required to give the people technical
education"
Mr.. Ebaugh opposed the amendment,
believing that there should be no curtall-
meut Of cost for such Il worthy object
AS the pnbIic schools.
| Carroll county has made
the boast that its tax rate is the lowest
in the State Why can't it levy money
for school purposcS?'
Mr.. Ebaugh.- 1T is true, but the rate
is placed upon the highest basis III the
State. Carol pays out as much as she
receives for school purposes. and there
fore it is "a matter OF little difference t.
u.s.
Mr.. Sottlemver, who is a teacher in
| Frederick county, al voc ited the amend
ment. He quoted Thomas Jefferson Us
saving that above all educate the people.
Mr.. Mackail favored Tree books. He
also said of the 5000 coo given by the
State to the schools 500. 900 Of this
amount vas devoted to the colofed schools,
and consr quently the school fund had
been greatly reduced. Tue city of Bal
timore can well afford to pay the school
expenses Of the State.
Nr. Denny.-"That would be class
| legislation. The city now pays $40, 900
Cor State school purposes and receives
| $40. 900.
Mr.. percy-''Yet the State is about to
appropriate 5000, 600 to keep Baltimore S
harbor open"
Mr.. Depuy.-Thst is Of as much bene
fit to the counties AS 30 the city. Il the
Garbor is kept open You people OF the
counties can send your produce and oys-
tiers to market"
Mr.. Colt favored the amendment.
Nj Laird denied The impu5ation that
he vas opposed to the public school sys-
TEN. Ga tie contrary, he said he favored
| it. II believe he continued, ''that this
State is ons of magnificent resources,
| bear the cry from the agricultural in
dustries that they are overtaxed, aud
that the corporations should be- taxed.
| They are opposing this with all their
might aai main. When you convince me
the apprnpriatio2 Is necessary viii sup
port it,"
Mr. HuhnPr.-'!f one-halG or one
third of the appropriations asked tor are
granted the State will be bankrupt. II
we keep up the present rate Of extrava-
gance We will gain the reputation as be-
ing the most extravagaut Legislature
when has met foI twenty years. We
promised oar taxpayers 10 help them.
bus they have not many friends here.
We forget them very soon. We cannot
afford this increased appropriation
Mr. Lrird said the rate wouid be re-
duced, but still ii might be increased, IS
the Baltimore and Ono would not most
probably pay it's dividend of 1888 900 in
July.
Mr.. Hubner settled the question OF
doubt bv stating that the dividend would
Hoa be p.id.
Messrs Rowe and G testou favored the
amendment aud Mr. Friend opposed ii
going 50 far as to favo' clothing the poor
children to enable them to 90 the school,
The amendment was adopted-44 in the
ffirmaJive aud 81 in the neg alive. The
| ynt. II, detail was As f1llDWS
Yeas assrs. Cheston, Owings, Davis.
Hnbner. Daily. Duncan, Colt, Smith OF
Baltimore county, Dndson, Higgans,
RAVE, Percy, Scaggs, Pierre, Hall, Roe,
Norman, Thomas, Puruell, Preston,
Green, Fitzgerald, Campbell, Bramble,
Keplinger, Hannibal. Thompson, Robert
sou, Gather, Denny, Bargar, Cotton,
Shaelfrr. Joyce, Mcknight, Nichols,
Carr, knontz, Clark, LAIRD, Gorsuch,
Webster of Howard, LInn-4i.
Nays-Messrs. Speaker. Wilkinson,
Graves. Brice, Baker of Kent, Bowie,
Baker Of Anne Arundel, Griffith Mad
dnx. Stirling, Mackall, Caldwell, Moore.
Only, Rohrback, Sottiemyer, Grove,
Mitchell, Bowman, Reilly Huyett, Harp.
| Woott0n. Cunningham, Benson, Brod
erick Selby of Carroll. Ebaugh, Mann,
Parker. Friend, Wilson-}2
Upon motion of Nj. Laird, the enact
ing clause of the bill was stricken out,
aud the bill thereby killed.
Hanamaker's.
PHILADELPHIA, Monday, March 5, 1858.
Tho Nou- Srrinrr tb,p1rc ora