Democratic messenger., 1893-01-21

tional aid. Passing for the time the
amount of additional aid required,
upon what basis shall the amount
appropriated be distributed What
more equitable plan can be adopted
than is now observed to the city and
counties in proportion to their re-
spective colored population from five
to twenty.
1t has been shown, that the actual
shool attendance does not differ ma
terially, but is open to the objection
of being variable quantity.
IL there is any inequality, injustice
or hardship in the present distribution,
it does not depend upon the basis of
distribution, but upon the amount
appropriated to colored schools, and
that seems to be another branch OF
the question, to which | will recur.
| have endeavored, in concise
manner. to show that State tax is
necessary that the present basis of
apportionmcnt is as equitable as any
that can be adopted that an addi.
tional amount is necessary to maintain
separate c0lored schools. and that this
additional is fairly distributed to the
counties having negro population on
the present basis of distribution.
So far the whole question seems to
be a plain, common sense, straight
forward question.
The proper equitable additional
amount to be given to support sepa-
rate colored schools, is a question Of
more difficult determination. The
amount distributed under existing
laws is 500, ,0a0, and proportionate
amount of what may be received at
the Treasury in excess of $500 900 on
account Of school tax. This amount
has grown to this proportion under
various enactments, starting with
$50 900.
The Legislature has from time to
time increased this additional appro-
priation for colored schools, prrsum-
ably because the necessities of the case
required it. The amount thus received
by Kent will not pay the colored
teachers salaries for the school year
Of ten months at very greatly reduced
rates, and experience seems to indicate
that the amount thus appropriated is
not in excess of the requirements.
1t is contended by some that the
color line should be abolished and the
tax distributed on the basis of the
population from five to twenty. II
separate schools were not to be main
tanned, | could offer no objection to
such distribution, but it must be
conceded that separate schools require
an additional appropriation, and so
long as this is conceded and acted
upon, it will make no difference to
such counties as Allegheny whether
colored schools are put upon exactly
the same footing as the white schools
or not.
The charge that some counties,
with low ra:e of county tax, are
able to have ten months schooling and
pay large salaries, while others with a
high rate of county school tax and a
low rate of salaries, are only able to
have from five to seven months school,
is, think, attributable to other
causes than the additional amount
appropriated to colorcd schools. Some
Of the counties derive large amount
for schools from local licenses. 9th
ers spend much larger sums than their
sister counties in building handsome
and expensive school houses.
do not think it practicable to put
the colored schools of Maryland under
precisely the same laws as the white
schools, unless you put white teachers
in the negro schools. or lower the
standard of the white teachers. You
cannot supply your colored schools
with colored teachers who can pass
the examination now required for
white teachers.
From long and careful considera-
tion Of this whole subject. fail Ia
see how any fairer plan Of dividing
the school appropriation can be adop-
ted. The only point open to debate
is, the necessary additional amoun; ia
be appropriated for colored schools