The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-02-01
THE SCHOOL FUND.
A Few Extracts from the Report of
the Commission.

no iC pun VI tIlG hdI flduu
School Tax Commission is on our
table, with the compliments of
Robert Shrlver, ESQ, Secretary of
the Commission.
This commission was appointed
under the act of 1892. with author
ity to thoroughly investigate the
matter of the distribution of the
school tax under existing laws and
ascertain its practical operations
and effects in the various counties
Of the State and the city of Balti-
more, and how far the same works
inequality, hardship and injustice,
and the cause or causes thereof and
the proper remedy.
The existing law requires the
Comptroller to distribute the State
school tax in proportion to the re-
spective population of each county
and the city Of Baltimore between
the ages of five and twenty years.
Under this rule the distribution to
pupils per capita has been exceed
ing y unfair, as may be instanced
in the cases Of Garrett and Charles
counties respectively. The former
received $l.8l per capita, while the
latter received S5.S1.
Of the total expense of the schools
for 1892 Charles supplied only
twelve per cent, Calvert thirteen,
st. Mary's eighteen, Somerset
twenty, while others ranged from
thirty-two to Seventy-eiglt per cent.
Allegany paid sixty-four per cent,
Cecil sixty-seyen, Baltimore sixty
eight, Washington sIxty-nne, and
Baltimore city seventy eight per
cent. Of these, Calvert, Charles,
St. Mary's, Baltimore and Balti-
more city had ten months school;
Allegany had eight and three quar-
ters, Cecil had nine. and Washing
ton seven and one-half. Garrett
paid forty-four per cent, and had
but five months school.
AS against the theory of "getting
back what we pay" which is ad-
vanced as an argument in favor of
the present mode of apportionment,
the following is quoted from the re-
port:
Cecil received back what she paid,
aud 1.S per cent. of same in addi-
ton, or 10l s per cent, which gave
her pupils. respectively per capita,
81. 20 for her "enrolled whites and
colored," $2.16 for her "enrolled
whites" and $45l for her "enrolled
colored,' Tor less than the State
average.)
Washington received back what
she paid, and SO per cent. of same
in addition, or 1886 per cent,
which gave her pupils, as above, per
capita, s1.18, $2.11 and 3.47, Tor
less than the average of the State. J
AlleganV received back what she
paid, and IA per cent. of same in
addition, or ia per cent, which
gave to her pupils, respectively as
above, per capita, S2.32 $3.50 and
$2.90, Cor less than the average Of
the State
Jarrett received back what she
pald, and 10 per cent. OF same IN
addition, or 40 per cent, which
gave her pupils respectively as
above, per capita, VI 81, Sl.3l and
4,oS, tor but little more than one
half OF the average OF the State.
Prince George received back what
she paid, and ll6.7 per cent. Of
same in addition, or 2lG.7 per cent,
which gave to her pupils, respec
lively as above, per capita, $4.26,
S+.23 and 81 81. Tor about fifty per
cent. more than the average Of the
State.)
Worcester received back what she
paid, and 1903 per cent. of same
IN addition, of 29O.S per cent,
which gave to her pupils, respec-
lively as above, per capita, 1922,
IS. 90 and 1852, Tor more than the