Democratic messenger., 1894-03-31
THE FREE SCHOOL BO JK
BILL. PASSED.

Senator John Walter Smiths free
school book bill passed the House of
Delegates ON Thursday night of last
week almost M the hour of midnight.
The Baltimore City members did
everything in their power TO prevent
lis passage but the friends Of the mea-
snre were too strong for them. The
The bill received decided majority
and now only awaits for the second
time the Governor : signature to make
il law. Will Governor Brown sign
IL? We hardly see how he can refuse
10 do so. That the measure is pop
ular one throughout the State is evil
,lenced not only by the vote il received
in both branches of the Legislature
but from the fact that many members
of the Legislature made their contest
before the people at the last election
as being IN favor of free school books
and were elected because of the stand
they took. Ii is not new scheme,
sprung upon the Legislature at the
eleventh hour, but has received the
consideration Of the taxpayers of the
State for two years or more and they
are a firm in their demands for the
Governors signature 10 make the bull
law rs they were two years ago
when he gave il pocket veto.
Thomas Perry, Esq. editor of the
Salisbury id~rti$er, who for q num-
her Of years was School Examiner of
Wicomico county and who has had
much experience in school work saws:
The Free School Book bill is really
one of the most important bills that
has been before the Legislature for
wears, in the interest of the poorer
classes of the State. Ii is argued that
text hooks will cost the State more If
furnished in this manner than il
furnished by individuals. This is
probably true, hut the increased facili-
Ties will more than compensate for
this. The efficiency of the schools
will be immeasurably increased.
The Adrertiser has always favored
the bill, believing that it would not
only increase the efficiency of the
schools, but knowing that it would
tighten the burden Of the poor who
have heretofore been called upon To
buy books for large families Of
children. in whom the State has a.
much interest in making good citizens
a. il has in any other class.
IL is 10 he hoped thot Governor
Brown will realize the fact that the
State is decidedly in favor Of the bill
The people should and will have what
they want. Their servants should
bear this in mind.
Senator Moss Of Anne Arundel
county and also publisher OF the
annapolis R,puJiiom says Of the bill:
There has been for many years Il
sentiment in the State that everything
in connection with the public schools
should he free: that there should he
no distinction between rich and poor;
that every child should enter the pub
lie schools upon exactly the same
footing. Recognizing this, Baltimore
city, several years ago. established
free books in her public schools The
sentiment has continued TO grow in
the counties of the State. and the
expense has been the only reason why
the system has not been adopted in
every county.
II is hoped and believed that the
amount each county will obtain from
this appropriation will enable them
all TO provide free books in their pub
lie schools. Such result is greatly
10 be desired. There should be no fee
in our public schools, no distinctions.
no inequalities. We trust that the
amount appropriated will prove sufii-
cient for the purpose.