The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-01-10
TIE FREE SCHOOL BOOK QUESTION

The republican State platform upon
which Mr.. Lowndes was elected Governor
of Maryland pledges text books to the pu-
pills of the public schools free of cost. 1t
has been estimated that the first year the
cost will be something like $250,o00 aud
about &140,0O0 annually there lfter for re
ncwals. The city of Baltimore now pro-
vides books for the schools and the annual
cost is something less than 500, 0o0 or about
so cents for each pupil enrolled Iii the
counties the estimated cost is about -
cents per pupil for annual renewals.
The General Assembly in 1892 and again
in 1894 passed free book bills making APP
preparations for this purpose. In 1894 the
bill appropriated 1926, 200 to aid in buylng
text books The bill of 1892 was vetoed
by Governor Brown and that of 1894 WAS
subjected to what is termed the "pocket
veto" The Governor, however, sent Il
message to the Legislature pointing out
certain defects in the bill according to his
Judgment, and also Directing that 1t would
be necessary to impose Il tax to raise the
funds appropriated, as the condition OF the
treasury was such that the appropriation
could not be paid out of the ordinary
receipts. He suggested amendments IN
these respects, but this was not done for
certain reasons, which appear in the pro-
ceilings of the Senate. and 50 the bill did
not become a law.
1t is anticipated that the same difficulty
will confront the present Legislature. The
ordinary receipts of the treasury are
scarcely more than sufficient for the eX-
penses of government and the sinking fund
and free school requirements. 1t is true
that the cost of government may he re-
duced by rigid economy, and retrench-
ment, but it is difficult to see how so large
a saving as $250,O00 in a single year can
be effected, especially in Il Legislative year
There is no existing State tax which can
be diverted from its present purpose. 1t
would be well, therefore, for the Legisla-
ture to look the situation fairly in the face,
and if they enact Il free school book law
tax to provide funds.
1t is urged in behalf of the free book bill
that the constitution of the State requires
the Legislature to establish free schools,
are not free
On the other side it is urged that in many
of the counties the schools are closed near
ly half the year for lack of funds to keep
them open, and that school rooms are
overcrowded and teachers are too few
from the same cause. These opponents of
free books argue that before money is aD-
propriated for free books the schools in
which to use them should first be provided.
And it must be remembered that the mon
ey for the books must be paid by the tax
payers of the State. whether it comes out
of the State or the county treasures. Many
people think that it would be more equal
and just for each county to provide its own
books if it SO desires. The school fund
raised by the State tax of ten cents on 800
is distributed to the city and the counties
in such manner that the city and Il few
of the richer counties pay largely more
than they receive. In this way the poorer
counties in Southern and Eastern Mary
land support their schools largely with the
State fund and they impose comparatively
small school taxes. Some of the Western
counties levy as much as thirty or forty
cents on 500 for school purposes, and Bal
timore city levies 81! cents. 1t is, there
fore, very apparent why many of the coun
ties would prefer to get their books
through State rather than county Ia nation.
Baltimore city already supplies her schools
with books at an annual cost of nearly six
ty thousand dollars. Under existing law
each county can do the same, and it is ar
gued by some that the fact that none Of
them use this power shows that the de
mand for free books is not as strong as it
has been represented. AS it is, we believe
that it is customary in every county to
supply books to the children ofpeople who
are too poor to buy Baltimore sun.