The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1898-03-04
RE CIREEuL, 60 SLOW.

A committee composed of citizens
of Baltimore appeared before the
members of the Legislature on Wed
nesday ami advocated the passage OF
a bill to reimburse the Johns Hopkins
University, by State aid, against the
loss which has fallen upon the Uni
yersity by reason of the failure of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
1t is pre- posed that the State shall
make an annual appropriation OF one
hundred thousand dollars, i'll lieu OF
the one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars that was formerly realized from
the Baltimore and Ohio stock.
The matter of State appropriation
in behalf of educational institutions
generally impresses itself lavorably
upon the people, but i'll this particu-
lar instance there are questions IN
yolyed which should be seriously con
sidered before the State should pledge
itself to the annual expenditure OF
of such an enormous sum OF money.
The Johns Hopkins University, like
most of the universities of our land,
was established by the liberal dona-
ton of an individual, and by whose
munificence it was amply endowed to
continue financially strong. But un-
like the other universities of the coun-
try it unfortunately had its funds in
vested in a corporation, and all its
eggs in one basket. Whether its
trustees are subject to criticism Oh this
account, when an aliuring ten per
cent dividend issuing out of stock
may have tempted a non-resistence
to change, even though careful in.
vestigation would have revealed an
imminent danger, is not now the
question. The serious matter to be
considered is, can the State afford to
take from its treasury the annual sum
asked for, and donate it to II private
institution of learning, at the expense
of the great public school system of
our State, upon which the great
masses of the people depend for the
educational advantages,it vouchsafes?
An university education is, to be
sure, very desirable. and to those
whose means will permit of it, it al
most becomes Il duty, butthe primary
duty of the State is to see that the
masses receive the great benefits of the
public school, with no uncertainty in
its provisions for the means to accom-
plish the purpose. Until this is practi-
cally assured no appropriation should
be made by the Legislature which
might in any way curtailor hamper the
financial advancement of the common
schools. When Governor Brown was in
the Executive chair he found it necess-
airy to veto an appropriation for free
school books in the public schools on
account of the lack of funds in the
hands of the State. This was again
made the subject of legislation and II
bill was passed by the last Legislature
appropriating one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars annually therefore
and with this amount only six grades
out of the nine in each school receive
the benefit of free books, the appro-
priation not proving sufficient to sup
ply the three higher grades.
II will be seen, too, that the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad is RESPONSE
BILE for the necessity of the request
now made by the University upon the
State. The unique position of the
corporation in matters ofpublic, priv
ate and political interest in the State
is well worthy of notice. In its promi-
nent political position it has been
able to WELD its power with marked
effect. A Governor, two United States
Senators and recognized influence
in the General Assembly is credited
TO it in this State, and it is now asking
Legislative aid at the very time when
avictim of misplaced confidence in
it, is seeking financial support from
the same source.