The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-01-22
PUBLIC SCHOOLS,

MUCH important legislation in prospect
at this Legislative session will bear on the
public schools. Delegate James, of Balti-
more, was granted leave to introduce bill
providing fol United States flags and flag
poles for school buildings throughout the
State, the money for the same to come out
OF the general school fund. This bill is
supported by the Junior Order United
American Mechanics, and kindred organi-
cations. Mr. James also introduced bill
requiring that the sanitary condition Of the
public schools be subject TO the State
Board of Health The object of this mea-
sure is to improve the general sanitary con-
dition of the school. Mr.. Butts, of Fred
erick county, introduced bill providing
for free school supplies, such as States, sta
tionery, spongtS, chalk etc , in addition to
to the Committee on Public Education
yet TO he named.
These are only the forerunners of other
bills relating TO the public schools, and all
of which are designed for their improve
ment Mr.. Butts states that the free supply
of materials will not require an extra
appropriation, the public school fund being
sufficiently large to meet it 1t is pointed
ont, however, that Mr.. Butts bill, as well
as that of Mr. James for the flags and hlg-
poles, will require large amount of
money, probably over $50 600, and, il
enacted, will make serious inroads upon
the public school fund. 1t is stated that
Baltimore city and county will oppos e
these and similar measures, claiming tn, t
they do not rccsive their just share of tie
fund as now distributed.
The suggestion of ex- Comptroller Graham
that the State tax he incre ls'd =" r'"yi a
fund sufficiently large to furnish free school
books will also meet with opposition in
Baltimore city and county. Their repr,-
Sentatives in the Legislature have no Obi C.
ton to the increase Of the taxes in those
counties which receive the same amount of
money they turn into the treasury for tie
public school fund, but they object to tn
extra tax being saddled upon them. in
view of the fact that they do not receive
within several thousands Of dollars tho
amount paid by them to the public school
fund. The Western MARYLAND counties
will also ask for a new apportonment f
the pnhlic school fund, claiming that br.
canse of their cooperative lack of colorrd
public school pupils, they do not rec i've
their proper share of the fund
Colonel Charles B. Rogers Secretary oi
tn" Baltimore County School Board, out
lined to several members the present basis
of distributing the sohoo fund, which
he opposes. The State school tax of 1OJ
cents on the 500 is apportioned to Balti-
more city and the several counties as fol-
lows: First, the proceeds of one-half cent
on the 500 are put aside as a fund for
colored schools; then 1925, 600 is deducted
from the proceeds Of the remaining ten
cents on the $780, and added to the pro-
ceeds of the one-half cent: then, after
deducting certain small amounts for Nor
nal School, etc, the remainder OF the pro-
ceeds of the ten cents on the 800 is put
aside as a fund for white and colored
schools As result OF this system, there
are now two free school tax fund-one for
colored schools alone, and one for white
and colored schools.
Colonel Rogers points out that in the
distribution of the first fund to Baltimore
and the several counties, the colored
scholar is counted, and the fund is appor-
toned accordingly. In the second fund
each white and each colored child is count
ed twice, and, therefore, receives two ap-
portionments and, as free books are dis
trlhuted by the same system, the same
col0red child receives, or should receive,
two books, while it has use for only one.
The benefits accruing to counties in which
there is large colored population is seen
at glance, and bill will be introduced
to correct the system, and to secure more
equitable distribution of the fund. Should
the bill pass the tax for public schools in
several of the lower counties of the State.
will be considerably increased.