The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-11-03
The SCHOOL Bond Question.

To thc Editor of The Republican.
The voters and taxpayers of Garrett
county have had the school bond
question before them for considera-
ton for some time.
A circular has been freely distribu-
ted for the purpose OF enlightening us
on the subject so that we may intelli-
gently cast our votes. Many articles
have been contributed to the several
newspapers published in the county
bringing out clear the fact that new
school houses are needed in all parts
of the county, and that further delay
in doing something to better the con
ditiOn of our school plant is resulting
in ignorance and breaking down of
health of those who are obliged to go
to school in ill-ventilated rooms, and
yet, while it is known to most of the
people that many new school houses
are an absolute necessity and that an
issue of bonds is our only alternative
if we would have good schoals~9ofne
object to them. But why do they OBJ
ject? Not because it is thought that
they viii not be beneficial, but be
cause of sectional feeling as was evil
denced by A. j. Lees article in last
weeks REPUBLICAN, His only OBJ
lection to them was that three or four
of the new buildings may be built in
towns--places where the county is now
paying rent for rooms utterly unfit
for school purposes. At Loeb Lynn,
for example, school is held in a bowl
ing alley From the tenor of his article
it seems that if he were assured that
school houses would not be built in
thnCn TOlopnC hon hnInCr
paid, he would vote for bonds, build
houses in the country and compel
children in villages to go to school in
any kind of rooms, and would further
burden the people with additional
taxes for rent, simply because those
children are so unfortunate as to live
in a small country town. A more il
liberal view of the question can
scarcely be imagined
Mr.. Lee further reveals the biased
state of his mind when he states that
after building these three or four
buildings but little, if any, of the
money arising from the sale of bonds
would remain to build houses else
where, for had he Investigated he
would have learned that the Act of
the Legislature, which is familiar to
all, expressly prescribes the purposes
for which the money shall be expend-
ed, viz; THE erection, repairing and
furnishing one and t1OO room frame
school houses and for no
other purpose 1t will be noticed
that even brick cannot be used to in
crease the cost and the building must
not contain more than two rooms
Such building furniture and all com
plete would not necessarily cost over
$1,000 Granting that five such build
ings would be built there would then
remain q sum of $4,000 for one room
school buildings. The greater part
of the money, then, must be expended
in erecting country school houses and
that where most needed
There is another class of persons,
many of whom are against bonds be-
cause they have already been provi-
ded for; they have good school in
their district and are unwilling to as
sumo any obligations which does not
directly benefit themselves. 1t should
be remembered that all of the districts
are not 80 fortunate. The writer
knows of his own knowledge one of
the largest country schools in the
county having no school this year be-
cause the condition OF the house will
not permit it. 1t is robbing those
children of their indefeasible rights.
Everyone should remember that
which benefits the whole people bene-
fits him; education is such benefit.
1t gives us better citizens, better gov
eminent, helps lift up humanity,
shows him greater possibilities, gives
him higher ideas.
Let us lay aside all sectional feeling
and vote in the interest of our chill
dren; let us forget self and vote for
that which will benefit our county
When you go to theipolls ask yourself
the naked question: DO | sincerely
want better schools and school
houses?" and vote accordingly. The
responsibility rests on you.
A BUCKwHEATER