The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-03-03
DECISION OF SENATORS.
Consideration Of The County School Con.
Ilissonsrs 5 Bill Deferred.
A con INSTITUTIONAL QUESTION.


AT The conference OF republican
Senators last Friday morning ii was
decided to defer consideration Of Sem
ator Dryden's school bill for the pres
INent. This measure lei s4ates out of
office all the present county school
commissionersand provides for the ap-
pointment of commissioners by the
Governor for terms of six years, the
term to commence in May instead of
August, as under the present bill.
The question was raised, whether
the present law, in providing for six
year terms by and with the advice
and consent of the senate and making
the beginning of the terms in August,
is constitutional. Governor Lowndes
Observation-Disclosures
and that official says the law is consti-
tutional. Some of the Senators com
bat this opinion and point to the fact
that Gov. Whyte in the Garrett county
case, in his brief, attacked the consti-
tutionality of the law. Senator Dry
den will probably amend his bill by
striking out the words ''by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate, -
believing that this will remedy the
constitutional objection.
In the meantime there are two bills
in the Senate for the election of school
commissioners by the people. One of
them is by Senator Bouic, of Mont
gOmery, and the other by Senator
Ravenscroft, of Garrett. The latter
differs from the first, in that it also
provides for the election of school ex-
aminer by the people. 1t is not like
ly that either of these bills will pass.
Senator Ravenscroft says that the
people of Garrett county are bent
upon electing their own school com
missioners, and that if the general
bill fails he will introduce local bill,
providing for a popular election in
Garrett county. He says the Cover
nor approves such a measure and
committed himself in favor of it in
his first speech in the campaign of
1895, which was made in Garrett
county. 1t is not considered likely
that even this will be conceded, as
many of the Senators are in favor of
uniformity in appointing commission
ers throughout the State.
If all depends upon the point of
view. The celebrated old shield,
when seen from one side, was a silver
shield, and when seen from the other
| side was a golden shield. That is the
way about the appointment of school
commissioners. When there was a
democratic Governor the republicans
were welded to the idea of the cleo
ton of school commissioners by the
people and the principle of local
home rule was dear to their hearts.
The democrats at that time did not
esteem local home rule so highly.
When in 1894 Senator Scott, then q
member of the House of Delegates, in
troduced bill for the election of
school commissioners by the people,
the democrats voted it down with
promptness, and decision, notwith-
standing Mr.. Scott's eloquent plea.
Now Senator Bouic, a democrat,
wants to elect school commissioners,
being satisfied that local home rule
is the only political institution left
which is worth preserving. But Sen
ator Scott, has for some occult reason,
experienced a change of heart, and
believes that the schools are safe with
the appointments in the hands of the
Governor.