The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-10-14
REPUBLICAN PIRACY EXPOSED.
The True History of the Free School
Book Bill
From the Baltimore County Democrat.

This audacious claim has been repeated by
all their campaign speakers, great and
small, with tiresome iteration. The real
author of the measure is the Hon. John
Walter Smith, now the Democratic candl-
date for Governor of Maryland. As Sen
ator from Worcester county, Col. Smith
introduced the bill in the State Senate IN
1892 1t passed the two houses Of the
General Assembly, both Democratic, IN
1892 and 1894. That it was killed ON
those two occasions by Governor Brown
does not detract from the credit due
Col Smith as its father In 1896 the
Republicans controlled the House Of Dele
gates, and We remember how they wasted
nearly the whole session in unseemly
wraugles over the distribution of offices.
In that year Senator Smith again introduc-
cd his bill in the Senate, and fought it out
on the same line. the bill being often i'll
imminent danger Of defeat through Repub
lean amendments
We have consulted the Senate Journals
for 1892, 1894 aud 1896, and We give
reference 10 those records that will abuad-
antly show to whom the people Of Mary
land are indebted for the law by virtue OF
which our schools have become, in fact as
well as in name, free public schools.
From Senate Journal, 1892 :--
Page s6l-By Mr.. Smith. was introduced {;
senate Bill. entitled An Act to appropriate
sum OF money to AID in the purchase Of
free books for the scholars of the public
schools of the State of Maryland.
( Page f5s-Mr HAYES. from the Committee on
Finance. reported the bin fayurably, aud 1t
was read second time.
Z Page 6S1-The bill was read the third time,
and passed. Yeas Is. nays =
/ Pages eSS ani g3i-1he Clerk Of the House
ii Delegates appeared aud delivered
senate Bill entitled An Act 10 appropriate
sum o. money 10 AID IN the purchase Of
( free books for the public schools the State
Z q Maryland
/ Thus We see that the bill for providing
I free text books was introduced by Hon.
+ John Walter Smith, and passed by Dem
+ ocratic Senate aud a Democratic House Of
+ Delegates in lS92
The bin was vetoed by Governor Brown,
+ after the adjournment Of the General rs
sembly, not because he disapproved Of its
+ object. but because he believed that the
E finances of the state we're not then in 4
f condition to bear the additional expense to
f be incurred by the issue of free school
books. Ills reason for with holding his
Signature % this and other bills are 10 be
found on page S9l Of the Senate journal
+ 1t 1884,
From Senate Journal, 1894 --
/ Page Is7-rhe Presidcu, Hon. John Walter
~mith introduced Senate Bill entitled An
Ac5 e. appropriate . suia oi moAey ~ ald
iu ths. purchase If free books tor the scholars
ut the Free Public Schools ot the State oi
MARYLAND. aud also 80 repeal and re-enac'
wlih amendments sections 50 and ~ ot the
Code of Public General laws, title "Public
Eduea;iou subiitle Text Books, so as
"a provide Tor the nse Of tex books free o.;
cos, To all pupils Of the pabiic schools.
Read the hF>g time, aud referred to the
Committee ON Fluance.
Pa.e 252-Mg. Hayes. from the Committee ou
F Finance, reported the bin tAyonbiy.
PAGE s4--lhe bIll was read third ume and
passed. Yeas -, nSys a.
The bill was then sent to the House oi
Delegates.
Page Is5-The bili MAS received back from
the House Of Delegates, endorsed Passed
by yeas and nays.
uu March 2S;h, 1894, Governor Brown
sent to the Senate a lengthy message re
latiye 10 the Free School Book Bill
covering iye printed pages Of the Journal.
The Governor objected that specific
amount, sl25, 600. was Appropriated BY
: the bill, which he considered would prob,
ABLY he les thaa the actual annual cost Of
the bo.,k-. and 40 provision was made fol
such a contingency, also, that the bill did
not sufficiently designate the time when,
n,r the mode aud manner how the appro.
priation should be discussed The Gov
ernor also expressed his fears that the ap-
propriatiuns made hy this and other bills
would interfere with the payment Of the
existing Indebtedness of the State. AT d
time when owing Ia the general depres
,ion of business, aud the low values Of
property. real and personal, the revenue,
OF the State src more likely 10 decrease
than to increase, aud that the treasury
was in no condition to meet such demands.
The Governor message was referred tc
committee, consisting OF Messrs Hayes,
Sloan and Moss.
On April "a the committee presented a
report see Journal. page 1922 from
which we extract the following
Twice has the General Assembly of Mary,
land passed Free School Book Bill. Tn,
large majoriiies in both branches Of the Gen
eral Assembly each time for the measure
clearly indicated that the peoples representa-
tives we're not unmindful Of the great demand
which came up from the people OF the State
iOr free books for free schools.
In 1892 the Governor vetoed the bill atlel
the adjournment OF the General Assembly
and nov. in 1894, he again intimates by hi:
message his intention 10 veto the bill, unles:
certain amendments are made to remedy
what he claims to be defects in the bill a
passed.
The Governor in his message does moi
veto the bill, but suggests to the Senate cerialt
amendments. and at the same time keeps tn,
bin out Of the custody Of the Senate, ans
thereby absolutely prevents the Senate from
passing single amendment he recommend
even il the. Senate deemed il wise TO follow the
Governor suggestion as to amendments
The resources of the State are sufficient tc
meet the appropriation named in the bill. This
conclusion has also met the approval of tht
WAYS and Means and Finance Committees o
the General Assembly, the two committees
which are supposed 10 know what the resour
ces of the State are, and the demands upon
them.
''The Committee is of the opinion thai
neither the amendment to levy AN additiona
tax or any of the other proposed amendment:
suggested by the Governor are either neceS
sary or proper to make the bill effective
"To say that the revenues of this State are
so meagre as to necessitate Treasury Relief
loan to pay 1925, 900 for free books, is both
startling and surprising
1.-The finances of the State were never IN 8
better conditions than at this time, 1894. II
has been suggested by the financial officials Of
the State that in few years the State will be
without public debt
"The Committee is of the opinion that there
is no existence in fact of the defects III the bill
as set out in the Governors message, and
would therefore respectfully recommend that
the Governor be requested to approve the
bill, or at once, in the mode constitutiOnally
provided, return the bill to the Senate, with
his reasons for the same, so that these reasons
may be considered, and the bill passed over
the veto, or amended, or defeated, as the
Senate may decide when the bill is properly
before that body.
| H,d tho hill haen returned IL Would