The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-03-22
Correspondence Baltimore County Usion.
MR.. SANDS ON THE EXTRA APPRO-
PRIATION.


Nessrs. Editors Of The linton From your issue
of the 18th it appears have given Mr.. Asa y.
surprised again ana again. even astonished at
things have done. For many years, beginning
probably before Mr.. Gardiner was out of swad-
ding clothes, was a guest of the GunpoWoer
Club, gave it much of its prominence, spreading
its doings and sayings over the country, and was
always before treated most courteously, and ms
suggestion that my recent visit to the club was
used to support faulty statements is an imperti-
nence. generally have the courage of my con-
the Country Gentleman some of the clubs pro-
ceedings were reported and then other topics
touched. Nothing was said connecting it with
only mentioned once at the meeting when one
member (Mr. Bacon) complained he had lost
money by following its advice.
Now turn to the merits of the matter: The
State Board of Aid and Charities took nothing
for granted. Two of its members are former
Governors of the State, who have had the usual
official connection with and personal knowledge
of the college. and third is General Latrobe,
who was chairman of the ways and means in the
posted than any other man as to its financial
history. The others are capable business men.
rms board declared It would be neither Judi
ton.
Mr.. Gardiner says the college receives $9.OOOa
year from the State. Elsewhere he calls this
spaltry sum" But Comptroller Goldsborough
says that in 1899 he paid it the of $48 22 and
Comptroller Herring reports that in 1901 he paid
more each year, not included in these figures.
The revenues of the college in 1899 Gncuding
IN iSCi ABOUT from which some portion
said to be quite small, is paid to colored school.
The colored people. approaching the benefits of
equitable distribution" the statutes require has
not been made.
The money derived from the United States,
says Mr.. g., Is expended for salaries of the pro-
fessors,' (the total is $4,000 year, and it looks
very much as II on this point he is correct!
On the Of the state Sau e
no restrictions, and, with so muni6cent sum
from the national government to apply to sala-
ries, certainly the property might be kept in
repair Yet such is the business management
that at least once in the past few years appr0-
priations have been anticipated, payment of
salaries delayed and bills left long unsettled.
Last Saturdays Baltimore Sun states that the
treasurer reported to the board the day previous
there was 1923 in hand.
Touching the manner in which ''public senti-
mentr was created, prominent farmer of Mont
gomery writes me of the scheme to rush the
appropriation 1T was cOncocted at the college
and should be buried at Annapolis" gentle
man who was present at the meetings of both
cIeties, says TAT the State Horticultural So
ciety in Baltimore in December, there was an
effort made to have the society endorse this
movement but the executive committee and
once. In addition to Prof. Silvester's
address at Berlin, which was in reality plea for
the appropriation, further agents were at work
trying to get the matter before the society, but
no action was taken. In fact there was very
bitter feeling amongst those who understood
the conditions against Mr.. Sylvester and his prop
OsitiOn.''
The facts of the State Grange endorsementare
within my own knowledge. For weeks Captain
Sylvester and at least one employee of the college
were assiduously trying to get up new Oranges.
The object was too obvious and the writer of
this pointed it out orally and in writing to the
Master of the Grange. The Oranges were form
ed. their representatives admitted, some without
color of law, and the endorsement was voted.
Participating in the meeting were Captain Sill
vester the Director of the Station. the Professor
of Agriculture. Il thinkO the Professor of Hor-
ticuiture, the farmer and also Mr.. Cassard, full
of enthusiasm and feeling apparently that this
was the most important If not the only business
of the session.
priation was not spontaneous with the farmers
and that it has been induStriously nurSed from
the college itself is an open book. This was the
object of the Farmers League. AT It's meeting
in Baltimore inquiries as to the revenues and
methods of the college were frowned down or
evaded.
informed by member of the board of trustees,
about 100 pupils. Included among these are the
small oS Of M easf aTe IN foo
young to be away from home at ALL" He adds,
Their presence lowers the general tone of the
college and injuriously affects the discipline.
am very positive in my conviction that the
money which is expended in this department
could be far more advantageously used for the
This same gentleman, who resigned a few
years ago, and who possesses ability and dis
CernmenT, continues. line income III my Juug-
ment would seem to be ample, with proper bust
ness management, to conduct the institution on
it's present basis and to allow of considerable
development along the lines laid down by the
founders
The bill which Mr.. Gardiner vaunts is certainly
a"daisy." 1t scatters around thousands of dollars
with the freest kind of a hand to every depart
ment-the benefciaries in each department have
some friends-then provides that the State shall
pay the several sums hereby appropriated. ag-
greRating 100000 (although the true total is only
$4,000 and requires mortgage to the State on
property of which the State already owns
m yeary Of s but It makes
$1,000 annual appropriations" which would
run on until some succeeding legislature re-
things this remarkable bill appropriates money
for is an .'insectory." Just what this is no one
seems to know; no dictionary defines, no cyclic
pedia describes it but it must be one of those
things the need of which was apparent" to the
farmers assembled at the college last June.
AT a meeting of the College Board last Friday,
according to the Suns special correspondent,
ono of its members, Mr.. Charles, B. Calvert. OPP
a trustee for probably 25 years. He believes the
revenues are ample If the college is properly
managed. There were seven of the seventeen
The law requires that THE LEADING OBJECT
of this college shall be ito teach such branches
of learning as are related to agriculture and the
mechanic arts" in order to promote the liberal
and practical education of the industrial classes.
Whilst there is flamboyant printed curriculum,
ability to put into practical use the distinctive
branches is lacking; there is no enthusiasm as
to the real object of the institution and pretty
much everything is exalted over agriculture:
There are professor of physical culture"
fencing classes dumb-bell exercises, but the
pillow and the hoe are not at the front.
The Legislature should establish a rational
method of government for this institution,
which will divorce it absolutely from political
influences, and from personal ambitions and
cupidity, bring it back to the requirements of
the charter granted its patriotic founders, and
of the Morrill, Acts for promoting agricultural
and mechanical education, do justice to the
State, and rebound to the real and abiding ad-
vantage of our industrial classes.
Until this is done and businesslike admins
tration provided no more money should go into
its bottOmless purse. Its revenues are not only
handsome, they are enormous, amounting to
$4,000.
Can any disnterested and conscientious man
say the advantages to the State as the institu-
ton is now administered are commensurate
with this expenditures VIM. b. SANDS.
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
Mann rnrrm on DID AT 1rpnr nr