The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-01-21
House at Annapolis and for sundry other pub.
lie buildings in the State, as follows:

Toal.................................Sl,625 ,625, 900
The Board OF Public Works, acting within
the discretion given it under said statute, is
sued on July last only 1926, 900 of said loan,
inaSmuch as the needs of the above institutions
did dnot demand any further amounts. Hence,
the gross debt of the State was increased to
the amount of this issue, viz: $685., 900.
ASSESSMENT AND LEVY OF 1904.
There was a marked increase in the basis of
assessment, amounting this year To $3.50
~, ~, or an increase OF. s., ,40d, ,49j, while
the Increase IN the levy from Il cents to 22l
cents on each 500 produces an increase of
S@S1 600 Ii. or the large sum of 81 ,53l, ,Gi3. "a.
PUBLIC SCHOOL TAN.
The receipts aud disbursements on account
of this fund we're: Receipts, $939, Hiss,
which, together with the balance Of $5I6, 43I.-
IS brought down from the preceding year,
aggregates $l,2s5. .9I253, or an increase of
S27.l9, leaving the very large balance of
S52s, ,os5.@4 applicable to the school year
commencing October /, 1904. This increase
in revenue is manifest by virtue Of the in
creased school tax rate from lol cents 10 Is
cents on each 500, which income must be
largely augmented, since this years receipts
represent only the beginning of the benefits
Of the increased rate.
Heretofore, on October /, January I and
March Is. there has been distributed among
the counties and Baltimore city the sum Of
Sl25.oo0 to white schools and $1,000 10 col
orad schools. iu addition to the usual amounts
to the normal schools and State Board of
Education. but last October. the amount au
band 10 t4uaIize fulara distribution hriug So
large. determined 10 give the school, in this
State the benefit Of this money, rather than
retain the same ia the Treasury But, the last
. .,irihai5pu. yjz June Is, and therefore aP-
parlrusi iu October the sum Of 500, ,oO0,
and ss,gn ou january I. 1905, ;his distribution
va> still further increased 10 S30o, 900.
Wbethrr this increase can be maintained de-
pruds entirely upon future collections, bat
such distribution is made with the full asSur
arce that this revenue will warrant a ike dis
tributiau OF 500, O0O on March - next.
The last Legislature made Que important
change concerning the distribution Of this
iaud-Chap,er jsi. Heretofore this revenue
vas distributed, at each quarterly appog,ion.
ment. separately TO the white and colored
schools, 1884, .OO0 TO the latter, while the white
schools received the difference between this
sum and whatever SUM came into the treasury
FROM tins TAX. Said statute provides, however,
that '.the Comptroller shall not spportion any
separate fund for the coIored schools; but
cDlored schools shall be supported and main
tanned from the general school fund.
EREs school BOOKS,
To ibis fund the receipts during the year
wore Sl2G. sO4 -, with the usual disburse-
uents, sljo. .HOo. leaving shortage for the
year oi sc, ,6gj.4s. or since the fund VS. es-
.abllsbed 10 slti of S237 .G-9.S6. The tax Of
.; cents GA each 500 has never been adequate
10 sus,ain this appropriation, and in my iudg.
ment this tax should be increased in order
that this fund should not be burden TO any
extent upou the general treasury.
IL has been ms purpose To direct your at
ten'ian 10 whai / conceived 10 be some Of the
most salient features Of this report. Your
careful business training aud the jealous care
with which you safeguard every ioterrst Of the
State -iil lead you, am sure, 10 a careful
perlissl nt each statement and table.
deem It advisable. however, 20 call your
attention 10 the rapidly increased funded debt
Of the State aud the purposes for which loans
have been authorized within the las, six years,