The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-02-14
ASK MORE DISCRETION

Legislature 10 Grant Them
Additional Powers, Now
Held by County Commits
sioners.
The following letter written nv
Mr.. Oscar Coblents, Superinteud.
.snt of>the Public Schools. will
thoroughly explain itself and thu
plan proposed will no doubt he
approved by the people. Tor an
Mr. Coblentz we'll says: When
there is figld responsibility there
should certainly be a proportion.
ate amount Of discretion
FREDERICK, Md,
February II, 1908.
Messrs. Editors:
GENTLEMEN:-Enclosed here.
with YOU will find copy of bill
which has been introduced into
the Legislature of Maryland. has
passed the House and is before the
Senate. BY note III todaN's il.
sue of the Sun. | understand that
the County Commissioners mt
themselves gu record as opposed
TO the bill. The contents OF this
were discussed WITH these grutle.
men before its introduction and
the writer thought them not Cd
posed to its provisions As it is per.
fecIly lair and reasonable.
Ii contents briefly are as fol.
lows: There is al old law passed
IN 1880 putting the letting OF con.
tracts ami the accepting of school
houses III tue bands OF the County
commissioners but limiting them
TO spending not more than $40. 900
iii Year. This law has proved
unsatisfactory to the Board of
School commissioners, as con.
t. acts are often let 10 irresponsible
parties aud buildings accepted
which ought not 10 be and il has
also proved ,eXatlous 10 the Coun.
ty commissioners. Ii has heen
found and in tact is well known
that hat $l0.0U0 would build q
years ago. 1t will take practically
SI5.0 600 to TO now.
Our proposed bill repeats the
above law and gives the School
Board the power 10 build aud ac-
cept school houses aud the right
10 demand that the County Com.
missioners levy what Is asked for
to build new school houses pro.
vided the amount Is not equal to
more than Z cen 5 op the hundred
or about $4,000. Ten Thousand
dollars being equal TO u cents.
There is also provision III the
general school law which requires
the County Commissioners to levy
10 cents Tor general school pur
poses If the School Board asks it.
This Is practically dead letter.
They now give Us 500, 600 which is
equivalent 10 about 20 cents. Tue
law Is ameuded SO as 10 make the
limit 80 cents instead OF fifteen.
None of these amounts must be
levied whether necessary or not as
the article Ill the Sun would lAdl.
cate. Il merely gives discretion
AIRY power 10 the School Board up
10 reasonable limit. The School
Board Is willing 10 assume the Ie-
sponslDllity aud there Is no reason
to assume that they are not as
competent to conserve the interest
OF the people as are the Com.
" Commissioners. La tact it is
tue business of the School Board
10 study school conditions aud
they ought TO know what is neces-
essary. Certainly where you hold
board responsible for results
tney should have a reasonable
amount of discretion. This is all
this bill provides. We think it is
reasonable, just aud necessary for
the best interest of the people.
The school B0ard is not going
to lery a dollar that is not abso-
tately accessory.
Ii the press of the county think
our position Is right and teua0le
aud II il believes a word along The
editorial line cemmendiug our
measure will add to its sire 9Th
we will appreciate it. At any ate
You will have a copy of the bill at
hand Tor reference in case you
need it at any time.
Thanking you for any actual or
moral support you may give this
measure, | remain yours for the
Board OF County School Commits
sioners Of Frederick County and
for the best interests OF the
people,
OSCAR b. CoBLENTZ,
Sups. Frederick County Schools.