The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1915-08-28
SOME FACTS ABOUT
NJ. A. {. FINANCES

application of its money, and (2) from
inadequate appropriations.
The first is the greater evil. al
though the latter is the one of which
most i. heard; for if there had been
proper management of the college af-
fairs-concentration upon its basic
work of promoting knowledge of
scientific agriculture-the probabili-
ties are that the necessary appropria-
tions would have been obtained with
out serious difficulty.
Politics And Prejudice
For this the trustees are to blame
those trustees with their politics and
their prejudices, their sentimetnallty
their per diem and their expenses
amounting to nearly 81 800 in the tls-
cal year ended June 80, 1914. 1t is
not meant to condemn All the lndlVld-
uals on the board. There are some
men on it now. Robert Cain, for in
stance, who are sincerely and enthus-
iastically interested in the colleges le-
climate work. But, taking the board
as board, during the half century or
so of the institutions life, one finds
little to commend.
This article viii! be confined almost
entirely to a general statement OF the
receipts and disbursements and what
results therefrom. Some of the OBJ
vious and recognized errors in its con-
duct will be pointed out, but beyond
that the writer is not competent to go.
While the failure of the school etfi-
cheney to serve the States agricultu-
raj needs is universally admitted, the
4,-l- e ,N,.npnrin,r rlat- of
Zation is one that must have the study
of scientific and practical farmers.
The most that can be done here is to
tel the people about conditions in the
hope that they will start the machin-
cry which can bring about reforms.
Origin OF The College
Some account of the origin ard ear
ly days of the college is necessary. 1t
was Incorporated in the late sos by
a number of well-known men and
stock was subscribed by substantial
farmers. Before the Civil War the
State began making appropriations to
it-S6, 900 annually. these seem to
have been discontinued during most of
the war. They were resumed after
ward, and in 1896 the State approprl-
ated $4,000 to liquidate certain in
debtedness and for some additions to
equipment.
There appears to be no doubt about
the amount of the States aid III some
of the subsequent years, the records
either being obscure or destroyed by
fire But there are indications that at
times the Legislature was in contro-
versy with the trustees representing
the private stockho ders and that
sometimes money was given and
sometimes withheld.
In 1894 the State began apprOpriat-
ing 50 GOO annually for the college. In
1902 there were special appropria-
tioNs amounting to $33,OOO ard
maintenance appropriation of $4,000.
In 1896 there were more special APP
preparations, these amounting to $19,-
31S.oG. Along about that time the
State began making appropriations
for farmers institutes. horticultural
work, experimental and demonstration
work. etc, to be done in more or less
intimate connection with the college
work; and the present status of the
college was approached.
Difficult To Segregate Moneys
The revenue derived from students
will not be considered at this point
but only the appropriations of the
State of Maryland, and the United
States. 1t appears that the total for
all agricultural purposes connected
with the college is S134,297 for the
current fiscal year. Of this it appears
the college proper receives S13,297 and
the related departments SCI 900.
In arriving at these totals the ap-
preparations from the State are taken
from the reports of the State Board Of
Aid and Charities. 1t has not been
possible to verify all of these figures,
but the board usually is correct and it
is known to be correct in most of the
items considered The Federal Gov
ernment figures are clear.
What Figures Represent
Now to explain what all those fig
ures represent. The college proper
will be considered first. 1t receives
annually from the State $4,000 for
maintenance expenses and 81 800 for
maintenance expenses at the Eastern
Branch of the college (the colored
school at Princess Anne. which is the
industrial ali GmechGnical branch of
Morgan College and is treated by the
Maryland Agricultural College as it's
Eastern Branch). From the United
States it receives $4,000 for the East
ern Branch, under the so-called Sec
ond Merrill act, and $4,000 under the
same act and $25,00o under the Mel
son amendment for the college proper.
1t also receives $5,979 as the inter
est on the investment of the funds re-
ceived by this State as its share of the
proceeds of the sale of public lands,
under the Morrill, act, passed by the
Federal Government about 1862. The
State agreed to invest this money so
that S5,797 would be realized annual
ly. In late years it has had to pay
part of this interest and the Legis-
lature appropriated $2,0474 44 for 1915
and 1916 each to meet deficiency and
interest" However. the total of the
interest should be credited to the Fed
eral Government.
The Figures In Summary
To summarize:
The Maryland Agricultural College receives