Middletown transcript., 1917-01-20
ANNAPOLIS NEWS
Must Plant oysters.

Annapolis
"H is a. well-known fact that the an
nual production of oysters IN THIS
State has steadily declined year oy
wear until it is now conceded by all
narties that some steps must be taken
promptly to rescue this great indus
try"
This is the despairing cry uttered
bv Conservation Commission in an ap-
peal to 5000 oystermen. tongers and
dredgers, to plant oysters in order to
save Maryland's great industry from
extinction.
The enforcement Of the Gull law
may help the situation in coming
wears, but the steady decrease in the
natural output Of oysters shows the
absolute necessity for developing oys-
ter planting upon the depleted or bar
rem bottoms of the State. Oyster
planting in Maryland is of two kinds:
~ Public planting upon States re-
served areas along the Western Shore
of the Chesapeake Bay under the act
of 1914, and (2) private planting on
barren bottoms under the act OF 1906
as amended by the Shepherd law.
The commission invites every wide
awake oysterman to take out a lease
at the reduced rentals already fixed
bv the commission, and as a further
inducement, the commission has de-
cided to waive all preliminary fees,
regularly charged Except application
fee, SIS, which is fixed by law on all
applications received on or before
February II, 1917.
improve Rural Schools.
DR.. H. j. Patterson, president OF the
Maryland Agricultural College, con-
ferred with a committee of the State
Board of Education, including Cover
nor Harrington, looking to the intro
duction of a course on home and farm
economics in the rural schools. The
object in view is to train boys and
girls to a more thorough understand
ing of their life work and to secure
greater efficiency in farm and home
work. The Agricultural College is ex-
pected to cooperate in this WORK
through established agencies and
through instructors. The course in
view is to be popularized through the
boys and girls clubs. 1t is proposed
to employ a special teacher in agricul-
tural subjects for the faculty OF the
MARYLAND State Normal School whose
work shall supplement that of the in
structor Of domestic science and art
Rural teachers will be expected to
acQuaint themselves with the new
course. To teachers thus equipped it
is proposed to give an additional
salary of $50 per annum. 1t is also
proposed that there are approprla-
tions by the State to make the clubs
State tour an annual affair.
The committee also took up the ap-
plications for election as principal OF
the State Normal School. No recon-
mendation to the general board was
agreed upon.
To Sue For Roads Funds.
Acknowledgement Ritchie was in
structed by the State Roads Commls-
sion to institute court proceedings
against Comptroller McMullen to have
the latter restore to the account OF
the commission the approximate $2OO,-
900 which was reverted to the gen.
eral funds Of the State Treasury on
September 80, 1915, by Governor Har-
rington, when he was Comptroller.
Governor Harrington reverted the
funds, which were standing in the
Roads Commissions account, at the
close of the 1916 fiscal year, when the
State was seeking funds in all direct
ions. Subsequently Attorney-General
Ritchie held that the reversion was
illegal, but the funds never were re-
stored to the commission, and Comp
troller McMullen announced that he
would not make the restoration unless
ordered to do so by the courts. The
proceedings will be amicable, Mr. Nc
Mullen having stated that his only
reason for desiring the proceedings
was to be relieved by the courts OF
responsibility.
In Universal Service Move.
All persons in Baltimore and In
Maryland who favor some system OF
universal military training are urgent
ly requested by the Maryland League
for National Defense to get their
names on a petition to be presented to
the Congress of Constructive Patriot
ism, which will meet soon at Washing
ton, and then to the Senate Committee
on Military Affairs and to Congress
itself
Plans have been made and a COM
mittee named to get 10000 names
within two weeks. The committee con-
sists of William D. Lilly, Capt. Thorn
ton Rogers, jerks B. jenkins, e. Kirk
bride Miller and Capt. Frederick
Wagner
Each member of the Maryland
League will be asked to secure Is
names and the Woman's Section will
also go actively to work. All the men
in the Maryland National Guard now
at home will be given an opportunity
to sign the petition and so will the 800
Marylanders who went to Plattsburg.
The county papers in the State will
run coupons which can be clipped and
forwarded to the leagues headquarters
in Baltimore to be placed on the petit
ton. Heads of large concerns will be
asked to allow the petition to be cir
culated among their employees.
Governor Host OF Judges.
Following a custom Of many years,
opI Az, Ex,o~oo- ~ IT,.