Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1919-06-12
Those Of our readers who may not be willing


to follow Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia in
his plan to erect, at enormous public expense,
an educational autocracy at Washington NAV
be even less inclined to support his bill (the
Smith I owner Bill. Senate $3.50, which is laid
before the present session of Congress, when
they reflect little on the way in which the
taxes for the said department will be collected,
and the way in which they will be distributed
1t is simple truth, that not even the United
States Government, wonderful as are its many
functions, can pay out, unless it previously takes
in. This simple fact does not seem to occur to
many good people, who are dazzled by the
glorious idea of hundred million dollars being
paid out annually to the forty-six States of the
Union, without giving any thought that the same
forty-six States must previous pay out the same
hundred million dollars.
Some simple, practical person has been so
bold as to suggest that the money that was rails
ed at home might be spent at home This
would save, at least. the postage of sending it
to Washington and getting it back again. But,
dear reader, il we did this, how would the ex-
penses Of few thousand officials in Washington
or elsewhere be paide Why spend money on
our children that we have raised for our children
when we are offered in this bill the chance of
spending it in order to send these worthy off,
Gals, secretaries, ETC., on comfortable trips
aboard9
The best part of the bill, however is the way
that one State shall pay the expense of another
Maryland, according to the provisions of the
bill, is to contribute 81 ,647 900 year in
Federal school taxes lover and above our State
or county school taxes) Of this sum she is to
receive back just 81, $4,000. So that we
pay out $5l 900 year more than we re-
ceive. Wonderfully beneficial fol Maryland Z!
A few other figures may be interesting (furn-
ished by c. D. Blachly, Of the Reference Ser
vice OF the Library of Congress).
Massachusetts, pays out SIS, l84,0 per an
mum and receives $4,000 in return. New
York State contributes cheerfully $22,572,OOO
and is thankful to get back $9,l88,OOO.
Illinois mulcts her people for $9,774,OOO a
year, and receives $5,48O,OOO.
Dear me! hear you ask, but where does it
all go to? Board the NJ, D. & V. steamer,
my dear friend on these summer afternoons and
cross over to the southern side of the Potomac,
and you will find that, presto, the Smith bill
has quite different aspect from that here In
unfavored Maryland Virginia, for instance
pays out only $4,000 in taxes but receives
1928 900 in return. Mississippi pays one
hundred and forty-three thousand per annum
and is rewarded with two million one hundred
and fifteen thousand. perhaps our little county
could raise that one hundred and forty-three
thousand year, and by taking the burden of it
oft Mississippi, be consoled by an annual revenue
of 81. 5000. Not bad bargain).
Poor neglected Alabama pays out five hun
dred and thirteen thousand and takes in two
million three hundred and twenty-nine thousand.
Naturally enough, Senator Smiths home State
is not forgotten, and Georgia, which pays out
also five hundred and thirteen thousand wear,
gets two million nine hundred and twenty-three
thousand year back. After all, it is good
way to delight the home folk. when you hand
them an unearned check for two million four
hundred and ten thousand year.
And as for Arkansas. which pays out one
hundred and seventy thousand and takes in one