Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1921-12-23
TAXPAYERS WILL
NOT FEEL BURDEN
" LEGISLATURE ADOPTS FiTz.
HueH's PLAN OF FINANc-
ING SCHOOLS
President state Board or Education
Explains To Governor
Rltche.


quirements Of the State, and secondly,
to the schools. The conversation then
developed the fact that public educa-
ton is the only State activity that is
supported principally out OF the d.
rectly levied tax, and that the instltu-
tons caring for the sick, the INDECENT,
the criminal, the insane, agriculture,
higher education. etc, are supported
by funds raised by Indirect taxation.
Later you asked me If l thought that
the public would stand for a ten-cent
raise in the tax rate in order to carry
out the proposed program Of the State
Board Of Education. The implication
carried by this question was, l take
It, that the demands of other State
managed social activities would so
reduce the general fund that the
schools would be obliged to go direct
ly to the people for additional money.
have, since leaving your office,
been considering the status Of the
school budget under the existing meth
Cd OF providing funds, and it seems
that the situation, which possibly
might embarrass the Executive. the
Legislature, and the school system is
substantially this;
Everything but bond and school re-
quirsments Is provided out Of the fund
raised by indirect taxation. If, after
everything else is provided for, any
money remains In the general fund,
that money goes to supplement an
Rmount raised by direct taxation for
the support Of the schools. The schools
then are sustained from two sources,
both variable. The first source, name
ly, the general fund con Hbutes a
small proportion; and the second
source, namely, the direct tax. a large
proportion. The first source is not
under the close scrutiny Of the taxpay-
ers; the second, because II is on the
tax bill, is at all times under the
critical scrutiny not only Of the tax
payers but Of the politicians as well.
As both sources OF income vary, and
as the first is by custom and law the
one that supplies the other social ac-
tivities Of the State, It naturally fol-
lows that the schools. by reason Of
being the residuary legatee, SO to
speak, are forced to levy taxes in d.
rect proportion to the degree of ex-
pansion that the necessities Of the
other organizations demand When
the schools, in order to meet the de-
mands OF progress, are forced to fall
back on funds derived from direct
taxes they are in position to be at
tackled by the uniformed public as
being extravagant and as the sole
cause of the increased tax rate The
first source depends on and varies in
proportion to the needs of other ac-
tivities; the second depends on and
varies with the experience. inclination,
and sense Of expedlenoy Of those who
decide at any particular time what
the rate lie to be.
Now there are some features about
the school system Of the State that
are, perhaps, occasionally lost sight Of
but which by reason of their import
Rnce must be recognized:
rr.+. 7. % IN d,-ao4 4orob
with a majority of the families Of
Second. 7, 6oo1s d;rao,1v r,,,b
80. ano-.oS - iii. Ia
49, and e. undar ~ r,ost o.,tioai
sorn,tnn ~ +hair narants
Th,rd. :. q ao ,aoa
- - -, -. -
rs.,H.s,n snoh . ~ - IT,
- - ,ntoI1iaanoa ~ :, sa
t,on "a lii ,nsrra nroanaa. ~,
e : -.
VI i-iil'l siie ~, as toul va . Us =
- euo@'-oi,, e'1' ne pieSeii. li,e'-.Su
"a e.oot ",soi iiiiiiis'e as"insl ln1
0onoote Al la'oi VI an o'nei sooial
soufi'ies ena' are assuuleu W ''e
S'Ate N''u '4ii''ii0eu " 'iie PuDie pui"S'
l protest then:
First: That il seems to be
{ poor State policy to so arrange for
the financing OF one fundamental
activity. i e. the school system.
as to make II appear to the tax
payers that its necessities are the
principal cause OF increased di.
rect State taxation.
Second: That it seems to be
poor State policy so to arrange
for the financing of an institution.
1. Whose work is vitality funda-