Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1921-12-22
NEEDED PUBLICITY
(Communicated.)

That there is need Of more publicity
in the transactions OF public todies
having charge OF governmental func-
tions, is perfectly plain from the
scandalous revelations recently
brought to light in Baltimore City and
other places. In our city and county
we can hardly claim immunity, al
though the court has decided that
there was nothing criminal in the in
dictments brought against some OF the
activities of our County Commission
ers. These accusations only recently
came to light, although the things
charged happened many months ago
Having been sprung on the eve OF an
election makes one suspect that they
we're saved up TO be used for politi-
cal effect.
One OF ex-President Wilson's con-
tributions TO governmental wisdom
was to the effect that the many evils
from which we suffer in our public
affairs may be largely prevented ana
cured by rigid insistence on publicity
The evildoer breads the light OF day.
Public opinion has more TO do with
upholding our moral code than any
and all other forces combined. Our
actions are largely determined by what
we suspect people will say, if they
run counter to the well-established
rules and regulations of human
society.
1t is worth while to call attention
to the secrecy with which our School
Board transacts its business. For
merly, before the present Superinten-
dent came into office, a full itemizcd
account was given to the public,
through the newspapers, Of all the
transactions of the Board. At first
meager statements were made bIt
these grew steadily more scanty until
now we rarely ever hear even of>the
meetings Of the Board.
This is against the spirit of the law
of 1916, which provides that the
County Superintendent shall every
year prepare a report, addressed TO
the citizens OF the county, giving in
detail all such matters as the people
ought TO know. So far as the present
writer is aware only two such reports
have been made during Mr.. Fox's in
cumbency 1t is pertinent TO ask why
the others have not been forthcoming,
and also why the Board keeps secret
from the public nearly all its trans
actions.
While on this subject of publicity,
there is something in which the citi-
zens of Annapolis especially are vital
ly overwhelmingly. the reported in
tention OF the City Council TO ask leg
slative authority TO bond the city TO
the extent OF sixty thousand dollars.
1t may be safely said that but few
of our citizens see the necessity for
this proposal 1t would seem, there
fore. that instead of the indefinite
statement put forward by the City
Council, there should be given 10 us
just what it is proposed 10 do with
this money. There should be made
an itemized statement of just how
much it is proposed to spend on each
item and that the money shall be used
for no other purpose. The Council
should determine what improvements
they intend to make; then ask for
tentative bids for each item, and final
" Major Riley. the Counselor. should
draw up bill in due form. covering
all the details and submit ii to the
public for discussion. As taxpayers
we have a right not only 10 ask this
but to demand it. We should not con-
sent to grant this large amount of
money until we know what is to be
done with il.
Our city finances have been re-
ported TO be in a bad way for several
years. doubtless brought about by ex-
travagant and bad management, and
we should not be asked to make good
this deficit out of this proposed bond
ing bill.
1t is hoped that Major Riley will
take this matter up with his usual,
good sense and honesty of purpose
and carry it through: in the spirit
above named. Y. Y. z.