The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1923-11-01

and he would not interfere. | feel
the Governors position was We'll taken
at this time. We must remember the
Governor is out for reelection at this
time and it being so close election day
if the Governor had taken part n the
controversy, no matter how fair he
would be in his decision, the people
would make political timber out of it..
Personally, I feel the Governors de-
cision was right and should not be
criticised.
feel school matters should be kept
out Of politics, on a higher plane Of
integrity for the sole benefit of cur
children, for whom the entire school
system is founded.
Now we have a new school system
in Maryland and our schools are con-
trolled by boards and all employees re-
ceiye their positions by appointment.
want to say when people are clothed
with power to appoint employees to
govern the people, they must appoint
such employees as will satisfy the ma
jority Of the people or such a system
must fail. Now we have the appoin-
tive system in our State. That IS the
law and if VIC expect relief we must
appeal to the powers that rule
feel the only just way to satisfy the
people is to show the powers that
rule that they have made a mistake
in our school matters and appeal to
DR.. Cook as we'll as Mr.. Rathbun.
They are both high-grade gentlemen
and have the education and future
prosperity Of the children at heart,
and the existing breach is harming
the youths who are in no way respon.
sible, and I believe DR.. Cook will try
and get Mr.. Rathbun q position out of
our county and believe Mr.. Rathbun
will resign his position. I am satisfied
the schools will profit 0g this, even if
the county was to be without Il super
intendent for a while in making the
change. The parents and schocl tIus-
tees would take an active interest III
the schools to bring them to a sue
cessful conclusion.
| feel | should add another para
graph in regard TO the housing and
comforts of our children in the ruDlc
schools Generally speaking, the school
population over the county has be-
come too large for the buildings and
they will have to be enlarged to ac-
commodate The children. In a great
many cases the buildings are SO old
and deteriorated they arc unfit to
house children. This condition will
have to be ratified to make a success
of our schools and will require a very
large sum Of money to d. the work
properly New, .he question arises,
how will the money be raised? Our
taxes for the year 1928 are as fol
! lows
County rate ....... ...... s rs
1 ADClIOOi / ClLC 80
Total county rate ........ SLIT
State taxes ............... .30.13
Total tax, county and State $2.07.13
Under the present conditions of
business in our county the people can
not stand an increase of rates. Our
prime industry today is farming; sec.
ond is coal. Both these commodities
are at deplorable low level at this
time, and the County Commissioners,
in justice to the people, cannot raise
the rates, but if possible they should
! be lowered.
Now, the only remedy is to bond
the county to raise the necessary
amount of money to put school houses
in proper condition.
Two years ago l put through the
legislature a bond issue for $4,000
with referendum for this purpose. II
was voted down by at least four
fifths majority. The people fully knew
the need of this money to be raised
and they talked freely to me wher
they voted this issue down, and
think it fair in this article to state
their reasons, which were that Mr.
Rathbun spent their money carelessly
and did not get good results and they
did not want him to have this large
sum in his control to disburse. Per.
sonally, do not know if those state
ments were well founded, but that is
the feelingsthat exists.
Our legislature convenes immedi
ately after the first of the year anC
will not convene again in regular SEES
sion for three years.
What shall be done to relieve the
school housing situation? There i.
no use to put bond issue with ref
erendum before the people. Past ex
periences, along with present condi
lions growing worse, teaches us that
With the feeling of the people, as
am led to believe, being so strongl,