Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-03-14
THE ND. UNIVERSITY BILL
SHOULD BE DEFEATED

SHOULD BE DEFEATED.
~"
A bill has been introduced in
the Senate by Senator Curran,
of Baltimore City, providing for
an appropriation by way of bond
for the University Of Maryland.
The Governor refused to incor-
porate in his budget the appro-
priation asked for by the uni
versity authorities. AS a conse-
quence, an attempt is now being
made TO secure the appropriation
over the head, practically
speaking, Of the Governor,
The Governor and his party
promised in the campaign last
fall to reduce the State tax rate
and he so far, is carrying out his
promise, and it is to be hoped
that party will back him up.
The Democratic party which is
in control of both branches of
the Legislature. is as much re-
sponsible to the people as the
Governor. This bill should be
defeated and defeated decisively.
We feel satisfied that in his
budget the Governor allowed all
that was actually necessary for
the University, and his judgment
should be sustained by the Leg
islature.
There is only one department
of the University OF Maryland
that might possibly have some
semblance Of need ana that is
the hospital; but this can wait.
1t got along the years before it
became a part of the big Univer-
sity and it can get along for
while longer. But admitting for
sake OF argument that the appro
priation for the hospital is a vi
tai necessity and it is advisable
to make it, then only such ap-
preparation should be made as is
vitality necessary and the bill SO
amended as to wipe out of the
appropriation the amounts asked
for other departments, principal
ly the department at College
Park, which now receives aid
from the State and besides re-
ceives aid from the U. S. Govern
ment.
Two years ago, following a
wild cIamor and appeal, change
was made in the public school
law which carried a demand for
the appropriation OF large sums
of money. We predicted then
that this was but an entering
wedge and our prediction has
come true. A larger appropria-
ton was demanded by Supt.
Cook in the budget this year,
which was refused and he sought
to carry the matter over the head
of the Governor, just as is being
done in the case of the Universi-
ty bill. The wedge was inserted
in the Treasury two years ago
and now an attempt is being
made to drive it in further and
these efforts will be kept up un-
less a halt is called. The people
demand that a stop be put to
these appropriations now and let
those in authority over the edu-
cational system in this State and
others demanding large appro-
priations understand that there
is a limit to all things.
If the people received any real
, benefit from these appropria-
TONS that might be another
question, but much of the money
appropriated goes into larger
salaries and overhead expenses
which could be easily dispensed
with. AS pointed out by our
friend, Paul Winchester, in his
letter to the St. Mary's Beacon
last week, which we reproduce in
today's issue, these demands are
being made principally by edu-
Gators who come from the north
and west, and not Marylanders.
1t looks like another one Of those
cases of give me your money
and I'll show you how to spend
it."
By way of suggestion, if the
Legislature, regardless of the
views Of the taxpayers, intends
to appropriate the sum of money
provided in this bill, it would
perhaps be better to divide it up
among the counties for the es-
Enlistment of local hospitals or
dispensaries where the poor peo-
pie can have access and derive
the benefits.
The taxpayers of this State
are already overburdened with
taxation, and their burdens, ra-
ther than being increased and
made heavier TO bear, should be
lightened. This the Governor
has endeavored, and so far is en-
deavoring to do, and the mem
bers of the Legislature should
back him up and approve his
judgment as exercised in making
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