Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-19
i. M.
BILL rifles R|TCH|E
Governor Resents Flood of
Propaganda With Request
for Appropriation.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, February 10
Authorities and friends Of the Uni
versity of Maryland last night placed
the expansion program Of the Uni
versity squareIy before the Maryland
assembly when duplicate bills Great
ing a state debt Of $2,140,ooo for the
purchase Of land and the erecting and
equipping of buildings for the uni
versity were simultaneously intro
duced in the house and senate by
Delegate Frank S. Given Of Balti-
more county and Senator William
Curran of Baltimore city.
This sum is in addition to the $780,
600 allowed by Gov. Richie in his
construction loan of 1924 and will in
great part restore the s3,151.55o asked
by the executives in the university's
original request. If the bill passes
the state tax rate would be increased
in amounts ranging from 2-13 cents
in 1925 to / cent in 1929. The fund
would become available at the rate
of 100000 in 1924. $1,000,000 in 1925
and $4,000 in 1926.
Provision for Expenditure.
Under the provisions of the bill
s1,375,000 will be spent on the Balti-
more city branch of the school,
s1,20o,000 being for the purchase of
a site and construction of new uni
versity hospital building and $175,e00
for remodeling the old hospital and
school of dentistry building to pro-
vide for a medical and dental labora-
tory and to furnish facilities for dis
flap
loan. or s765,0o0, will be apportioned
for various construction work at Col
lege Park. as follows:
Students dormitory, $16S,000; dairy
heating plant. SIS 900; administration
building, containing general class
room and laboratories for home eco
Monies extension service. $4,000;
dining hall and equipment. $4,000;
s ssI nSe RSildi Ing, and equipment;
any balance remaining on hand shall
be expended for university needs in
stead of turning to the state treasury.
Shortly before the introduction Of
the bills and apparently timed to
arrive coincident with their preseh-
tation. kilograms poured in to the
governor from every section OF the
state, all written in the same tenor.
asking him to favor the program of
expenditure by the university.
Governor Makes Statement.
Gov. Ritchie bitterly resented eff
forts to force him, in view of his re-
peated declaration that he would ap-
prove no measure which will tend to
increase the state tax rate of q lie
cents. pledged at his inaugural. and
issued a statement, in which he prac-
tically promised to resist passage of
the bills and foreshadowed his veto
il passed.
The governor said: "Propaganda
started this evening which bids fair
to exceed the recent public school
propaganda. 1t is in behalf Of the
University of Maryland's program.
which embodies some very desirable
features. if the state could afford to
borrow money for them at this time.
Those interested in them have a
right to appeal to the legislature, and
1t is up to the legislature to determine
its responsibility under the democrats
platform to reduce taxes, but I already
have determined my responsibility I'm
der that pledge. l have stated it so
often that the kilograms which have
begun to pour in on me can only be
of what / have said or a belief that I
have not meant it.
Emphasizes Firm Stand.
81 have meant it, and 1 do mean it.
/ repeat, every bit of influence possess
will be exerted to keep the state tax
rate down to % is cents. Everything
that l can possibly do to prevent the
adoption Of measures which would raise
the rate above that amount is going
to be done.
81 have committed myself to that
program over and over again. It In
cludes the University of Maryland
and everything else. Letters. tele-
grams and pressure are not going to
change me, and they are perfectly
useless"
In the fact of this statement and
the recent report of the college COM
mission appointed by Gov. Richie,
which termed the request OF the uni
versity enormous" and recommended
that it give up the plan of becoming
a state university. and return to
teaching purely agricultural subjects.
the bills introduced last night prob
ably will meet stiff opposition from
the administration leaders and be the
center Of the hardest fight of the ses-