The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1949-08-25
GROUP ATTEMPTS
TO STOP new HIGH
SCHOOL PROGRAM
Suit Filed in Try To Prevent
Building Of Two New Schools
BY Commissioners

IN an attempt TO prevent the Board
Of County Commissioners from con-
tinuing with plans to erect two new
high schools in this county, suit
was filed in the Circuit Court on
Monday by all three members of the
House Of Delegates and a number of
other citizens.
The suit alleges that the county
commissioners would use money in
tended for improvement or construc-
ton of high schools at five other
places in the county.
Associate Judge George Henderson
signed an order requiring the board
to show cause before September 81
why the injunction should not be
granted. 1t was stated here this week
by Neil C. Fraley, attorney to the
Commissioners, that an answer
would be filed in plenty of time.
Attorney Walter c. Capper, who
with Edward J. Ryan, a member of
the Allegany County School Board,
represents the plaintiffs, said the
dispute is over constituting the mean
ing of Chapter SIS Of the Acts of the
1917 Legislature.
The 1947 law gave the County Com
missioners authority to borrow ST.
100000 and to use the proceeds, to-
gether with funds levied and col
lccted under prior chapter, passed
in 1915, for the purpose of acquiring
sites, erecting and equipping school
buildings and building additions to
existing school buildings and equip
ping the same. Existing buildings are
at Oakland, Friendsville, Accident,
Kitzmiller and Grantsville.
The complainants allege that the
defendants have purchased large
tract Of land in district from AL
bert Beckett for $4,000 to erect
building in the northern section and
a tract of land from Stuart F. Hamill
between Oakland and Mt. Lake Park
for $4,000, as of June 6.
They contend that in violation of
provisions Of Chapter SIS the de
PENDANTS have formulated and APP
proved a master plan" for erecting
two new high schools in the county,
and say the Commissioners intend to
abandon present high schools in
Grantsville, Accident, Friendsville
and Kitzmiller for high school pur-
poses, at a cost which they estimate
will run $2,0O0,000.
They further contend that if the
master plan is carried out they will
be unable to conform to the terms of
Chapter SIS which they say was to
be used for improvements and addi-
lions to existing buildings in Acct
dent, Friendsville, KitzmilIer and
Grantsville, and for erection of new
high school at Oakland.
Compliments also contend the
Commissioners have no authority to
erect high school at Cove because
funds would be consumed without
benefiting other schools.
The compliments asked that the
Commissioners be permanently en-
joined and also enjoined pending the
suit, but the latter request was not
granted by Judge Henderson.
Listed as plaintiffs in the suit are
George E. Coddington, Ronald E.
McIntire, J. G. Myers, Thomas Will
son, Milo Wilson, Ralph Calandrella,
Russell Fichtner, Russell Leighton,
Samuel w. Tasker, G. Irwin Custer,
George D. Edwards, Earl X. Harvey
and Clifford Friend.
Delegate McIntire charged that
the Commissioners are attempting "to
set up an entirely new school sys-
tenn" He declared the program would
cost about three or four million dol
lars land that's a little steep for Gar
rett county," he said.
McIntire, Coddington and Myers
were members of the delegation when
the law was passed. A Senate bill, it
was introduced by former State Sena-
tor Lawrence NJ. Fraley, who later
resigned because Of i'll health. Fra
ley's brother, Neil c. Fraley, who re-
placed him in the Senate, and at
torney to the commissioners, is back
ing the boards action.
Clifford Friend claimed a petition
had been signed by $500 Garrett
county taxpayers.