Evening star., 1954-11-12
Maryland Faces
Money Squeeze. |.
On School Costs
McKeIdin Adviser
Forecasts Deficit
Financing Possibility
By J. |. Michoel
Stor Stcff corre,ponden,

Star sfoff Correspondent
BALTIMORE. Nov. l2.-A SIS
million jump in the States shars
of public school costs will con.
front Maryland legislators when
they meet in January for what
q highly-placed official predicted
will be q session ''fraught with
financial difficulties."
Maryland faces a terrific
problem" DR.. Harry Green. one
of Gov. McKeldin's close ad-
visers. yesterday told the seth
annual convention of the Nary
land Congress of Parents and
Teachers.
ut will need that additional
amount to meet school commits
ments already made. There is
no surplus now, and it may be
necessary to resort to deficit
financing"
DR.. Green, chairman of a CONF
mittee appointed by the Cow
ernor to study the States public
school system, told more than
500 delegates the fact that the
States share of school costs
have risen this year to almost
astronomical figures" will be oftl-
cially revealed in a report his
group will submit in about three
weeks.
Help must come from some
source other than real estate"
DR.. Green said at an afternoon
Symposium on "Marylands
School Problems AS ! See Them"
because the State real estate tax
produces only $6 million"
Hear Officials Tonight.
The two-day congress at the
Lord Baltimore Hotel will end
tonight after a fellowship dim
ner and installation of new offi-
GERS. Dinner speakers will irl-
clude Gov. McKeldin. Mayor
1 Thomas D'Alesandro of Balti-
more. DR.. Wilson Elkins, presi.
dent of the University of Mary
land: B. Melvin Cole. president
of the Maryland Teachers Asso.
citation, and DR.. Thomas @.
Pullen, jr., State superintendent
] of schools.
New officers were to be elected
today. Mrs. Fred L. Bull of Coli
lege Park is virtually certain OF
1 election to the presidency. .
three-year term. She will sue
ceed Joseph Hunter of Baltimore
County. Mrs. Aaron B. Nadel OF
Silver Spring is in line for elec-
ton as secretary.
In what he called an tempt
! to clear misconceptions. DR..
Green said the counties can gain
nothing by trying to get more
State funds for school construc-
ton.
Every State bond issue Is
paid by property taxes" he de-
clared, "and tossing the bah
back and forth not only does
not solve the problem but ac-
tually makes 1t worse"
DR.. Green labeled proposals
for the State to borrow such
funds and lend them to the
counties "delusion." When all
factors are considered. he said,
the counties can borrow as
cheaply as the State, because
the State must pay of its bonds
| in Is years. while counties may
amortize for twice that long. S
! Higher Sales Tax Proposed.
A 1-cent increase in the State
sales tax was proposed as 9
partial solution by Walter "
Bennett of Carroll County. Mr..
Bennett, who is chairman OF the
State Association of County
Commissioners. said. amid ap-
plause, that Gov. Lane stood
by the sales tax and went down
with it."
TT can't hurt Gov. Nc
Keldin," he added. Hes just
been elected to second term
and can't run any more"
Other symposium speakers In
cluded Wendell Allen. president
of the State Department of Edu-
cation; Miss Lettie M. Dent Of
st. Marys County. the only
woman school superintendent in
Maryland; Miss Sarah L. Letter
| of Prince Georges County, past
president of the State Teachers
Association, and Arthur Hamil-
ton, president of the Maryland
Council on Education.
Mr.. Allen mentioned school
integration, an issue expected to
be placed before the Congress
| today by Calvert and Anne
Arundel County civic leaders,
who sponsored the West River
Proclamation"
/ The proclamation" proposes
q desegregation referendum de.
clares that no pupil should be
compelled to attend school under
q teacher not of his race and
calls for elected instead Of ap-
pointed school boards.
To Let Debate Run.
President Hunter said he had
been Informed the integration
question would be brought to the
floor and said he would make
no attempt to stifie debate. He
indicated his organization prob-
ably win take the position it Is
incumbent upon PTA members
to help implement whatever de-
cision the Supreme Court finally
gives.
1T Is not q question Of what
We like said Mr.. Allen. "In
our democracy, we respect the
law and obey it. We win carry
out the Supreme Court mandate