REPORT OF THE COMPTROLLER OF THE TREASURY. XI

tion any separate fund for the colored schools; but colored
schools shall be supported and maintained from the general
school fund."

FREE SCHOOL BOOKS.

Statement "L" continues to show a heavy deficit on account
of this fund. The receipts during the year were $126,304.52,
with the usual disbursements, $150,000, leaving a shortage for
the year of $23,695.48, or since the fund was established in 1896
of $237,679.36. The tax.of 1% cents on each $100 has never
been adequate to sustain this appropriation, and in my judgment
this tax should be increased in order that this fund should not be
a burden to any extent upon the general treasury.

CONCLUSION.

It has been my purpose to direct your attention to what I
conceived to be some of the most salient features of this Report.
Your careful business training and the jealous care with which
you safeguard every interest of the State will lead you, I am
sure, to a careful perusal of each statement and table.

I deem it advisable, however, to call your attention to the
rapidly increased funded debt of the State, and the purposes
for which loans have been authorized, within the past six years,
viz:

Maryland Penitentiary........................... $950,000

State House.................................... ' 850,000

Springfield State Hospital........................ 580,000

Fifth Regiment Armory......................... 420,000

House of Correction.............................. 370,000

Court of Appeals Building....................... 290,000

Maryland Institute.............................. 175,000

Relief Fund Commission......................... 250,000

Heating Plant at Annapolis...................... 140,000

Md. Asylum and Train'g School for Feeble Minded. 66,000

Maryland Agricultural College.................... 57,000

Maryland Hospital for the Insane................. 53,000

Cambridge Hospital............................. 10,000

Charlotte Hall School............................ 5,000

St. Mary's Academy............................. 5,000

St. Mary's Female Seminary ..................... 4,000

Total ....................................... $4,225,000