The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-12-06


demands. II the revision of the tax
laws is undertaken it should be done
well aud thoroughly. To prepare prop.
er system will require time. thorough in
Festigatlon and acquaintance with the
practical working Of the laws now in
force In this state. \ Commission COM
posed OF men VINO are familiar with this
subject could pr ,sent to the next General
Assembly well maturcd scheme for the
assessment and taxation Of property.
ihe cost of such a Commission would be
small ami Insignificant in comparison
with the results which | believe would
be obtained.
lhe present rate Of taxation is low,
but it can be still further reduced bv the
assessment at its true valuation Of all the
taxable property in the State. The
amount required to meet the expenses Of
government must be raised, whether the
valuation Of property be high or low.
10 the taxpayer it matters not that the
valuation o! his property is increased if
the rate Of taxation is diminished in the
same ratio. One, and not the least, Of
the evils arising flom the defects in our
tax laws is the incorrect impression pro.
duccd by our reports when sent abroad
as to the value Of property in the State,
and as to the rate of taxation necessary
to meet the expenses of the State Gov.
ernment.
The report of the Commissioners of
the Sinking Fund contains important
suggestion with regard 10 changes in the
law which are necessary to make perfect
titles TO the purchasers Of forfeited lands
EDUCATION
The results of the work of the last
year iu this important field are most
gratifying. In every part Of the State
in education plainly indicative OF pre-.
vailing sense of returning prosperity
among our people, and of their practical
recognition of the principles upon which
true progress rests. All tho schools and
institutions of learning within our bor-
ders, and especially those included in the
educational system of the State, have
felt the influence Of this awakened pop.
ular interest.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The report of the Superintendent of
Education shows that there were enrolled
in the public schools during the year "A :
l57 white and 9S,93S colored pupils,
making total of 1905. This is an
increase of 27,l2l over the large enroll
ment for the preceding year. From q
comparison of this enrolment with the
data furnished by the Census Of 1880. it
appears tina! over rs per cent. Of the
white children and nearly j5 per cent.
of the colored children of the State be-
tween the ages Of six aud sixteen years
were i'll attendance on the public schools.
The average length Of the school session
was four az months. The whole num-
Der Of teachers employed was 3,494, of
which 2,lG5 were white and 1929 were
colored-an increase since the last report
of 81. The number Of schools in opera
ton was 3, 2G9-an increase Of Sc.
The claims against the school fund
amounting in 1877 to $2O9, ,94O.GG, being
all settled, the entire proceeds Of the
poll tax are now available for the sup.
port Of the schools. The report embru-
ces interesting statements Of the work
done in the State Normal Institutes held
during the months of July and August.
know from careful observation the
valuable influence which these Institutes
have exerted upon the educational in
tereSts of the State, and | cordially re-
commend Ike appropriation fcc their
continued support.
! desire to repeat what have already
had occasion TO say while occupying
another official station: That our public
school system must find its full develop
ment by means of local taxation for the
support of the schools. In but few of
the States of this Union is the rate of
State taxation for public schools as high
q 10 in s., g,
higher. In those States which have the
best systems of public schools the funds
are raised chiefly by local taxation. Ex-
perieacc in this State, wherever the plan
has been tried, shows that it is we'll
suited to the wants of our people. Each
comm unity knows best its own needs,
and its citizens will take moro interest in
schools established and supported by
themselves than in those maintained anil
controlled by any other authority. The
necessity for local self government IS rs
great in the control OF educational as OF
political affairs. Whenever the power to
levy local taxes for schools is conferred
by the General Assembly, it should be
guarded by such restrictions as will pro-
tect the rights of property and prevent
unjust and burdensome taxation. l re-
fer to this matter not to recommend any
legislation, but because the welfare of
the State depends so much upon the de-
velopment of the public school system
that deem it my duty TO call to the at.
tention OF the members of the General
Assembly the mode OF taxation which
experience has shown will best promote
the efficiency Of the public schools. The
great mass of the children of the State
must depend upon the public schools for
education, and these schools cannot be
maintained without funds raised by tax
alton.
The need for good high schools is a
pressing one, which becomes each year
more apparent. Those communities
which desire TO establish such schools
should be permitted To do so by supple.
menting the State fund with local levies
for schools.
The report of the Superintendent Of
Education contains important suggestions
for promoting the efficiency of the public
school system.
CLAFLIN COLLEGE.
This institution, which is situated at
Oranbeburg, was founded in 1869, and is
designed for the higher education of
colored youths Of both sexes. Since
1879 thirty graduates have received the
diploma of the institution. The Presi-
dent reports tina. besides the graduates
many students who pursued partial cour-
ses at the College are engaged in teach
ing and in various industrial pursuits.
The services of the graduates are much
sought for in the public schools. The
courses of study include classical and
scientific course, such as is usually pur-