The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-05-01
THE SENATE EDUCATIONAL BILL.

claimed public attention lately. The
bill merely appropriates sum of money
to aid the States in the work of common
school education. There is nothing
compulsory about the measure, and it
has no machinery. The sum is appor'
toned among the States on the basis of
illiteracy, as ascertained from the census
of 1880. The General Government
has no right to interfere with the school
system of any State. Separate schools
for white and colored children are au-
thorized by express terms. The money
is paid into the State school treasury,
and spent under the directions of the
Legislature of each State. The disburse-
meut of the school fund and the man,
agernent of the schools is entirely in the
hands of the State authorities, the only
provision being that it shall be fairly
and impartially expended. There is no
requirement in the bill necessitating the
expenditure of the money among the
several Counties according to their illit'
eracy. It is to be fairly expended under
the State School Law. This, in South
Carolina by analogy to the division of
County funds, would probably be appor-
toned according to the attendance on
the public schools. The dread that
something disastrous is to grow out of
this measure appears to us utterly Chi
merical. The present bill is good one.
Even its opponents admit that if evil
comes out of it there must be subse-
quent amendment of the law. This
supposes that there will be Republican
President, a Republican Senate, and a
Republican House of Representatives.
Therefore, if they could amend this bill
they could pass new one. By defeating
this bill they do not lessen the possibility
of trouble. In our opinion they increase
it. II the present bill is passed it will
probably be the end of Educational
legislation by Congress. If it is not
passed, the subject will continue to be
agitated, and bad bill may be passed.
The Republican party is determined to
try the experiment of educating the
negro. They now propose to do it
through the common schools of the State.
If this is defeated they may come up
next with bill for schools controlled by
Federal machinery-teachers sent here
from abroad and controlled by Federal
officers. For our part, we think it safer
to take the present law, which is a good
one, rather than risk legislation by new
Congress, which may give us very
Objectionable measure. When we 60 70
the real source of opposition to this bill
in South Carolina it will be found in
most cases to be based on an opposition
to the present tax in this State for the
aid of common schools. That ques tion
is not involved in the present discussion.
The two mills tax for common schools is
Constitutional provision. We cannot
get rid of it at present. Therefore, the
common schools will 60 on for some time
to come under the present law. The
revenue we raise is not sufficient to give
us good schools. They are only kept
open from four to five months in the
year, where they should be open for nine
or ten. The aid proposed from the Fed
eral treasury will give us an average of
about s55O,O00 per year for eight years.
This would nearly double our school
revenues, and enable the schools to run
eight or niue months in the year, which
would be quite an efficient school term.
It seems to us, therefore, that as we are
compelled to have the common schools
that we ought to have efficient schools.
We can do this if the General Govern
ment helps us. We cannot do so indie.
pendent of such help without imposing
greater burdens of taxation than our
people can afford.
This money is appropriated from a
surplus in the treasury. 1t is true that
it ought not to be there. 1t is wrong for
the government to collect greater reye-
nues than it needs, but unfortunately
the revenue is greatly in excess of the
needs of the government. That excess
will be spent by Congress in some way.
1t will 60 for rivers and harbors, and be
distributed, in the main, North and
West, if it is not taken for education.
1t seems to US, therefore, just, as we'll as
polite, for the South to get her share of
it for education. 1t will improve our
State in the culture of our citizens, and
it will add nearly five millions of dollars
to the material interests of the State.
The North has grown rich off of the
"old flag and an appropriation" while
the South has stood off discussing fine
spun theories of constitutional powers.
The money in the Federal Treasury be-
longs to the South as much as to the
North and West, and while Congress is
dividing it out we think the South should
take her share of it, or as near that share
as she can get.
A PATENT MEDICINE CoAIBINATIoN.
A dispatch from Pittsburg, Pennsylva'
mia, under date of April Oath, says:
''The movement to maintain prices on