The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-23
WOKE UP THE WRONG MAN.
Governor Tillnin More than u Match
for Secretary Noble on the school
Appropriation Question:
IThc State. 18th. |


last letter to Secretary of the Interior
Noble, refusing to accept the national
appropriation for South Carolina's
schools except on the basis Of an equal
division of the money between the
races, as adopted by the State Iegisla-
ture and referring the matter to Con-
gress, it was thought that it was at an
end for the present. But now the cor
respondence is reopened and the Gov
ernor quotes the law and becomes ar
gumentative. Yesterday he received
the following letter from Secretary
Noble:
'WAsHINGTON, April Is, 1891.
Hon. B. Il. Tillman, Governor, Co.
lumbia, S. G.
DEAR SIR: I am anxious to dispose
of the funds to which your State is en-
titled under the act Of Congress of Au-
gust 80, 1890, respecting colleges Of ag-
riculture and mechanical arts.
Il do not consider the action Of your
Legislature as controlling any official
action or judgment in relation to this
fund. As recommendation it has the
highest consideration and has had all
due Difference, but it is for the Secretary
of the Interior to determine these ques-
tions.
~ cannot consent to divide the funds
evenly, as recommended by the Legis-
lature, between the colleges for the two
races, where the percentage Of school
age for the whites is 1882 per cent. and
6O.lS per cent. for the colored.
"If you are willing to receive my con-
struction of the law and my decision, /
shall be very glad to send you $4,000
now, and $4,000 more for the second
payment as soon as satisfactory report
is received as to the disbursement of
the first installment. Yours most re-
spectfully,
JOHN w. NOBLE, Secretary"
Governor TillmaD last evening pre-
pa red and forwarded the following re-
ply, which enters into an argument on
the matter:
"CoLUMBIA, S. c., April II.
"Hon. John w. Noble, Secretary Of In
terror, Washington, ID. G.
"DEAR SIR: Your letter of April
18th, in reference to the disposition of
the money appropriated by act of Con-
gress, August 3Oth. 1890, for the benefit
of colleges of agriculture and the me-
chanic arts has been received. | had
supposed that correspondence on the
subject was at an end, because Section
> of the act provides The grants Of
monies authorized by this act are made
subject to the Legislative assent of the
several States and Territories to the
purpose Of said grants Further III
Section the language is: The Legis-
lature of such States may propose and
report to the Secretary of the Interior
a iustand equitable division Of the fund
to be received under this act 1t is
clear; therefore, that this matter must
be determined by our Legislature and
not by me as Governor, and to my
mind it is equally clear that you will
be straining the power given you under
Section if you continue to claim that
an equal division is not an equitable
one as far as this State is concerned.
"We have complied with all the con-
ditions imposed in Section !, where it is
expressly stated That no money shall
be paid out under that act to any State
or Territory for the support and main
tenance of college where distinction
of race or color is made in the admis-
sion Of students, but the establishment
and maintenance Of such colleges sepa-
rately for white and colored students
shall be held to compliance with the
provisions Of this act, if the funds re-
ceived in such State or Territory be
equally divided as hereinafter set forth
South Carolina has given one-half Of
the proceeds of the Land Scrip fund to
Clatin College. There is special an
nual appropriation of $1,000 from the
State Treasury to that school. We
now propose to give it one-half of this
fund, and consider that it Is equal
equitable and just so to do, and l
hope that after studying the act more
closely you will agree with me. l am
very respectfully, your obedient ser
want: "B. r. TILLMAN,
"Governor South Carolina"