The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-01-20
The Election Next Tuesday.

We ask attention to the law in reference to
the school business.
1t will be noticed hat no provision what
ever is made for a custodian of the bonds or
for the safe keeping of the money arising
from the sale of the bonds.
Attention is also directed 10 the "State-
ment" OF the Chairman of the Board OF Trus-
tees.
That document is perhaps the most remark
able thai has yet been promulgated. Ordi-
narily, fiduciary agents are expected TO con-
form strictly with the letter OF the law But
in thisc case, the chairman, proclaims his dis
regard for the solemn pledge of the Act au'
thorizIng the bonds, when he says 1.-THE color
ed people may or may not build aschool
house with their portion of the fund"
If they conclude not to build a school
house, then, in the name of law, justice, and
fair dealing with the taxpayers, what are
they TO do with it? Are the big men among
them to put the money into their pockets?
Tie law says the levy is to build one or more
school houses. What right then have the
negroes to any Of our money if the conclude
not to build a school house? What legal
right has the Board Of Trustees to give or ap-
propriate the money for other purpose n
the building of one or more school houses?
If the negroes should conclude not to build
a school house. will they be entitled to any
part OF the money levied for the support oil
the teachers of "one or more schools"
To an outsider it seems bad enough to close
all the other white schools, and knock worthy
teachers out OF employment, to support this
- - L,t - l., NV ,rh tai, u-nt1ll inoriUa the
negroes OF any benefit Of the school fun
seems to be q little strange.
Read the law yourself. You ought to under
stand plain English. If the election Of bonds
carries. 1t will close every school in town, eX-
cept the big school.
The law is fatally defective. 1t Is not def
1t doesn't state o. much is to go to
the whites and how much to the blacks, But
1t looks as If we were about to tax the negroes
to support our school, without giving them
any showing whatever, 1t doesn't state who
is to handle the bonds or the money arising
from their sale, 1t absolutely and positively
shuts up every other school in town, except
the new school houses,
We have no idea that the Act contemplated
such a radical change, and 1t would be we'll to
have the law amended In several important
particulars before we adopt II,
But whether the negroes build a school
house or not with their share Of the bonds,
do you think they will get any Of the money
levied for the pay of the teachers? Read the
law, and you will see that no provision is
made for any but the big school,
The Board of Trustees could not legally
transfer any portion of the bonds for the SIM
pie reason that the negroes have no legal rep
resentative, and there is not the least shadow
of q hint thai any can be provided by law,
To nave properly carried out n school
scheme two sets OF trustees should have been
named. The share of each should have been
definitely stated. A legal and bonded officer
should have been entrusted with the bonds.
Definite and positive provision should have
been made for the support Of two schools, or
else the law should have stated, II possible,
more clearly that the negroes were hereafter
to be debarred from any benefit whatever OF
the school n