The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-12-18

school districts, as compact in form as
practicable, having regard to natural
boundaries, and not to exceed 49 nor
be less than 9 square miles IN area:
Provided, that in cities OF 10000 IN
habitants and over, this limitation OF
area shall not apply: Provided, fur
ther. that when any school district lad
out under this section shall embrace
cities or towns already organized into
special school districts in which graded
school buildings have been erected by
the issue of bonds, or by special taxa
ton, or by donation, all the territory
included in said school district shall
bear It's just proportion of any tax that
may be levied to hquidate such bonds
or support the public schools therein:
Provided, further, that nothing III this
article contained shall be construed as
repeal of the laws under which the
several graded school districts OF this
State are organized. The present divis-
ion of the coul ties into school districts
and the provisions Of law now govern
ing the same shall remain until chang
ed by the general assembly.
Sec. 6. The existing boards of CON-
nissioners of the several counties, Or
such officer or officers as may hereafter
be vested with the same or similar
powers and duties, shall levy an an
s nual tax of three mills on the dollar
upon all the taxable property in their
respective counties. which tax shall be
collected at the same time and by the
same officers ss the other taxes fer the
same year, and shall be held in the
county treasury of the respective
counties; and the said fund shall be
spportioned among the schoo' districts
; Of the county in proportion to the
number of pupils enrolled IN the
public schools of the respective dis
tricts, and she officer or officers
charged py law with making said ap-
pointment shall notify the trustees Of
the respective school districts thereof,
who shall expend and disburse the
same as the general assembly may pre-
scribe. The general assembly shall
define s'enro]lment. Not less than
three trustees for each school district
shall be selected from the qualified
voters and taxpayers therein, in such
manner and for such terms as the gen
eral assembly may determine, except
In cases of special school districts now
existing, where the provisions of law
now governit e the same shall remain
until changed by the general assembly:
Provided, The manner OF the selec-
tion of said trustees need not be uni
form throughout the State. There
shall be assessed on all taxable polish
:z4he State between the ages of 2l and
so years (excepting Confederate sol
.diers above the age OF SO years,) sn
annual tax of 81 on each poll, the pro-
ceeds of which tax shall be expended
for school purposes in the several
school districts in which it is collected.
Whenever during the next three en-
suing years the tax levied by the said
county boards of commissioners or
similar officers and the poll tax shall
not yield an amount equal to
S3 per capita OF the number OF child
ren enrolled in the public schools of
each county for the scholastic year
ending the 31s, day of October. in the
year 1895, as it appears in the report
OF the state superintendent of eouca-
ton for said scholastic evr, thr comp
troller general shall, for the aforesaid
three next ensuing fiscal years, on the
first day of each of said years levy
such an annual tax on the taxable
property of the State as he may de-
termine to be necessary to make up
such deficiency, to be collected as
other State taxes, aud apportion the
same among the counties of the State
In proportion to the respective defci-
encies therein. The sum SO appor-
toned shall ne paid 10y the state treas
urer to the county treasurers of the
respective counties, in proportion to
the respective deficiencies therein, on
the warrant of the comptroller general,
and shall be apportioned among the
school districts OF the counties and
dishursed as other school funds; and
from and after the 31st day Of Deem
her, in the year 1898, the general as
sembly shall cause to be levied aunu-
ally GU Ill the taxable property of the
State snch tax, in addition to the
said tax levied by the said county
boards Of commissioners or similar
officers, and poll tax above provided.
as may be necessary to keep the
schools open throughout the State for
such length of time in each scholastic
year as the general assembly may pre-
scribe: and said tax shall be appor-
toned among the counties in proper
tion to the deficiencies therein and DIS
bursed as other school funds.
ANY school district may hy the al
thority ot silc general assembly levy an