Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-11-20
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
THURSDAY.

The whole day was devoted to the
discussion of the educational article
with the result of practically agreeing
on the following section introduced by
Senator Tillman:
"Section 5. The general assembly
shall provide for liberal system of
free public schools for children between
the ages of 6 and 81 years, not mental
ly disabled, and for the division of the
counties into suitable school districts,
as compact in form as practicable, hav-
ing regard to natural boundaries, as
large creeks, ETC., and not to exceed 40
nor be less than square miles in
area: Provided that in cities of 10000
inhabitants and over, this limit shall
not apply: Provided, further, that if
any school district laid out under this
section shall embrace cities or towns
already organized into special school
districts in which graded school build
ings have beer erected by the issuance
of bonds, or by special taxation or by
donation, all the. territory included in
said school district shall bear its just
proportion of any tax that may be lev
led to liquidate such bonds, or support
the public schools therein Provided
further, that nothing in this article
contained shall be construed as a re
peal of the laws under which the seve-
raj graded school districts Of the State
are organized"
After lots of debate, during which
Governor Evans and others proposed
to take the school tax out of the con-
stitution and leave it to the legislature,
it was agreed to leave the tax in the
constitution and make it 8 mills on the
dollar instead of mills as heretofore.
This idea was championed by Sena-
tor Tillman.
FRIDAY.
Some Of the members wanted to
make the poll tax So, some wanted S2,
some S1.5O and still others contended
for 81. The 81 tax was agreed upon
The sensation of the day was anoth-
er heated battle between Ben Tillman
and George D. George D. Tillman
attacked Clemson college and called it
humbug and farce. Ben Tillman
defended the college in spirited
speech. The debate grew out of the
proposition for the continued main
tainance of all the States higher insti-
tutions. The matter was not settled
Section of the school article, which
reads as follows, was adopted with but
little friction: Separate schools shall
be provided for the children of the
white and colored races, and no child
of either race shall ever be permitted to
attend a school provided for the other
race.
An ordinance to postpone the next
regular session of the general assembly
from the fourth Tuesday in November
until the second Tuesday in January.
was adopted.
SATURDAY.
Nothing was done on Saturday but
talk. The subject was the various
institutions of higher education, and
the question was whether they should
he maintained by the constitution, or
left to the legislature. The matter
was not settled during the day.
MONDAY.
The three days fight on the question
of putting higher institutions Of learn
ing in the constitutions, or leaving them
to the legislature, was settled by an
agreement to leave the whole matter to
the legislature. Less than a majority
of all the delegates was present. The
vote on the matter was 63 to 40. The
votes of Messrs. Brice and Wilson are
not recorded. Messrs. A. H. White,
and S. Z. White voted to provide for
the maintenance of higher institutions
in the constitution. Mr.. Ashe voted
with the majority to leave the higher
institutions to the Legislature.