The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-11-20

| 20, dno Gno UooplO WILL oAP0S. yoo w
provide an education for our boys so
that they can vote"
| Mr.. Henderson of Aiken opposed
Mr.. Patterson's amendment. he
thought that the tax for the schools
should be put, in all respects, beyond
the reach of the Legislature.
MR.. PATTERsoNs SUBSTITUTE KILLED.
Mr.. Ragsdale, with a view Of expe-
diting business, moved to indefinitely
postpone the Patterson substitute.
The motion prevailed.
Mr.. Ragsdale brought up his amend
ment to strike out three mills and in
sert two mills. He proceeded to ad.
dress the convention, saying that the
three-mill tax would ruin the graded
schools.
Mr.. Patterson-Don't You think it
will be best to let the graded schools 20
then, for the benefit of all the peop1e9
Mr.. Ragsdale-rm opposed to one
man putting his hand into another's
pocket either by authority of law or
otherwise. ..
Mr.. Patton-Isn't the imposition of
the two-mill tax doing just that2
Mr.. Ragsdale-It is to some extent.
Mr.. Patton-Well, you are willing
to steal, but don't want to take as
much as the rest of us9 Gaughter.) .
Senator Watson asked him If he
thought the two mill tax injured the
graded schools. He said he did not.
Mr.. Ragsdale thought the whole
system of schools was revolutionary
even the appropriations for the col
leges. He was kept answering ques-
tions for quarter of an hour. Hethen
went on to say the convention could
give nothing that it did not take from
the people. The people had never
been given any intimation that the
constitutional school tax was to be in
creased. They would vote to increase
it. There was no use in bringing ir-
revelent issues into the matter.
Mr.. Barton moved to table, but with
drew the motion and Mr.. LoWman
moved to amend the amendment by
substituting for Mr.. Ragsdale's 't2"
the words mot less than z"
Mr.. Watson of Edgefeld made an
earnest and forcible speech in favor of
the immovable tax of three mills. He
concluded as follows: The governor
said: Put out no lights I want to
say, 'Kindle lights on every hilltop
and in every valley in South Carolina
that everybody may see them
BACK TO SECTION FIVE.
On motion of Senator TiIlman the
Convention required to section 8, in
order that he might propose an
amendment, relating to the school age
and the area and shape of school dis
tricts.
The amendment prevailed-yeas
rs, nays 50.
At the night session, after some YER
bal changes, section five was regular
| ly adopted in the following shape:
Sec. 5. The general assembly shall
provide for a liberal system Of free
public schools for all children between
the ages of 6 and 81 years, and for the
division of the counties into school
districts as compact as possible, not to
exceed 49 nor to be less than square
miles, provided that in cities Of 10, 1000
inhabitants and over, these limitations
shall not apply. }-'
| THE THREE-MILL TAX.
Debate was then resumed on Mr..
Ragsdale's amendment to reduce the
constitutional tax, as reported by the
committee from three mills to two.
Mr.. Talbert favored the two.mill tax
| in most earnest speech.
"Men are liable to make cheap taxes
one of these campaign issues. It aught
not to be so fixed that any man can
undermine the system of education.
There is no telling who may come here
in the future to legislate for you.
There are always some people who
kick up Harry about anything you do
and confuse matters perhaps, and they
may mix up matters to a great extent.
The rich men often have control over
the poorer ones and may influence
them not to issue special taxes. he
wanted to support 8 mills and would
support4 if anybody offered it. he
was in the fight for the great masses.
For higher education there was appro-
priated $4,000, and when you 60
back and tell them you have given the
poor people the pitiful sum Of 2 mills
they will justly protest against such a
condition"
He was questioned little by MIR.
Ragsdale and he replied to each ques-
ton.
Mr.. Howell's time was extended for
10 minutes and he, continuing, said
that he wished to plead with the con-
lyention for the education of the
masses.
Mr.. Gunter said as the only one on
the committee who opposed the three
mill tax, he felt it his duty to express
to the convention his reason. The peo-
pie were crying out under excessive
taxation. In his county they We're in
favor of the two-mill tax if the white
people could get the benefit of it. Was
| It right that the white people should
pay the tax to educate the negro3 u
was not right. Cry after cry had been
raised against fraud. They should
put it at mot less than two mills"
and leave the rest to the people. They
were proposing to put the liquor prof
It's into this fund.
| A SUBSTITUTE.
Mr.. Ira B. Jones offered a substitute
recurring the General Assembly to au-
thorize and direct the proper officers
of each county to levy the annual tax
of three mills for the support of the
common schools.
Mr.. Jones spoke in favor of the
amendment.
| 0-L.- T:11.. ~.11.. =, .,,,oc;