The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-03-04

laid over to allow Richland to get in
her provision. The only counties in
which changes are made are Abbeville.
Aiken, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charles
ton, Chester, Colleton, Edpefield.
Fairfield, Greenville, Georgetown
Kershaw. Florence. Lancaster, Lau,
rens, Lexington, Marion, Marlboro,
Newberry, Oconee, Saluda, Spartan
burg, Sumter and Union.
THE GENERAL SCHOOL LAW.
The general school law which was
the special order for noon was then
taken up.
The first. committee amendment
agreed to was one to cut the salary of
the superintendent of education from
81, 900 to 81, 800.
THE SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
The next amendment looked to put
ting back in the bill the provision for
county school commissioners.
Mr.. OTIS thought this was an unwise
effort to 90 back to the old system.
Mr.. Sturkie thoughts school COM
missioner was an absolute necessity.
Mr.. Fred Williams had been a
school teacher. He could see no ne
cessity whatever for this officer.
Mr.. Wilson said his county wanted
the Office badly. His people wanted
the Office elective.
Mr.. L. J. Williams said the house
should consider well before it abolish
ed this Office. They were at the be-
ginning of a new era in the public
school system. Every department of
the government should have a head.
This was the wrong time to expert
ment.
Mr.. Ellerbe said this was one of the
few questions to provoke discussion
on this bill. It was now more neces-
sary than ever to have this Office.
Mr.. OTIS idea was to have board
in each county, having general super
vision of the schools. He could see
no use of having school commits
sioner.
Mr.. Townsend thought that this was
one of the most important matters OF
the session. He did not want to con,
centrate so much power in the hands
of the superintendent of education.
This official, as the bill stood, could
appoint all the county boards. II
would be taking the matter out of the
hands of the people. They were start
ing out on q new educational era.
More time ought to be allowed for
making such radical changes.
Mr.. Thurmond feared that they
could not get along without school
commissioner.
After much debate the committees
amendment. retaining the school com
missioners was adopted.
The amendment to increase the mem
bership of the State board of education
from five to seven and to provide that
there should be one from each congres
81, i district was agreed to.
After some discussion the house ad
opted the committee amendment tC
have one depository in each county.
Mr.. Pollock offered an amendment
that the county superintendents should
be paid out of the funds of the State
and not out of the county funds. .
Mr.. Rainsford moved to strike ou
the provision for 800 year each fol
the travelling expenses of the county
superintendents.
The debate was then adjourned un
til the night session.
THANKS TO CHARLESTON.
| Mr.. n P Mitchell offered q resolu
ton of thanks to the people of Charles
ton for their trip to Charleston las
week, which was adopted. It read a
follows:
"This house having accepted an in
vitation to visit the city of Charleston
on the 22d day of February, 1896, it is
therefore,
Resolved, That the thanks of tht
house of representatives of the State O.
South Carolina, be, and the same art
hereby, rendered to the managers anG
projectors of such visit"
The senate sent a message saying
that it had refused 10 agree to the re
port of the committee on conference
the cotton weigher bill and asked fol
a committee of free conference.
An unfavorable report was presented
and adopted on the bill to prevent tht
alien ownership of land in this State
The house then took recess till 8 p
m.
THE NIGHT SESSION.
At the night session the COMMITTEES
of conference on the registration bill
reported that they had failed to agree
and a committee of free conferena
was appointed.
The general education bill was ther
taken up and Mr.. Rainsford withdrew
his amendment relating to the expen
ses of the county superintendents.
Mr.. Skinner tried to amend the com
mittee amendments so as to give the
governor, instead of the State board ot
education, the right to fill vacancie.
in the Office of county superintendent
for the unexpired term, but faiied.
Mr.. OTIS tried to get in provision
to require the county superintendent
to deliver public address on educa
sion at least once yea, but it was
tabled.
THESE WERE ADOPTED.
The following new sections were
adopted, being proposed by the com
mittee.
Section Is. At the expiration of the
terms of Office of the school commits
sioners of the several counties of the
State, there shall be elected by the
qualified electors of the county super.
intendent of education for each county
who shall hold his Office for the term
of two wears and until his successor is