The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-02-24
The General Assembly.
February II.

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The session of toe house yesterday
morning was very important one to
every person in the State. 1t resulted
IN determination of the issue as to
State colleges aud, practically settled
the question of free tuition io the State
colleges. The anti.free tuition meo
precipitated the fight on the question
early 10 the day and it ended by the
house providing for 100 free scholar.
ships 10 the South Carolina college.
Some of the members who had voted
to reduce the appropriation to S2l, 900
were heard after the vote was taken to
say they would be willing then to make
the appropriation what the committee
had recommended. There were some
fights over the appropriation for the
other State institutions Of higher learn-
ing. bu, the appropriations suggested
by the ways aud meaua committee we're
all agreed to.
Soon after the house met yesterday
morning it dived into the appropriation
bill again. Mr. E D. Smith offered
the following amendment to the Sec
ton relating to the South Carolina col
lege: Strike out Provided that suita-
ble courses of study are provided with
out fees FOR tuition or matriculation for
two youpg men from each county and
also for admitting young women quail
fed to enter the college. so taat it shall
read. provided young ladies shall be
admitted sho are quali6ed to enter"
He spoke at length against any free
tuition in the college The people Of
the State we're taxed to pay for the edu,
cation of one student froa; each county
in the normal department. and were
then tazed to pay him fer teaching in
the schools after be had graduated.
He said that a pledge should be re
quired from all such beue6ciaries to
refund the money to the State.
Mr.. Pattsn asked Mr.. Smith if his
position was that the State should be
taxed to support the college and then
that the college should charge a $40
tuition fee thereby shutting out poor
boys from the chance of securing an
education.
Mr.. Smith remarked that this was
his position BE wanted these stu
dent to pay for the special privilege
they enjoyed.
Mr.. Patton and macy others defend
ed the principle Of free scholarships for
deserving young men aud women, and
the straw that, perhaps, broke the
camel's back of the opposition to fee
tuition under any circumstances was
the statement of Mr.. Graham. au alum
nus ard supporter of Woford, that
the denominasional colleges had an
nounced that they we're doing their
best to get rid Of free tuition aud to
charge all, aud that it was therefore all
the more the duty of the State tc pro-
vide those scholarships. aud the ad
ditional statement of Mr. Cushman
that be koew young men who could not
90 to college if they had to pay any
fees. Mr. Patton made strong argu.
ment iu support of bis amendment that
free scholarships be allowed to the num-
ber of representation 10 each branch of
the General Assembly to deserving and
poor youog men and women, aud, after
sharp fight the amendment was agreed
to, thus showing more liberality to the
free tuition 10 special cases than was
recommended by the committee. The
free tuition sentiment is even
stronger than the vote indicates, as
many who voted against Mr.. Paston's
amendment said they favored MIR.
Tbomas's amendment of two scholar
ships instead of one for each member.
It is to be remembered that the action
cutting the College appropriation was
taken last night. and after to.day's
fight many of those who had opposed
the $4,000 appropriation said that
with the light and action of to-day
they would favor the $25, 900. ard
especially so as all of the other State
higher educational institutions had had
their appropriations, as recommended.
untouched by the House
Winthrop, the Citadel and the Col
ored College all came cut With flying
colors, and received the full amount Of
the appropriations asked for. There
vas not much effort needed. either. to
get the appropriations asked aud needed
for these institutions.