The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-02-24
SOUTH CAROLINA COLLEGE
UNDER DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES.

UNDER DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Many More Scholarships Provided for In
That Time HonoreG IrstitutIon-How
the Members Voted.
COLUMBIA, S. c., Feo. 20.-In the
House on Tuesday an effort was made
to abolish all free scholarships in the
South Carolina College, but instead
OF doing this the House increased the
number, allowing each county as
many free scholarships in the college
as they have Senators and Represen'
tatives. The fight was brought on
when Mr.. Z. D. Smith proposed the
following amendment in the para
graph OF the appropriation bill relat
ing to the South Carolina College:
Strike out, Provided, That suitable
courses of study are provided without
fees for tuition or matriculation for
two young men from each county,
and also for admitting young women
qualified to enter the college so that
it shall read: Provided, young ladies
are admitted who are qualified to en-.
ter" He spoke against any free tut
ton The people are taxed to pay for
the education of one in the normal
department and then taxed to pay him
| for teaching. His idea was to require
a pledge that the money spent on his
education should be returned to the
State.
Mr.. Patton asked whether the gen.
tleman's position was that the State
should be taxed to support the college
and yet ch rge SD tuition, thus pre-
venting some poor man from getting
the advantages Of education2
Mr.. Smith said that was it, aud il
would tax those who attended for the
privileges enjoyed.
Mr.. Cushmsn said if Tue amendment
prevailed, we might as well close up
the college.
Mr.. KILLER said he certainly favored
giving two boys in each county free
tuition.
Mr.. Ilderton said that instead OF
striking out the provision, he thought
more ought to be given the benefit OF
free tuition.
Mr.. Gage asked whether these two
scholarships referred only to the nor
NAL department.
Mr.. John P. Thomas said he had an
amendment conGning them to the
normal department. He introduced
the amendment as substitute TO Mr..
Smiths amendment.
Mr.. Price agreed with the amend
ment of Mr.. Thomas. We have not
arrived at that point in South Carroll
na where we can do away with free
tuition, he said. He spoke of the ne,
cessity of keeping up these institutions
50 that our young men can be educa!-
ed at home.
Mr.. II. J. Kinard said the argument
indirectly was that this institution
could not compete with the denomi.
national colleges. It must have free
tuition in order to get patronage.
There is no deficiency in teachers and
there IS no necessity OF this free tut
ton. As the friend and supporter Of
a UNCONVENTIONAL college, he could
not see its doors thrown open to pull
down these colleges. There is no de
mand for the South Carolina College.
The friends know it and are trying to
mislead the mem 5ers in the matter.
Mr.. Patton asked whether the in
tention was to assert that ne intended
to misles0 the House by false state
ments.
Mr.. Kinard denied that, but wanted
to know why the friends of the col
lege didn't come out souarely and say
what they wanted free tuition for.
This colleges standard shoul3 be
above that of the other colleges in the
State 50 that they can take a post,
graduate course.
Mr. Patton asked did the gentlemen
not know that there was no such in
stitution in the country Mr.. Kinard
did not answer directly, but said it
was admitted that the standard was
too low. He said the college was a
drag on the State, and this free tuition
idea Was just to boisterit up. The de-
nominational colleges educate more
boys on much less money, and as
business proposition, he did not see
why the South Carolina College
should be supported.
Mr.. Wyche said he had been struck
with the remark that we had an abun'
dance of teachers. He held, however,
that all of them should be better pre-.
pared, and he wanted to see the nor
nal department increased in tiicien-
cy. It is the grandest feature IN the
whole affair. He protested against
this covert effort 10 stab the normal
department. Our teachers are not as
well qualified now as they ought to
be. The State could not do too much
for the teachers, he said.
Mr.. kinard asked whether it was
right for man to be taxed to support
a college which would pull down an
other?
Mr.. Patton said he would have to
pay the taxes anyway whether stud.
ents were educated free or not. He
held that all UNCONVENTIONAL colleges
help the South Carolina College, bat
if one wants to cripple denomination
al colleges, let him teach the doctrine
that State c>ucation should not be
furnished, and soon the people will
begin to believe that denominational
education is useless. The great foe Of
education is a feeling that money
spent on it was thrown away. Speak.
ing on his resolution, he explained
that it was intended to give every
county as many scholarships as it had
representatives in the House and Sen
ate, these to be appointed by the dele
cations any way they saw ft-either
by competitive examinations or other
wise
Mr.. Gage regretted that 50 much
spirit had ceen injected into the de.
bate. He regretted that any man
should arrogate to himself to speak
for an institution which belonged 10
the whole people.
Mr.. Patton rising 10 a question OF