The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-02-08
TIE SCHOOL TAI.
The Senate Spends a DaV and
Night on 1t.
NO EXTRA TO BE LEVIED.
But the Senate Ordered the
Apporticnment Of the Dis
pensary Funds to
the Schools.

the free public schools, to provide Tor
the support of the same and to regulate
the disbursement Of moneys arising
from the sale Of liquors, came up tor
consideration in the State senate IueS-
day week. Senator Hay gave . sue
einct explanation Of the objects of the
bill.
Senator Scarborough moved to adopt
the following substitute:
/ Strike out all after the cuactlng words
and inselt the following:
Section |. That from and after the
approval of this Act all revenue derived
from the sale Of alcoholic liquors IN tins
State. under the disrensary law, shall
be appor. ioned amo2g the various coun-
ties of the State, for the benefit Of the
common schools, in proportion to the
enrolment Of pupils in such schools IN
the respective counties; and all funds
derived from said dispensary law, not
already disburSed, shall be apportloned
in the same way. :,
= Section ,. Suchapporticnmeut shall
be made by the COMPTROLLER General,
and he shall draw his warrant upon the
State Treasurer in favor Of the county
treasurers Of the respective counties
for the amounts apporuoned to such
counties respectively.
Senator Brown, Of Marion. offered an
amendment to make the term not less
than six months instead Of three months:
He made an excellent pIesentment OF
the merits of his amendment. :,
In conclusion Senator Brown SAID
that the poor country districts will have
to rely upon the State for years to come.
The rich centres of wealth and popu;a-
ton will have to help. In a State like
ours they live upon and derive their
wealth from the country.
Senator Henderson stated that he
was as Jealous as any one else IN the
matter of improving the common
schools. but the Constitution prevented
the Senate. at the outset. from orlglna'
tins bills to raise revenues. But, be-
sides that, the people were now taxed
enough and could not afford to pay more
taxes. Besides the Law provided that
in addition to the three, mill tax for
schools any s, hool district could levy a
special tax for scnool purposes and
thereby keep open the schools for an
extra time. He hoped the bill would
be5defeated.
Senator Brown, Of Marion, thought 4
half mill would be all the addltiona!
levy needed
Senator Henderson suggested that
should the dispensary law be doae away
with or the State 90 for prohibition the
Comptroller Gcneral would have the
power, under the provisions OF this bill,
TO order the levy He opposed this.
Senator Brown, Of Marion, thought
that in the circumstances there would
be no objection.
Senator Ragsdale thought there would
be no objection. The people were al
ready taxed until they complained:
Senator Barnwell said he could not
vote for Senator Hays biz because he
was of opinion that it was unconstitu,
tional. and for the sam? reason he was
opposed to Senator Scarborough 5 sub
stitute oil. The substitute was to dis
tribute the funds and fix the term fol
schools. 1t was wise provision Of the
Constitution that distributed the fund
so that the term hould be the same all
over the State and the poorer counties
would receive benefit from the rich. Ii
looked like nullifying the Constitution
to pass this bill.
Senator Scarborough said he would
not 60 into the constitutionality Of the
question. He did not think the provis
ions of the Constitution We're mandatory
on the Legislature to fix 4 tern! for the
schools to run. He did not think il
was cxpedient to ra;sc tax at this time
20 support the schools for definite pc
riod. 1t was not because there was op
position to free schools, but there wa:
suffering on account financial strlngen
cy.
Senator Ragsdalc opposed the bill
lie also thought it unconstitutional anc
read from the Constitution the para
graphs affecting the question. The
Constitution did no. authorize an ap
portionment By enrolment, as proposed
F,y the substitute. The law said i
must be apportioned in aid Of the sup
Elementary tax.
Senator Henderson said that the de
iiciency had been paid up The thre,
dollars pea capita had been paid in, anc
it was now proposed to distribute th'
fund.
Senator Walker said he yielded to II
one in his desire to see this State up
Fitted by education. He thought tha
he unconstitutionality had nothing t,
10 with the case. He thought that on
important point has been lost sight Of
lie thought that this Legislature wa
prohibited from levying the tax unit
lie per capita tax was distributed. Tn
lax could not be levied unless there wa
= deficiency. He thought the substi
tute constitutional The,fnancial statu
cf the State is that such that the Sena
tors dare not do anything that woul
increase taxes. The burden was nov
heavy enough He did not think thcr
vas any mandate that the term be fixed
He thought the substitute covered tn
whole matter.
Scenatc- Henderson thought it woul
!. we'll If the Senate would bear i
aind the constitutional argument !
connection with little history
few years ago Comptroller General Nol
;on reused to make 4 levy ani sait
Wait until the whole school fund
in before making an additional levy.
and he acted wisely.
Senator Sheppard said that the lega
itv of the Comptrollers action was sti
in the Courts and asked what woul
be the effect if the Courts decide
ayainSt the Comptroller: