Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-10-20
GRADED SCHOOL TUITION.

Citizens Of Rock Hill have raised the
question as to whether graded school;
supported by public funds, has a con-
stitutional right to charge. tuition. Like
most other such schools In the state,
the Rock Hill graded school has im-
posed scale Of charges on all pupils,
able to pay. It makes provision for
such people as will give satisfactory
evidence Of their inability to pay. fees
by giving them exemption.
Believing that the practice Of charg-
ing tuition in a school that is
supported by the free school funds
is illegal, several citizens, notably
Mr.. T. L. Williams, refused to pay
the fees required for their child
rem, and the children were dismiss
ed. AS result Of public meet
ing that was held on the subject, It
was decided to enjoin the trustees from
the further collection OF such fees, and
also to enjoin the county treasurer
from paying over to the trustees any
portion Of the districts share Of the
three mill school tax or one dollar poll
tax, until the school is put upon an
absolutely free basis. ~ s,
The complaint In the case has been
drawn by W. J.. Cherry, Esq, and it
is quite a strong paper. It sets forth
principally the inequitablepess Of as
sessing pupils of the lower grades fol.
the benefit Of pupils Of the higher
grades, and also holds that The assess
ment system generally operates to de-
prive taxpayers Of the free schoolrights
and privileges that are guaranteed by
the constitution of the state. After
duly setting forth his grievances, the
plaintiff sets forth his prayer for re-
lief as follows:
1. That so much Of said act charter
ing the Roci. Hill school district as au-'
thorizes the collection Of supplement
tary tuition fees from the pupils at
tending the public or graded schools
therein be adjudged unconstitutional,
null and void.
2. That the defendant, II. A. D.
Neely, county treasurer Of York coun-
ty, be enjoined and restrained from
Rock Hill school district, any funds that
may come into. his hands from the con-
stitutional three mills and poll tax and
the special two mills tax, intended and
appropriated for the support Of the
schools in said Rock Hill school district,
until legal proceedings may be had co
establish a system Of free public
schools in said school district.
3. Thet. the said Rock Hill school
district, and the said w. L. Roddey,
w. B. wilson, Jr., Iredell Jones, A. E.
Smith, ]. M. Cherry, ]. B. Johnson and
J. ]. Waters as trustees Of said school
district. be perpetually enjoined and
restrained from levying and collecting
ages of and 81 years attending said
public or graded schools; and that the
said defendants be further perpetu-
ally enjoined and restrained from ex-
any such pupil offering to at
tend said schools from attendance
thereon.
4. For such other and further relief
as may be just.
The case will probably be heard by
Judge Klugh at the approaching term
Of the court Of common pleas. There
Is said to be much feeling on the sub
ject in Rock HILL as there has been in
other. parts Of, the state. The same
question has been before the courts
and each time the trustees
have won; but as yet the issues have
never been decided on their merits. It
Is to be hoped that in the present case
there will be fair and square opinion
as to whether or not trustees have a
right to require such fees as are COM
planned of.