The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-01-17
Full Review of Conditions in South Carolina,
and Legislation Needed.
STATES NOTABLE INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS.
All the Public Institutions Are in Excellent Condition
1.-The Treasury Department Borrowed No
Money During the Past Year.

, it is hoped that an equitable adjust
ment and settlement of the counter
claims between this State and the
United States will be effected by appro-
pirate Congressional legislation which
will be final, without the payment OF
any moneys by the State.
/ The State of South Carolina holds
United States per cent. bonds with in
terest payable quarterly to the amount
of seventeen hundred dollars. which
mature on July Ist, 1907. The State
Treasurer received circular letter from
the Treasury Department at Washing
/ ton, D. c., calling attention 20 Section
II of an Act of Congress passed and ap-
proved March I4th, 1900, proposing to
exchange these and similar bonds for
two per cent. gold bonds. The Treas
urer does not think that he has author
ity of law to surrender and exchange
the bonds now held by the State. II
the General Assembly should deem 1t
advisable to make such exchange it
would be necessary for special legislative
authority to be given him.
EDUCATION.
Not the least gratifying evidence of
our progress is the remarkable awaken
ing in all departments of education. At
the beginning of the century just closed
the civilized world knew no such thing
as a State system of education; and in
many quarters, until comparatively
recent date, the position of those who
advocated free public education as
legitimate function of State government
was stubbornly contested, the opposl-
tion in our State being largely due to
peculiar racial and social conditions.
State education is now the settled policy
of our country, being recognized as
| both a function and duty OF the
government. It is principle now well
recognized, that the safety of the gov
ernment itself requires that it give its
citizens the opportunity to fit themsel-
yes for and intelligent discharge OF their
duties to the State.
Encouraging reports come from the
schools and colleges of our own State,
indicating that they have entered upon
an era of unexampled prosperity. And
yet much remains to be done to increase
the efficiency of our public schools.
The first essential is teachers of high
moral character and adequate profess
sional equipment. Our teachers have
better opportunities for professional
training than ever before, and they show
! higher average of intelligence and
professional fitness; but they are too
often poorly paid for their services, and
the best results cannot be expected
until the schools, instead of advertising
for bids from teachers, offer adequate
pay and demand good qualifications.
The importance of levying an addl-
tional tax for the support of the country
schools cannot be too strongly urged
upon our people. This will enable them
to employ competent teachers for
longer terms; it will enable them to
give their children elementary and pre-
paratory training at home; and 1t Will
tend to check the abnormal flow OF
populat on from the country to the
town; it will be beneficial from every
point Of view,
CHILD LABOR.
The question of child labor i'll our
cotton mills is one that has been at
tracing a great deal O. attention re-
Gently, and properly so. Conditions in
this State have changed very much IN
the last few years. We are no longer
simply an agricultural people. With
the rapid growth in manufacturing
enterprises we are already large manu-
featuring State. The relation between
the labor that is employed in these
! enterprises and the employer is not
merely one of master and servant, but
there are rights and privileges and
duties, obligations and opportunities,
on both sides which should be carefully
guarded. There has been no conflict
! between employer and laborer in this
State and nothing should be done to
| disturb the amicable relations which
now exist. Government recognizes the
fact that it is the duty of the strong to
care for and protect the weak: 1t IS
certainly the right and the privilege OF
government to provide for the lnsPec-
! ton of any and all enterprises or cor
porations deriving their life from the
! State and to see that they do not I'M
pose upon the weak. OF course this
should be done with proper regard for
I the property rights Of the corporations.
! There is no. doubt the employment
and constant labor of children of tender
age in our factories is injurious to them
and will result in untond injury IN the
! future. To interfere with the govern
ruent of the family by legislation IS
F.. dangerous And on the other hand un-
less something is done 10 protect the
tender children of vampire parents who
spend their time i'll idleness and live CIT
the labor of their little children who
are required to work i'll our mills from
wear TO year without the advantages OF
school, the situation for the future be-
comes alarming. To force these child
rem out of the mill and make no
provision for their ;tt.hdance upon
school but allow them 10 spend their