The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-02-03

| HAioiiSil, buClcI, Cdl pellCeT
Dennis, Douglass, Herndon, Hough,
johnson, Mcleod, Ragsdale, j. w.,
Stackhouse, Stanland, Walker Total
13.
THE BIENNIAL SESSIONS BILL.
Mr.. Raysor's Bill providing for bien-
NAL sessions of the General Assembly
was also given a third reading in the
Senate and sent to the House on Thurs
day. The vote stood 81 in favor, and 6
opposed.
| THE COMPULSORY EDUCATION BILL.
Mr.. Raysor's Compulsory Education
Bill was vigorously opposed and was
amended in several very important par
ticulars. MIR. Raysor ably defended
his measure, and made one of the best
speeches of the session. The following
synopsis was published by The State:
"Mr Raysor said that the matter
had been before the public long time
and had been discussed in all its phases.
1t had the endorsement of all the lead
ing educators of the conntry not only in
this State but elsewhere and in addition
to this the Governor and the Super in
tendent of Education had cal nestly
pressed it upon the General Assembly.
| The most abiding good that can come to
a people is the uplifting Of the masses.
! Conditions in the State are rapidly
changing, competition is becoming
sharper every day and it is the duty of
| the State to do all in it's power to i'm
| prove the mental as well as the physi-
cal well being of her people. The chill
| dren OF today are the material out of
| which our future statesmen are made,
who in alter years will come into these
legislative halls to enact laws for the
government of our people.
The argument of paternalism has
| nothing to do with the fulfilment of
the conditions in this proposed meas
| ure.
cit is matter of record that no
State which has ever enacted a compul-
sorry education law has ever repealed it.
lie drew a comparison between the
States of South Carolina and Massa-
| chusetts where the law had been en-
forced for number of years. He spoke
of Germany and pointed to her as the
leader of all nations, today the strong
est commercial competitor of the United
| States.
"ln South Carolina there are 5000
| white children and the statistics show
that only So per cent. of them attend
the schools and rs per cent. go to school
only two weeks in the year.
The great question now is to arouse
the parents and make them take advan-
| tage of the opportunities which the
State has given to aid them in the dis
charge of their God given obligations.
| The Bill is intended to represent the
rights of the child. The State under
takes to defend his physical condition
and it is nothing but right that his men
tai condition be also cared for if we
expect to take our proper places among
the sisterhood of States. The constitu-
tional convention, he said fixed tax
of three mills upon our people whether
| they be parents or not and under the
| law we have an educational qualifca-
tion for voting. AS to the negro, he is
here and here to stay. No law is nee
essarry to compel him to go to school.
His parents are willing to make any
sacrifice to send him and will do so even
if they have to steal from their en-
ployers to buy books and pay contin-
| gent expenses. 1t is the white people
who are Indifferent and he believes if
necessary the strong arm of the law
should be used to compel them to take
advantage Of the opportunities extend
ed"
The Bill as amended and sent to the
House is in substance as follows:
| Section |. That it shall be unlawful
FOR any person or guardian living in
this State to neglect or refuse to cause
or compel any person or persons who
are or may be under their control as
their children or wards, to attend and
comply with the rules Of some one or
more public or private school or schools,
for term of eight weeks or more,
during each successive year from the
time said children or wards are eight
years old until they are 12 years old,
inclusive, unless they may be prevented
by illness or reside more than two miles
from a school house, or by reason OF
/ already being proficient from attending
such public or private schools, and pro
vided that in such case they shall be
excused by the board of trustees of the
school district in which said children o,