The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-02-17
TT WILL PASS.

II WILL PASS.
The Clemson College Scholarships Bill
in the Senate.
IT MEETS WITH GREAT FAVOR,
And Passes Its Second Reading With
ont Very Much Opposition and
With But a Few Slight
Amendments.
Col. D. O. Herbert's House bill to
create beneficiary scholarships In
Clemson College was taken up in the
Senate on Wednesday morning. The
bill produced a debate to some length
and earnestness. Senator Raysor had
an amendment passed substituting
for the IS years of age limit a clause
leaving it to the usual discretion OF
the authorities. He also submitted
an amendment making the examina-
tion average 80 instead u SO Per cent.
This was passed. The question Of
debate was hinging on the clause
and preference shall be given those
young men who desire to take the ag-
ricultural and mechanical course. y
Senator Raysor wished to strike out
the words land mechanical" main
taing his position by the statement
that Clemson was essentially an lnsti-
tuition for the farmers, founded ir
their behalf, and supported by the in,
come tax. It was instigated at a
farmers convention in Columbia In
1885, it's name is Clemson Agricultu-
raj college.
Senator Raysor said that when the
privilege tax was given Clemson the
promise was made that it would be
an agricultural college, but now while
the work Of general education is car
ried on we'll, not enough attention Is
paid to the branch for which the
school was founded. Not 10 per cent.
Of the students took this course last
year. The trustees admitted that
there would be no use for tie bill if it
was not limited to agricultural STU
dents. The engineering, textile and
electrical departments are crowded
now, Clemson'S income is between
Sl60, 900 and $1,000 and Of this
sum 100000 was paid by the privi,
lege tax-paid by the farmers. Thus
this class Of students should be given
preference in the scholarships. South
Carolina needs skilled agriculturalists
Senator J. W. Ragsdale was an op.
ponent of this amendment. He
wished to strike out the entire clause
quoted above, as it means a reStric-
tion. It is a bribe for boys to take
the agricultural course. The course
is now fue one and well equipped
yet it is not popular. II boy wants
to 90 into a broader field than the
farm he should not be refused. AS tC
the privilege tax support, in states
where there is no tax fertilizer costs
just as much lie wanted to see nc
restrictions on the scholarships, Of
which be was heartily in favor.
| Senator Mcleod was in the same
position on the bill as Senator
Raysor. He saw nothing bad in it
and be did see in the amend nent the
expression of the growing sentiment
in South Carolina for expert agricul-
turists. "Undeveloped agriculture
needs brains mixed with WORK." said
Sentor Mcleod. Technical knowledge
is necessary to success if the indi,
vidual wishes to rise above other far
mers in this work. Though only
about sc per cent. Of Clemson's stu
dents are farmers scns, yet the farmer
supports the school and should rear
it's first benefits. Senator Hardin
like Senator RagSdale, wished tt
strike out the clause as be thought ii
a restriction.
Senator Mayield said that in the
past Clemson, though founded for the
study Of agriculture, had not fulfilled
this end as in the other departments,
but that now the trustees recognized
this and it was to this end that the
bill was introduced. He did not know
Of a State that had no fertilizer tax. II
there was no tax fertilizers would be
lower but if there were no inspection
the farmers would be flooded With an
inferior staple. He wanted Senator
Raysor's amendment to prevail. Sen
ator Ragsdale had not long begun In
reply, when the debate was interrupt.
ed by papers from the house. Later
it was postponed until the evening
session.
At the evening session Senator Ray
sor's motion to strike out and me-
chanical' in the Clemson beneficiary
scholarship bill, was renewed after a
motion to postpone consideration and
a motion to table the amendment had
both been defeated. The amendment
was adopted. Senator Johnson wished
to amend the bill so as to include tex
tile students, but this was tabled.
Senator Hardin moved to strike out
the entire clause, his motion being
supported by Senators J. W. Rags
dale, Peurifoy and Johnson, but his
motion was tabled by a vote OF 20 to
s. The bill was sent to third read
ing.
Doing a Great Work.
The Savannah News says: Discus
sion in the South Carolina legislature
a day or two ago brought out the fact
that less than 10 per cent Of the