The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1906-01-12
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MET TUESDAY
The First Days Work was Only Routine
1.-The Reading Of the Governors
Annual Message.

hilliudl message.
The first days work of the lcgis-
lature which met Tuesday at 12
O'Clock was only routine, organizing
and the reading of the governors
message to the joint assembly. Two
new bills were introduced during
the day by Mr.. Toolc. One to re-
duce the number of work hours in
the cotton mills from II to 10 hours
pr day, the other was to reduce
the railroad passenger rate from
. to 2 1-2 cents per mile. The
governors message is not a very
lengthy document hut very com
prehensive and characteristic one,
being a plain, busincsslke recital
OF the affairs of the state at large,
with some recommendation for the
attvnti"n and action of the lcgisla-
ture during its present session. He
congratulates the state upon her
financial condition in that the rev,-
nues of the state for the past year
had exceeded the expenditures by
nearly Sl26,O0O. He also spoke
approvingly of the law which re-
CURED all property to he returned
at its market value for taxation. He
also speaks favorably of the disprn-
sary system as the best way to handle
whiskcy in the state, but drplorrs
the corrupt management of this
state institution. He also speaks
favorahly and heartily endorses the
recommendations of Superintendent
of Education o. B. Martin with
reference to the public school sys-
tenn. He says:
The annual report of our State
Superintendent of Education was
promptly sent to me, and the
thorough manner in which this
most important subject has been
treated includes some very gratify-
ing statements.
Better schools, more of them and
school improvement generally, from
the smallest old field school house
I to the last detail of our largest in
stitutions, these should command
our time, our personal attention
and our money.
| shall call your attention briefly
to some of the salient features of
this suhj"ct, such as are included
in Superintendent Martins report.
From the small appropriation
made for free rural libraries have
grown results that are furcihle and
striking. More than 600 libraries
have been established, and $25 900
represents the amount expended.
This not only means much in the
real value of good to bc accomp-
lished, but it shows willingness
on the part of the people to aid
themselves when you give them Il
good beginning.
More than 100 new school houses
were erected during the last schol-
astic year, and your Act for this
purpose did not become fully effect
i've until near the close of the term.
Even better rcsul can be safely
relied upon from this source during
the present school year.
The superintendent report shows
a scarcity Of high schools in our
public school system, a fact which
this interested worker most natur-
ally regrets. Strong figures are
presented in this connection, and 1
commend to your most careful con-
sid"ration the figures and reasons
which are shown to bear upon this
department of public school work.
1t was most gratifying to me to
note an increase in the average
salary paid to teachers my only
regret is that this was not very
much larger than the amount re-
corded. These are not only faith
full workers, with grave response
bilities, but they must needs be
trained, cultivated and intelligent,
and it would be most gratifying to
me to sec them paid such salaries
as would to some appreciable extent
be commensurate with the value of
the service rendered. Supprintend-
cnt Martins report shows that the
years work has had good results,
and study of its details will ckarly
reveal increased interest in the
great cause of education throughout
our State, and this interest among