Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1906-09-12

State was bound in good faith to
carry out her part of the contract. I
do not think the State has now either
a legal or moral right to go back
upon her agreement.
Second. This privilege tax cannot
legally be paid into the treasury of
the State as part of the State income
and appropriated as proposed. The
identical question as to the constitu-
tionality of such tax came before
the United States Supreme Court in
the case of Patapsco Guano Company
vs. North Carolina, and American
Fertilizer Company vs.. North Caro-
lima. The first reported in III
United States, 355, and the latter re.
ported in 43 F. r., 600. The Court
sustained the validity of the tax only
on the ground that it was an exercise
of the police power of the State, and
if it was paid into the treasury as
part of the income of the State and
appropriated out, the tax would be
unconstitutional and invalid. The
facts were identical with those of the
present case.
The demand for the payment of
this tax into the treasury and its ap.
preparation out by special Act is
based upon the allegation of extrava-
gance on the part of the management
of the college. 1t is only proper to
say that was on the finance COM
mittee and never saw any evidence
of such extravaganza. The affairs of
the college were conducted in thor
oughly business-like manner, books
of double entry kept by a thoroughly
competent bookkeeper and regularly
audited and examined, and every ex-
penditure thoroughly scrutinized and
examined before it was made.
The fact that the college is re-
quired by special Act OF, the Legisla-
ture TO conduct not only the inspec-
tion of fertilizers, but also to main
tain veterinary and chronological
departments for the State, maintain
124 agricultural scholarships, coast
experiment stations and other mat
ters, all of which seriously deplete
the income of the college, is lost
sight of by those who only regard
the aggregate and compare it with
the necessities of other institutions
of infinitely more restricted lines of
duties.
The Board of Trustees of Clemson
lege compares favorably with any
other board of which / have been
member, and l have had the honor
of being on quite number of them.
The members of the board are men
of intelligence, character and probity,
and the best answer to any and all
criticisms against the college is the
fact that after thirteen years, 80 great
has been the recognized merit of the
institution, and of its curriculum,
that hundreds of applicants are turned
away annually because of lack of ac.
commodations. If the college were
a failure and managed by set of
fossils, that fact certainly would have
been discovered ere now, and we
would not find it's halls crowded by
young men from every part of the
State, without distinction of party or
faction.
With every opportunity of know
ing thoroughly the affairs of the in
stitution I have no hesitation in ex-
pressing my opinion that the college
has proved, under the management
of the board, constituted as it is, a
great success, and one which the
State cannot afford to do without.
Pardon this long letter, but al
though, as have said, I have no
longer any connection with the col
lege, l am most.Edeeply interested in
it, as one of the most important edu-
cational institutions of the State, and
l cannot but, Iregret the misinforma-
tion which seems to prevail 80 gener-
ally in reference to tit. With kind