Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1906-01-31

Special committee-Regarding the
phosphate commissioners duties.
Senator c. L. Blease-To prescribe
holiday for State colleges.
Senator Raysor-For biennial ses-
sion bills.
Senator Hood-Reducing the time
for proving wills to two years.
Senator Bates-To amend the code
relating to assessment of property.
The bill to reduce passenger fares to
two and half cents was unfavorably
reported.
Third Reading Bills.
The house of representatives spent
busy day, giving third readings to
IA bills which were sent to the senate
and to four which were ordered en-
rolled for ratification as acts. In ad-
dition to this Is local bills were given
second reading.
In. this way the calendar is being
-sifted and all necessary measures are
being pushed through. The fight for
the rest of the session is now center
ing on the matters Of policy.
The compulsory education matter
was brought up on Mr.. Ker-
shaw's bill which came over from last
session but there was no time to get it
to a vote.
The judiciary committee has
got another bump, being the third
time this session that the house has
given favorable action to bill which
was opposed by the committee. 1t
was MI. Halls bill to permit constab-
les to arrest without warrant persons
said to have been gambling. The
house first voted down hostile mo-
ton and then after further debate re-
verscd itself and refused to pass the
bill.
Biennial Sessions.
The biennial sessions proposition
has been made the special order for
Thursday. There are seven bills un-
der this head, one introduced by Mr..
Beamguard last year, one by Senator
Ralsor and several by the joint COM
mittee appointed to investigate the
constitutionality of the election of
1904 on this subject.
Since last year great deal of op-
position has arisen and this PROPOSE
ton is being fought because it is very
evidently the wish Of corporations to
have the legislature to meet biennially
Senator Tillman said recently that
biennial sessions would bring more an
noyance and expense on the State
than they would save for they would
probably be supplemented by special
sessions-as was the case in Georgia.
Third Reading Bills.
The following senate billie were
given third reading and were sent to
the engrossing department to be en-
rolled as acts:
Senator Hough IS to charter the Cen
trail Railway Company of South Caro-
lima.
Senator Stackhouse's to provide for
two mill levy for road tax in Marion
county.
Senator Browns to pay Treasurer
w. n. Lawrence $50.
Senator Peurifoy's to repeal the e1-
emption of certain portion of Colleton
county from the stock law.
Compulsory Education.
At 12 O'Clock yesterday the house
waded into the compulsory education
fight. It was on MI. Kershaw's bill
to promote attendance of children In
schools. The committee had made an
unfavorabTe report on the bill.
Mr.. Kershaw made very fine argu-
ment for the bill. He first showed
that it is-competent for the State to
reach out and educate the children.
He also showed that the decadence of
nations has been due to the preponder-
anee Of illiteracy among the people.
He then argued the necessity for a
compulsory education law. There are
10000 men of voting age in South
Carolina who can neither read nor
write. This State stands seventh from
the bottom in the matter Of illiteracy.
He told of 16 white children Of school
age on one farm in Florence county
whose parents will not make them go
to school and they will not go them
selves. He also spoke Of the shame of
seeing a white boy affix cross mark
to his signature to an affidavit when a
colored boy of the same age signed
his name in nice flowing hand. The
negro is not waiting oft be forced TO
go to school. Mr.. Kershaw then spoke
of the rights of the children. The peo-
pie have false idea Of liberty if they
argue that the State has no right to
interfere in behalf Of the rights of the
children. II is wrong in the name Of
liberty to shackle with ignorance the
minds of the children.
Tis bugaboo about the negro going
to school is foolish. He is already GO
ing to school.
Mr.. Kershaw stated that of those
who favor compulsory education to
not approve ofthis bill, he would be
pleased to have them amend it. He
explained the terms of the bill in de-
tail. This is no experiment. 1t has
been tried in all the nations Of ad-
vanced civilization and has been prov
en- successful.
Capt. j. w. Hamel of Lancaster
made an earnest plea for. South Caro-
lima to bring her citizenship up to
higher plane. Established govern
ment in for the protection Of the peo
Pile. Under that principle Of govern
ment there is in the constitution fix
ed tax for schools. Is it fair to main
tain penal institutions for the punish
ment of srimc and not provide protec-