The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1913-02-20
LEGISLATIVE Mill
GRINDS OUT BILLS
SOME WISE, SOME OTHERWISE
MANY FREAK MEAS
URES.

ecutl0n OF one Dill anu tHe pdSSdSe
of another, the pair having been
much in the public eye, featured the
first half of the week in the House.
The action of the Senate in passing
of the bill to transfer the property
of the Medical College of South Car
olina to the State was an item of
note in the upper body. The bill
to lose its head in the House was
the Rembert bill to require editors
to open the columns of their publi-
cations on demand of anyone who
considered that anything appearing
therein had reflected on his charac-
ter or standing in the community
and providing a penalty of fine of
$500 and imprisonment for fifty
days for failure to print free any
communication which did not con-
tain obscene language from the per-
son who would write it and send it
to the editor. The bill has been
hard fought, opposition developing
on the ground that the measure
would confscate the property of a
newspaper and strike blow at the
freedom of the press, while the sup
porters of the bill declared that
protection is needed by the people
from attacks by the newspapers.
The debate was extended. including
two speeches on the question of per-
sonal privilege. The bill was de-
feated by only two votes, a vote of
So to SO, following DR. McMilian's
(Marion) motion to strike out the
enacting words.
Wednesday the House passed to
third reading probably the most i'm
portant measure it has considered
during the session-the compulsory
education bill. 1t was passed at the
night session after the House
Wednesday morning had refused to
strike out the enacting words by
the overwhelming vote of 81 to 10.
The bill is sure of final passage and
favorable action is expected in the
Senate.
The bill was introduced by Repre-
sentative McCravey and provides
that upon petition of one-third of
the qualified electors in any school
district in the State the county
Board of Education is authorized to
order an election upon the question
for compulsory attendance" If
the majority of votes cast at this
election is in favor of compulsory
education the provisions of the Nc
Cravey bill 60 into effect in that dis
trict and all children between the
ages of s to Is years, not mentally
or physically disabled and whose Ia
Dor is not necessary for their sup
port, must attend the public school
for a period of at least three months
in each year, if the session he that
long, provided they do not attend a
private school.
The trustees of the school district
where compulsory attendance is in
force are charged with the enforce
ment of the law. To this end the
trustees may appoint agents. Par
ents or guardians of children of the
prescribed age who do not put them
in school are subject to a fine of So
to $40 for each offense. No appro-
priation is provided.
The appropriation bill was report
ed in the House Tuesday night. 1t
carries a total of S2,092, ,52,01, an
excess over the sum appropriated
last year by S9S, ,S46.O6. It's claim
ed, however, that there will have to
be no increase in the TAX levy this
year. The first reading Of the bill
came Tuesday night.
] w Ashley has introduced q bill