Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-03-26
LOOKING AFTER SCHOOL MONEY
MIR. Swearingen Says State Faces a
Serious Condition.
(The State, 21st.)

NAhO otdCS, 61Sl,D
State Superintendent of Education
Swearingen said yesterday, just be-
fore leaving for Chester, that the re-
fusal Of the Governor to act with the
State Treasurer and the Comptroller
General in borrowing the school
f1nds authorized by the Legislature
might create a serious situation.
Many Of the most progressive
schools in the ;tate are in need of
the State aid, authorized by existing
laws and to be paid from the one
mill State tax levied this year by the
Legislature" said Mr.. Swearingen.
Some 100000 is needed to meet
the demands of the schools during
March, April and May. Since the
tax cannot be collected before fall
the Legislature provided that as
much as $15O,O0O might be bor-
rowed by the Governor, the State
Treasurer and the Comptroller Gene
raj to supply current needs in antici-
patton of it's collection.
N'NSilSlISSu.
"If the money to settle these
claims cannot be secured the schools
must close and some $4,000 white
children will suffer-" said State Su-
perintendent Of Education Swearin-
gen in a letter addressed yesterday
to the Governor. 1t was pointed out
in the letter that many letters are
being received asking whether the
rural school applications, the term
extension applications and the IL
brary applications now on file with
the State Superintendent of Educa-
ton can be paid, The State Superin-
tendent urged the Governor in his
letter to give the matter prompt at
tention by having the financial board
borrow $4,000.
In reply the Governor stated that
he would not serve with the State
treasurer and the Comptroller Cen
eral. "The Legislature did it., and /
Will not serve" said the Chief Exec
utive. The Governor, Comptroller
General and State Treasurer COM
pose the financial board of the State.
Il beg to say that we cannot honor
any warrants on this fund until the
amount Is borrowed and placed to
the credit Of the department. of edu-
cation. AS the Governor, the Comp
troller General and State Treasurer
are Authorized to borrow this
L would advise hat you take the
matter up direct with the Governor,
as he is naturally ex-oficie chair
man Of the borrowing board" said
A. w. Jones in a letter addressed
March 18th, to Mr.. Swearingen.
Money Not Available.
Il beg to advise that this money is
not available at this time, and will
not be until taxes are collected, un-
less the money is borrowed by the
Governor, the Treasurer and the
Comptroller General, as is provided
for in the general appropriation bill,
to borrow the money there should be
no trouble in arranging for it, said
S. II. Carter, State Treasurer, in a
letter addressed to Mr.. S~wearingen
on March IS.
To Urge the Loan.
The State Superintendent of Edu-
cation will ask the borrowing board,
or the majority thereof, to secure
100000 for immediate uses in the
schools. If the money can be Dor
rowed it must be paid out on the
warrant of the Governor, as chair
man, and the State Superintendent
as secretary Of the State Board of
Education.
Il hope the Governor" said Supt.
S~wearingen, yesterday, "wiil not re-
fuse to pay these warrants, even
though he declines to help borrow
the money. The issue is too great
for personal feeling or political ami
mosities to be allowed to affect it..
The levying of the one-mill State
school tax was a piece Of construct
i've craftsmanship. I shall exhaust
every energy to mako it's benefits
reach every school district in the
State"