The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-22

HOUSE PASSES BILL TO THIRD
READING.
Public Schools to Be Given Additional
support by Extra Tax of One Mill on
all PrOpcrty-IIOusc Strongly i'm
Favor OF Measure.

! Columbia, Feb. 17.-An additional
one-mill tax for public school pur-
! poses is the provision Of a bill, Of
! fered by the ways and means COM
mittee as an amendment to the Mitch
ell bill, which passed its second read
ing in the house tonight The opin-
! ion Of the House seemed unanimous
on the advisability of such a tax and
the question was whether the original
bill or one of the numerous amend
ments should be passed The bill
! which passed the House tonight is
largely the work of w. p. Nicholson
and has the endorsement of the State
Superintendent Of Education, the ru-
raj school supervisor and other edu-
cational authorities Of the State.
| The passage Of Mr.. Whaley's motion
that all second reading bills be con-
tinued until next session may be TAX
en- as evidence that the General AS
sembly will adjourn sine die next Sat
urday.
The first bill to be considered by the
! House tonight was the Mitchell bill to
provide for an additional one-mill tax
I for school purposes.
Mr.. kibler took the floor to propose
an amendment so that the law, if
enacted, will apply only where the ma
jority Of the voters wish it. The
amendment proposes an election in
each of the counties to determine
whether or not they wish the extra
tax for school purposes. Messrs.
James and Mitchum thought that the
| bill did not make adequate provision
| for the country schools.
Mr. c. T. Wyche spoke strongly for
the Mitchell bill and said that it would
go to the schools which need it most.
| Approved by educational authorities
and amended at their direction, Mr..
! Rembert thought the original bill
should pass. That the bill would bene-
| fit those localities which need it most
was the opinion of Mr.. Nicholson who
made an earnest plea for the bill
Mr.. w. w. Scott, of Anderson, spoke
| in favor of his amendment, to the eff
| feet that the tax fund should be dis
tributed as the three mill tax proceeds
now are.
Mr.. Brice thought that the passage
of the Mitchell bill would mean a par
tial and unequal distribution Of the
| fund. He thought the amendments
should be printed in the Journal and
debate adjourned until tomorrow, so
that the members might acquaint
themselves with the bill
On motion Of Mr.. Whaley the pre-
vious question was ordered and nu-
merous amendments were read. The
House agreed to the committee
amendment, which is q substitute for
the Mitchell bill by a vote of 61 to
45. On motion Of Mr.. Nicholson the
clncher was applied and the bill went
to third reading
The bill of the ways and means
committee was originated and push
ed through the house largely through
the efforts of Mr. w. II. Nicholson. 1t
is nothing less than a substitute for
the original bill. 1t provides that the
one-mill tax shall be distributed as
follows: For high schools, $500
for rural graded schools, $45, 900; for
lengthening the school term, $685.
for the erection Of school buildings,
100000; for the payment Of certain
applications now on file in the office
of the superintendent Of Education,
$4,000; for public school libraries,
| $4,000; for the State board of COM
mission for teachers, $4,000. Any
| amount not specifically apportioned
/ shall be turned over to the county
board of education for the use they
see fit.
Mr.. Whaley moved to continue un-
til next session al second reading
House bills, since they could not pass
| both houses if adjournment is to be
| had on Saturday. Mr.. Belser moved
to except all local bills and a number
Of others, which he specified, which
motion was tabled. Mr.. Whaleys
motion was then passed, though there
was considerable opposition