The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-03-05
BLEASE VETOES 1-MILL BILL
House Passes Measure over Govern.
Or's DisapprOval.

1
Columbia, Mch. 1.-The House, by
vote Of rs to 20, passed the one mill
school tax bill over the Governors
veto. The bill now goes to the Senate.
where, judging by today's vote, the bill
VIII be passed over the veto, as the
Senate vote on the bill was larger pro-
portionately than in the House. The
veto received 20 votes, and then the
House took another recess to await
the appropriation bill.
AT 1880 o'clock trouble broke loose
The Governor sent in a veto on the
one mill school levy. The chief trou-
Bile is that the appropriation bill, as
mas been agreed upon in final shape
reduces the general levy and based
everything on the one mill levy pass
ing. Certain important items were
left out Of the general BILL to be
cared for by the one mill levy, such as
the support of high schools, consol-
dation of rural schools and other
items If the veto is sustained, all
these items go to pot
Mr.. Nicholson, Of Greenwood, in
supporting the measure, said that the
Chief Executive of South Carolina
should not dictate to the legislative
nf Sfnf IL Ii.
raigned the attitude Of the Governor.
Mr.. Rembert, of Richland, next
gained the recognition Of the Chair.
He said that he is a political friend of
the Governor and consulted him on
the matter in question. Mr.. Rem
bert claimed that he went to the Gov
ernor on his own volition to explain
the bill to obviate any friction. Il am
perfectly surprised" said Mr. Rem
pert, that the Governor vetoed the
BILL" Mr.. Rembert said he spoke to
Governor Blease, outlining the sub
stitute bin as best he could, that the
Governor may have misunderstood
him, but he expected the Governor
to approve the bill, and so told his
associates on the free conference on
the appropriation bill, and that bill
was so framed to fit the expected ap-
proval of the Governor on the one
mill school levy.
The Governor was his friend, he
said, and he went to see him as his
friend, and because he felt he could
accomplish a real purpose, as he had
the honor of being on the free confer
ence committee, therefore his surprise
at the veto was all the greater.
DR.. c. II. Wyche, of Newberry, de-
clared that the bill is not perfect, but
it Is incumbent on the members of
the House to pass the bill, or stand
accused Of stabbing the public schools.
Mr.. Williams, Of Pickens, then gain
ed the recognition of the Speaker He
was of the opinion that the veto
should be sustained, because the Leg
islature is "fooling the common peo-
pie" He Vehemently opposed the
passage over the Governors veto.
Dir. Dick, of Sumter, said that the
! Governor stated to Mr.. Rembert, as
he understood, he would not veto the
! bill: that III tho Governor acted for
! political purposes, the members Of
the ways and means committee acted
IN good faith"
Further, Or. Dick said: "Ie onc
! man downstairs can, by the stroke
of the pen, nullify tn" acts of tho
Legislature" it is useless for the pco-
pie To- elect Legislators" He claimed
that the sustaining of the veto of tn,
Chief Executive would put the com
mon schols in a deuce IF a fix He
and Mr.. Nichulson of the free con
ference committee, were quito pro.
Nokcd at the unexpected veto, an,
said the House could do as il pleased
thcy had both given tho waruinr, an,
that was all they could do.
The programme now is. at t.&0, e
receive tho appropriation hill, roUN
il. get il into tho hands OF the Cover
nor as soon as possible ana rcccd,
from husju,-s. $50 that the work oar
bc concluded Saturday. today.