The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-08-12
THOSE ABLE TO PAY.

which is generally sound on matters
pertaining to education, advocates
the abolition of tuition charges in all
State colleges mainly on the ground
that cit is not only an evil, but it
offers an inducement to many people
to make false statements as to their
financial ability in order to save the
pitiable tuition that they have to pay
for their boy or girl entering college,"
The editor also advocates the abolition
of free scholarships practically for the
same reason. We take issue with our
contemporary Those who are able
to pay tuition for their children should
be made to do so. If, as The Herald
and News says, parents make false
statements to get their children in
Clemson, they perpetrate serious
offense and can be punished for per-
jury We have heard the same COM
plant made at to Winthrop college. 1t
is said that each year many girls are
given free tuition at that institution
whose parents are abundantly able to
pay for it, but who have sworn falsely
in order to get the benefit Of some
thing like $40 or $50 in the way Of
free tuition. There is a way to correct
this outrage and it should be done at
once. Our recollection of the law is
that besides the sworn statement Of
the parent or guardian, the county au-
ditor furnishes a certificate showing
the kind and value of all property
owned by the applicants parents. But
if the present law falls short of cor
recting this evil it should be amended
so as to correct it.-Lancaster News.
The proposition here discussed is to
say the least, important, and the mat
ter is badly in need of more equitable
regulation. We are not prepared to
agree to the amendment of free
scholarships, because we consider the
principle of especial value as a means
of bestowing honor where honor is
properly due; but we do not see a
great deal of justice in the practical
operation of the free tuition principle
under present regulations. General
disregard of the law that undertakes
to give free tuition only in cases where
parents are unable to pay, is common,
and looking at conditions as they ex-
ist rather than as we would like to
have them, wo do not see how the Sit
uation could be we'll Strengthened out. |
The man who pays the most taxes for
education is entitled to most of the
benefits. At least that is the case with
the average man. He is wrong, of
course; but unhappily there is no ade-
quate method of convincing him, and
when it comes to a matter Of getting
free tuition or anything else free from
the State, too many people forget all
about the moral obligation involved.
The best way around it, we think, is
that suggested by The Herald and
News 1t might be just little heavier
on the taxpayers; but for all that is
lost there, the gain in general self
respect would be more than sufficient
to make it up.-Yorkville Enquirer
If the Lancaster News would take
the trouble to look up the records of
Winthrop and Clemson colleges, it
will find out of the seven or eight
hundred boys and girls at each insti-
tuition that less than one hundred in
each pay tuition. We have not look
ed into the matter very recently, but
we recall very distinctly that few
years ago when there were about six
hundred girls at Winthrop about 90
jaid tuition and with more than six
hundred boys at Clemson only about
so paid tuition. With this small num-
Der paying tuition, we have been of
the opinion that free tuition should be
given to them 1t shows one or two
things; that most of the boys and
girls at these two colleges are from
families who are unable to pay tut
tion, or that great many of them
are making the statement required in
order to avoid the payment. In
either event, it is significant that it
would be better if tuition were made
free in all the State institutions.
In regard to scholarships, of course,
it sometimes happens that they go to
young men and women who really