The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-03-04
Special to The Herald and News.

! struggle, in the legislative session or
1913 was over the matter Of levying
a one-mill tax for the free public
schools of South Carolina. The levy
of such a tax was strongly urged by
! Governor Blease in his annual mes
sage and governor told the legislature
that if he was not given such tax
for the flee public schools it would
! take two-thirds of each house to car
ry the appropriations for the State
colleges. A bill was introduced in the
house by Mr. Mitchell levying this
tax, and it passed the house. This
bill, however, which directed how the
money should be expended, did not
meet with the approval of the COVER
nor, who was urging the one-mill for
the aid Of the weak schools, placing
/ the fund in the hands of the State
board of education to be expended as
the State board saw necessity for its
expenditure, in assistance of the
schools which needed the help. Over
in the senate the governors views
were incorporated in an mendment Of
fered by Senator Applet in the finance
committee, and for awhile it seemed
: that all would be smooth sailiLg, and
that the bill the governor was urg-
! ing would be passed. When the bill
finally was sent to the governor, how
ever, it provided for so per cent. Of
the fund to remain in the county
| board funds and the other fifty per
cent. to be expended by the State
{ board of education, the method Ct 'aX
penditure being set out. The bill
was sent to the governor on Friday
night. Shortly after midnight the
same night the governor sent in the
following veto message:
The Veto Message.
i Gentlemen of the, House of Rspre-
/ sentatives:
81 return to you herewith, without
my signature, Act No. 237 House
Bill No. 233, Senate No. 504, to le-
Wy and collect a one-mill State tax
! for the free public schools and provide
for the distribution of the same
! Gentlemen, | have seen a great
many abortions in legislation, but this
is the worst of them all-this is the
chief of all the sinners yet born. Sec
ton is beautiful, but it is deceiver,
and, after we pass it, God save the
mark and the name of the title
"In the first place, any county, yes,
even any school district, can now
vote itself a special school levy, with
out the consent of your highness and
that of your Lord Chiefs at the other
end of the capital. Therefore, the
half of the one-1nill levy for the coun-
ty board fund is of absolutely no
consequence and Of no service
"As for the other, it is a very SER
ious question, if you will make al
close calculation, if the half of the
one-mill levy provided for disposal by
the State board of education will meet
the appropriation that you provide II
shall meet, and then you have left out
one of the most important features,
which is, or was, the 1000 to be /!
used for the payment of rural graded |
school applications, building applca-
ii ms and term extension appllca-
tions now on file in the office of the
State superintendent of education for
the fiscal year 1912, and your little
Joker added at the end, ANY addl-
tional fund at the disposal OF the
State board"-gentlemen if there is
man in either of your branches who
would take a slate and pencil and
add up the figures stated in your bill
he would easily see that there would
be deficit. If did not have the bill !,
before me, could not conceive u !
such make-shift, and I can not con-
ceive of it's purpose, unless it is on !
behalf of some astute politicians TO
keep it from appearing that the pre-
sent governor had succeeded in do
ing something for the free public
schools, and to deprive him OF the
little credit which he might have got ;
if he had been able to carry through
his recommendation for a one-miIl !