The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-01-28
(By A. ID. OliplAunt.A

Columbia. Jan. 25.--The coming
week In the general assembly will
probably be signalized by the passage
OK the Harper compulsory school at
tendance bill in the house and the
Nicholson primary election reform
Dill I'm the senate. The house Is re-
garded as being absolutely certain to
pass the compulsory school attend
ance bill. while the passage OF the
primary reform bill I'm the senate is
n matter purely Of conjecture, It's
friends believe II will go through with
ease.
In recognition of its paramount i'm
portance. tho house took the Har-
per bill up out OF its order last week
and made II q special order for next
Tuesday when debate on the bill will
be opened. There Is nothing harsh
or mandatory about the Harper
compulsory school attendance bill. 1t
provides that majority OF the citi-
zens OF any city. town or school dis
tict shall first vote for compulsory
school attendance before it's provisions
become effective. Then the bill says
that IL n majority OF the citizens de-
clare for compulsory school attend
ancs for white children between a
certain age, who are not weak in
mind and who do not live more than
two miles from a school house, the
parents or guardians OF such chill
dren must put them in the nearest
school and keep them there for IL
weeks In each year, six OF which must
be consecutive. provided Of course
that tho school term lasts for 12
weeks. The school trustees Of the
city or district voting for compulsory
school attendance arc given the right
TO excuse any child from attending
school IL there Is valid reason for
90 doing. for instance the support Of
the child may be necessary to- it's wild
owed mother. The bill provides
small fine for parents or guardians
who do not put their children In
school The fine Is nominal for the
first offense. increasing with each
violation. The clerk OF the board of
trustees Of any city. town or school
district voting for compulsory school
attendance Is charged with seeing
that every parent or guardian puts
tho children OF the required aged In
school.
Another important bill which is
now a special order In the house Is
by Messrs. Kibler. Belser and Robin
son. II provides for the sale OF the
present state Hospital for the Insane
and the transfer OF the plant TO state
Park. IL is probable that the consid-
eration Of this bill will be deferred 10
investigate tho management OF the
State Hospital for the Insane.
The house and senate agreed to or
der the investigation Of the State
Hospital following the receipt OF a
special message from the governor In
regard to a letter written by Senator
Tillman 20 "a gentleman high In Of
ficial life In this state" alleging that
the senator had been informed that
an effort would be made to oust DR..
Babcock from the state Hospital in
order that the present administration
might manipulate tho sale OF the state
Hospital and the transfer OF the plant
20 state Park. The letter. admitted by
Senator Tillman TO have been writ
ten by him. says further: "An effort
Will be made to smirch Dr. Babcock
end his ladey assistant. DR.. Saunders.
an these men must have some excuse.
YOU know. and are not at all scrupu-
lous. The name OF the man 10 whom
this personal letter was written by
Senator Tillman has not been made
public nor has the governor said
publicly how II came into his possess
sion.
Following the reading OF the mes
sage from the governor in the house
Mr.. Stevenson introduced n resolution
providing for an investigation ''of the
matters relating to the state Hos
pital for the Insane referred to in tho
governors message. and any other
matters concerning the management
OF the Same and the welfare OF its
unfortunate inmates and the conduct
Of the State Hospital Commission and
all officers. regents and employees o.
the said institution. and of the prop
erty known as state Park"
This resolution. along the lines
recommended by the governor in his
message, passed tho house without
opposition. In the senate. however.
although the governor had recon-
mended an investigation his friends
thf. rnuoao.. q fh. racnlu