The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1915-01-22

| tnelT usefulness may be increased,
and that the opportunity for educa-
ton may be given to all OF our boys
and girls. We must encourage the
spirit OF self-help. and every district
! should first impose a local tax by the
vote OF It's resident voters before re-
ceiving State aid. Yet. the growth
OF the public schools will be deter
mined largely by the amount Of State
aid. Weak country schools must be
helped and every community must be
encouraged to have at least q seven
months term. and no teacher should
be required TO teach more than 80 pu-
pills. The State can not have an ed
ucated and efficient citizenship un-
less 1t extends help to weak and up-
developed districts. Any community
vbting liberal tax and enrolling 40
or so children. should be assured Of
adequate educational facilities. 1t .is
the duty of the State to make up de-
fciencies In such districts. The right
thinking people Of South Carolina will
stand for thic expenditure of public
money. and viii indorse the position
that We can not spend public money
better than in educating the citizens
The people realize and demand that
ted out from us forever.
Mill Town Schools.
The problem Of public schools in
manufacturing centres and mill towns
demands attention and study. Tho
State can not longer overlook the
needs OF children In such commune
ties, and should encourage the spirit
Of self-help and public responsibility
that will bring substantial and mark
ed results in public education civic
growth. and community cooperation
and development. recommend that
the State department OF education be
given such additional help In Its
forces that will enable 1t to do In mill
schools what has been done SO effec-
lively in high schools and rural
schools.
Attendance,
AS soon as ample school facilities
shall have been provided, the welfare
or our people demands that our chill
dSoh shall Da required &c attend the
schools. Tie policy OF the State is to
educate all the people at the expense
Of all the people for, the welfare OF
all the people. recommend, there
fore, the enactment OF compulsory
attendance law with local option fea-
ture. We must strive to bring each
and every community to the point of
having school facilities; and. wher-
ever these facilities are acquired, to
require school attendance,
Picture to yourselves what II would
mean to South Carolina II all OF her
citizens were educated. and for the Mt
talnmenI OF this object we give 0ur
best and unfaltering effort.
Child Labor.
recommend, as companion act
to the compulsory attendance law
with local option feature. that you
will amend the law on chiid-labor by
raising the age limit from IL to II
years. f.t .e
Taxation and Assessment.
We all agree that change Is needed
In our tax laws. We have, In the
past given more attention to appro-
priations than to revenue. We must
increase our revenue OF decrease our
expenditures In order to stop the
ever-gr0wing deficiency. The reports
OF the departments reveal lie fSct
that there is now large secumuiat-
ed deficiency that must sbys provided
TOR. Assessments are nCH Unequal.
and unjust. Much property escapes
taxation: different classes OF proper:
ty are assessed at different percent.
ages Of their value. Increased :. ex-
penditures for educational and chari-
table institutions, as we'll as fncreas-
ed expenses In the judicial depart
men.. necessitete the devising Of pro.
gresstve and more modern methods OF
raising revenue. I would therefore
recommend thh, q tax commission be
created to exr.nihe into this subject
and suggest till embodying o plan
OF revision of our tax laws. In ordr-
to acQuaint this commission with ex4
listing conditions, the duties now Inn
posed upon the State board OF equali-
cation and the state board OF asses
sors, should he devolved upon It. SUI.
pervtsion Of the enforcement. Of ex-
istiny tax laws, should be given. tenn
poraiily at ,eaBt. to this commiasi6n,
with ioweI, to eqcalize the assessed
valuation OF property between county
and county and between tax district
and tax district. increasing or de-
creaHing assessed valuation, as may
nrtations should be made by the. .1eEts.
latnre for State. county and scbo ol
purposes. and tho tar comtniat on
should be authorized TO impose .sh
levy upon the assessed valuation OF
property, when ascsrtained by, 1t, as
will raise the amount necessary to
meet the appropriations made hy the
Legislature. The method OF taxation,
the levyfnE. OF the burden So es to sa-
cure justice between the tar payers,
is OF az great Importance as the Az
ting of the propriations By the leg
ffslatutp. ~ :sss \ & ;,5S7
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