The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-01-13
Social Reforms to DO Pressed.

mer, aside from that OF
conditions that make for lawlessness
in the state, was that Of compulsory
school attendance. 1t is confidently
expected that the legislature will pass
in 1915 a law requiring he attendance
Of children o nthe public schools. The
overshadow'ng importance of a com.
pulsory school attendance law can be
seen when South Cardinals place in
the literacy list Of states Is taken
into consideration. North Carolina
alone prevents South Carolina, from
standing last in literacy.
Richard L. Manning, governor-elect,
will be %inaugurated on January 10,
one week after the general assembly
convenes. It Is expected that an over.
whelming majority Of both the house
and senate will be in sympathy with
the policies he outlines in his in.
augura1 message to the general as
senbly. Mr.. Manning on the stump
last summer championed compulsory
school attendance, advocating the
passage Oh q law which would permit
the electors In each county to vote
ION the question Of compelling all chill.
dren between certain ages to attend
the school nearest their homes.
Another matter that will probably
be undertaken by the general assem-
bly, is the; enactment into law OF the
rules Of the Democratic party under
which the last primary was held. It
is possible that the rules may be
changed in certain particulars before
they are introduced In the general as
tsembly as a bill. SO
Medical inspection Of children in
the public schools, an important
hygienic measure, which sessions of
the general assembly have passed in
the last two or three years only to
see 1T vetoed, will be, taken up. by the
next general assembly. qts enact,
ment into law is predicted
It is possible that q rural credits
bill intended to- permit landless ten.
sants to acquire farms may be pre-.
scented.
The matter OF the adjustment OF
taxation on q more equitable basis, a
subject which has been discussed with
more or less diffidence by the last half
dozen general assemblies, will proba-
bly, be taken up by the next session.
Mr.. Manning in his published plat.
form said: II shall advocate such
changes in assessment and taxation
as shall more fairly distribute the
burdens Of taxation and make more
equal assessments, and with the 'ex-
emptions of small homes in towns
and small farms Of limited acreage"
The general assembly will have to
settle other matters Of Importance,
many OF them growing out of the
economic conditions brought on the
state in common with the South at
large by the var in, Europe.
The advocates Of prohibition Of the
sale of intoxicants have been carry.
ing on an active campaign during
the last few months. They viii ask
the general assembly to pass a bill
ordering an election next fall on the
question of the adoption of a state.
wide prohibition law. The prohibition
question when preached hitherto in
the general assembly has been pro-
ductive of endless argument which
consumed much time. There are those
who fear that the introduction of this
question, which has been fought over
time and time again, will block rem.
edial legislation Of which the state
stands badly in need.
Health Budget Cover Deficit Il
The budget for 1915 OF the state
board of health, totaling $~61,376,.25,
calls for s17,656.25 more than was
appropriated by the last general as
sembly. This excess, however. in
cludes an additional $1,000 in the 1914
deficit, which is $500. The principal
item of increase is seen in the CON
tingent fund, which last year totaled
SIT, 043.75, and for which $4,000 is
asked for the coming year. It is out
of this fund that the board Of health
furnishes anti-rabies vaccine, anti
typhoid prophylaxis and vaccine
points.
For the carrying on Of the bureau
of vital statistics, for which the extra
session of the legislature appropriate
ed $500 In order to cover the ex
penses Of installing the system, $4,000
Is asked.
The principal recommendation, how
ever, of che state board Of health as
witnessed by the budget Is for an In
spector of sanitation In schools, col
leges and state penal and charitable
institutions. +
Report From BarnweII County. "
Commissioner Watson Is hearing en-
couraging news in response to his ef-
forts to get items of interest from
wide-a-wake farmers. Harry D. Cal.
houn, president of the Barnwell coun-
ty fair, writes: "Barnwell county en-
joys the distinction of being the fourth
county in the state in the yield of
cotton. The year drawing to a close
shows a Is per cent increase over sny
other year. Corn, peas, potatoes, Pc
cans and sugar cane were raised In
abundance. The melon and cucumber
and asparagus crops were profitable.
New Enterprises Are Authorized.