The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-01-26
FREE TUITION.

Inc f1gnC is on IN the SendIe anu
we shall soon know whether the
scholarship and tuition farce in State
institutions is to continue, or whether
the matter is to be put on a bust
ness basis. We shall Don know
whether the students in the institu-
tons of learning in this state are to
be started out on a mission of hunt
ing private snaps and avoiding obi
cations, or whether they shall be
taught to pay as they go, and expect
no favors.
If we are to have free tuition, it
should be free to everyone. The
mar who pays the taxes to support
the state institutions should certain
ly be allowed to send his boy to n
of them without paying tuition if the
boy of the man who does not pay
any taxes is to be allowed to 30
without paying. We can see no
justice in forcing a man to give a
free show to his neighbor, and then
holding the giver up for admission
when he seeks to attend.
But we are opposed to free tuition.
After the state has provided by
heavy taxation schools for the boys
and girls of the state and has pro-
vided the necessary equipment, we
believe it but fair that some tuition
should be demanded for the payment
of running expenses and incidentals.
Enough should be charged to make
the parent and child feel that a loss
is sustained unless the child takes
advantage of the opportunity for
which he has paid.
The proposed taking of notes, ETC.,
in lieu of money, and the effort to
put the fight off until some political
machine may pass on the question is
begging the question, and is an eff
fort to prevent proper consideration
of it. Everybody knows that notes
given for tuition will not be worth
the paper they are written on, ana
that no serious effort will be made
to collect such notes. Besides there
is no need for any such provision.
There is not a man in the state who
is not able to pay tuition for his
children in the colleges of the state,
if he is able to pay the other expens-
es. If he hasn't the ready money
he can borrow it from his banker or
from his neighbor, and he is but a
borrower if he gives the state his
note, that is, if it is intended that
the state shall collect the note in
the future. Then why put the state
in the money-loaning business?
There can be no excuse for it except
an effort to get around the provisions
for paying tuition just as is done
now.
And in case the matter is referred
to the heads of the institutions, or to
the Board of Charities and Correc-
tions (if this high-sounding Board
must have some xcu to live) on
what shall they base their findings?
We presume on the tax records of the
several counties. Now everybody
knows that these records are no in
dex to the financial standing of the
parent. In the first place the par
ent may be making the money and
spending it, and therefore not accu-
mulating; he may be perfectly able
to pay tuition for his child from his
income, but at the same time be will
ing to spend it otherwise than in in
vestments or in educating his Off
spring. In the next place, pro-
perty is not taxed at anything like
Its real value. The poorer lands are
assessed much higher in proportion
&c their real value than the more
valuable farms. Personal property
pays very little taxes. Then a mans
property may consist of notes, mort
cages, bonds, and other securities.
which are v brought forward to
harass the tax assessors. Unde,
such circumstances the tax books,
and the public records, will furnish
no accurate standard for Judging tho
financial standing of the parents. The
system will degenerate into what i
now is, a system of favors, unless
some uniform requirement is made
with regard to the subject.
These being the facts, the General
Assembly should, in our Judgment.
face the situation and make some
just requirement of all the students
in state colleges, or all should be ey-
empt from paying tuition.