The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-28
Governor-Elect's Inaugural t
Deal With These Funda-
mentals.
WANTS BUDGET SYSTEM
FOR STATE GOVERNMENT
To Advocate Compulsory Atten-
dance, Longer School Terms.
Larger Salaries.

10 Ss
in educational facilities, a minimum
school term Of seven months and in
creased pay for teachers and county
superintendents Of education will be
the keynote of the inaugural address
Of Robert A. Cooper, governor-elect
Of South Carolina, who will be IN
Quoted into Office on January Il, un-
less sickness or some other unfore-
seen cause prevents.
Mr.. Cooper, who is now working on
his inaugural address and his admin
istrative program, expects to nave
them completed several weeks before
the. inaugural He will touch on
few fundamental principles OF gov
ernment in his Introductory address,
developing some of them for the gen.
eral assembly.
The governor -elect, bearing out the
principles, enunciated in his various
campaigns, desires to make his admin
istration, stand out as the educational
administration Of the history OF the
State.
Mr.. Cooper believes, and he will so
announce himself In his inaugural ad-
dress, that the future prosperity and
progress of South Carolina depend on
an improved educational system. He
will contend for a Statewide compul-
sorry attendance law, without the pres
ent local option feature, to affect chit
dren between the ages Of eight and
sixteen years, with proper machinery
for enforcement. He will urge a more
Nj
fcrtv-five counties of the State, in
creased pay for the low-Sa!arled
teachers and county superintendents'
and adequate facilities for the educa-
ton of adult illiterates, either cy
night schools or other organizations.
! The governor-el Will stress in
his inaugural address a revision OF the
tax laws of the State by the substltu-
ton of a budget system and the elm
ination of the present State levy. The
revenue for the State government and
institutions, under this theory, should
be apportioned among the counties by
! a State budget board.
Mr.. Cooper is making thorough
; study Of the systems Of taxation OF
other States and probably will recon-
mend to the general assembly the
adoption Of a bill for revised taxation
! based on the Virginia statute. Vir-
ginia Is operating on budget system
and has found it to be remarkably
successful.
The governor believes in CO.
operation with the other coordinate
ranches of the government and with
the heads Of the various State de-
partments. It is his idea to hold fire.
cuent Cabinet meetings with the
other State officials and at such con-
fetences the needs and wants of the
government and the problems en-
countered by all the departments can
be discussed around the table ami
cably. This method, he thinks, will
keep all departments in close and
harmonious touch and will make for
a greater efficiency in the administra-
ton of all departments. 1t is Mr..
Coopers idea to hold conferences
during the general assembly with the
various legislative committees Of both
houses so that there will be an ex-
change of viewpoints on pending
measures He likewise proposes to
have a meeting of the executive Of
ficers of each of the county delega-
TONS
Mr.. Cooper believes that the people
should know all the inner workings
of the government and for that rea-
son he will court the light OF pub
licity" Ee will permit no star
chamber" sessions; all conferences
and other meetings will be open to
rn,arocnnto fi1,oc Of tho 3orocs