Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-02-20
MIR. HUGHs REVIEWS WORK.
Writes of Work Accomplished During
TWO Sessions.

Editor Keowee Courier: Since it
Is impossible for one to get any idea
OF what has been done from reading
The State, | take this means Of in
forming the people OF Oconee in a
general way OF just what the two
past sessions Of the General Assem-
bly, have accomplished. OF course it
will be impossible in limited space
to give In detail an account of, or
even mention, the various acts that
were passed, but shall attempt to
give briefly the general trend of af-
fairs at the capital, and some Of the
results.
TO begin with in so far as Oco-
nee county alone is concerned, there
was no change made this year in the
county government and only two
acts of real importance l need men,
ton. One OF these gives jurors three
dollars per day and mileage, instead
Of two. We made this change be-
cause OF the fact that the old pay
would not meet actual expenses of
jurors while in attendance upon
court. The other act was by way Of
joint resolution requiring Supt. J.
+. Swearngen to pay to number
OF schools in Oconee their just pro
rata for term extension from the
fund appropriated last year for
needy schools, and which Mr.. Swear
inSen had refused to pay. Another
OF some Importance is an act requir-
ing all chattel mortgages recorded in
Oconce to be marked satisfied on the
record.
As for State matters: The two
paramount questions before South
Carolina to-day are, and have been,
the improvement Of our roads and
the betterment OF our schools. The
Legislature last year established the
State Highway Commission for the
Improvement Of roads. We cannot
expect miracles, but must be content
with gradual Improvement through
a long period OF time. This commits
sion will finally spread its influence
throughout the State. and our roads
will be gradually but surely improv-
ed
In the matter Of education, the
Legislature last year, as we'll as this,
made more liberal provision for the
public schools than ever before. In
addition much money was given to
higher education for buildings AS
for this last, am frank to admit
that | was opposed to any new build
ings for our colleges at this unsettled
period. but the majority thought
otherwise. In addition to providing
more money for the common schools,
we also took another step forward in
putting the teaching OF agriculture in
the common school on a firm footing,
and established chair Of agricul-
ture at the University for the train
ing of our teachers who come to us
from there. The whole trend of leg
iSlation for schools was upon pro-
gressive course, and | believe when
vocational training shall have been
once firmly established, the wisdom
Of the course taken by the General
Assembly in school matters will be
proven.
On most other matters The Lcris-
lature was progressive; in fact, on
some things too progressive. +
thought. However. am glad to say
that, among other things which
might be mentioned Of a wise and
constructive course. the following
are not Of the least Importance:
The establishment Of the Austral-
ian ballot. The Senate amended this
so as to apply only to incorporated
towns ard cities, but ] am gratifled
that we got even that much, for in
time the wisdom Of 1t will be appar-
ent to all. and the result will be that
it will be applied to rural as we'll as
town precincts.
The establishment Of home for
the feeble minded was another long
step in the upbuildiNg Of the mental
itv Of the State.
The establishment OF a reforma-
tory for wayward girls will result in
much Improvement in the morals of
our people. Heretofore girl con-
victed of any offcnse was confined in
the jails. and left in worse company
than she found on the streets, while
the boys were sent to a reform
school: but at last we have made the
O. mo nroy;c;n,, f,r tI,o o.,,I