The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1919-01-23

ton and taxation will be the princi-
pal issues before the first session of
the seventy third General Assembly
which convened here at noon Tues
day.
There is an insistent demand from
many quarters, notably from Cover
nor-elect Cooper, that the education
al system of the State be broadened
and made more efficient. Several
fundamental principles are involved.
First, and foremost, is larger appro-
priations, without which there can
be but little more expansion. In this
there are involved wages for the
poorly paid teachers of the State and
the meagerly remunerated county
superintendents Of education; like
wise a minimum term Of seven
months in the public schools. In
the broadening of the educational
system, there will be bill present
ed to the Legislature asking for a
Statewide compulsory attendance sys-
tenn, with adequate facilities for en-
forcement.
Problem of Taxation.
In the problem of taxation, Mr..
Cooper will recommend to the Gen.
sral Assembly budget system along
the lines of the law now in force in
Virginia; also he will advocate a diff
ferent method of apportioning the
revenue for State offices and instltu-
tions. These questions probably will
take up much of the time of the Leg
isature. N.
In the taxation fight, there will be
a strenuous effort made to abollsn
the State Tax Commission created py
the General Assembly Of 1915. This
abolition movement will be re-
erudescence of the fight of the last
session when the efforts OF the enc
mics of the commission were almost
successful. Last year the tax commls-
sion in it's equalization and reassess-
ment of farm lands showed an IN
crease in the taxable property OF the
State of S47,0S7,415, which allowed
the tax levy of nine and one nan
mills to be reduced to eight ana a
uuarter mills. Senator Christensen ol
Reaufort. who recently announced
that he would serve his last year
in the upper house, it is understood.
will lead the fight in the defense OF
the State Tax Commission.
Constitutional Convention.
Another interesting question wnlcn
will come before the General Assem-
bly will be the agitation for ne"
constitutional convention. Al least
two organizations = the departn. III
of supertendence of the State Teacn-
srs association and the State Council
of Defense - have made specltlc
recommendation for a convention
There was bill in the last Legls-
,ature for the calling of a conVen-
tion. but it did not pass. Since that
time the sentiment, which has oeen
growing for several years, has con-
siderably broadened the chances OF
the passage of a joint resolution tor
a referendum on the question at
The general election in lsso'
The advocates Of new convention
contend that the progress OF the
times and the necessity OF a new
educational system and a reform OF
the taxing power of the State demand
new fundamental laws.
The steering committee OF the
South Carolina Automobile Associa-
ton, in its movement for an improv-
ed system of State and county nlgh-
ways, will make specific recommend
atoms to the General Assembly FOR
an increase in the personnel and the
power of the State Highways Com
mission, ond will ask for laws looking
TO a future bond issue referendum.
These recommendations include ma
terial increase in the license tax on
motor-propelled vehicles.
To Increase Salaries.
The first matter to come up before
the General Assembly will be the bill
to increase the salaries OF elective
State officers and the justices OF the
State Supreme Court and the judges
of the circuit courts. 1t is understood
that the Legislature will be asked to
increase the salary of the Governor
from $4,000 to $4,000 per annum
and the yearly compensation of all
other State officials to $4,000. They
now receive $1,000 year each. Like
wise it is understood that the salary
of the chief justice will be placed
at S4,5000 and the justices and the
Judges at $500 per annum. To make
the salaries effective the bill will
have to be passed by the Legislature
and signed by Governor Manning by
January 21, when Governor-elect
Cooper is inaugurated and the other
state officials inducted into office.
There is a healthy sentiment in raw