The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-01-08
GOV. ELECT COOPER STRESSES
EDUCATIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Education will be Keynote to His In
augural Address. Studying Taxa
finn

ton.
Columbia, Dec. 14.--Improvcment
in educational facilities, a minimum
school term Of seven months and in
creased pay for teachers and county
superintendent Of education will be
the keynote of the inaugural address
Of Robert A. Cooper, Governor-elcct
of South Carolina, who will be induct-
ed into office on January q, unless
sickness or some other unforeseen
cause prevents.
Mr.. Cooper, who is now working on
his inaugural address and his admins
trativc program expects to have them
completed several weeks before the in
augural. He will touch on a few fund
amcntal principles of government in
his Introductory address, developing
some Of them for the General Assemb-
ly.
The governor elect, bearing out the
principles enunciatcd in his various
campaigns, desires to make his admin
istration stand out as tho 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. lie
will contend for statewide compul-
sery attendance law, without the pres
cnt local option feature. to affect child
rem between the ages Of eight and six
teen years, with the proper machinery
for enforcement. lie will urge a more
efficient school organization for the
forty-fivc counties Of the state, increas-
ed pay for the low-Salaricd teachers
and county supcrntcndentS and adc-
Quatc facilities for the education Of
adult illiterates, either by night schools
or other organizations.
The gOvcrnor-clcct will stress in his
! inaugural address a revision OF the tax
! laws Of the state by the substitution
of Il budget system and the elimination
Of the present state levy. The revenue
! for the state government and in3titu-
tons. under his theory, should be ap-
, portiOncd amoung 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 bill for revised taxation
based on the Virginia statute. Vir-
Gnia is operating on a budget system
and has found it to be remarkably
successful.
The governor elect believes in COOP
Grafton with the other coordinate
brances Of the government and Will
the heads Of the various state depart
mcntS. 1t is his idea to hold frequcn
cabinet meetings with the other state
officials and as much conferences tn,
needs and wants OF the government
and the problems encountered by al
the departments can be discussed a
round the fable amicably. Thi
method. he thinks, will keep all depart
ments in close and harmonious toucl
and will make for greater efficiency il
administration Of all departments
II is Mr.. C0Opcrs idea to hold confer
enccs during the General Asscmbl
with the various legislative committee
of both houses, SO that there will b.
an exchange Of viewpoints on pending
measures. He proposes to have
meeting Of executive officers Of cacI
OF the county delegations.
Mr.. Cooper believes that the pcopl
should know all the inner workings @
the government and for that rcaso
he will court the light of publicity.
lie will permit no star chamber" SOS
y Sions; all conference and other mcc
In%$ Will be open TO representatives {
: the press.
q.