The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1919-02-06
DOiNGS OF THE SOLONS
AT THE STATE CAPITAL

1t is declared that there is re.
markable difference between the
present session of the senate and
those sessions in the few years prior.
The older member of the body who
have previously felt the effect of CO.
teries created by the liquor situation
note a decided change of affairs. The
day was when groups fought against
groups in an effort correctly to regu-
late questions vital to the prosperity
OF the State. Corporations, railroads
and whiskey principally occupied the
minds of the lawmakers.
The present session so far is con-
inning its work to a certain few i'm
important of these are education and
important of thces are education and
,he tax issue.
Senator Laney, of Chesterfield
County, one of the veteran mem
bers of the senate, introduced the
bill providing the appropriation of
funds for the promotion and main
tenance of vocational education in
agricultural, industrial and home eco
nomic subjects. This bill meets the
terms of the federal act whereby the
community pays one-fourth, the
State one-fourth and the national
government one-half toward the
maintenance of schools where schol-
ars in the mill towns are given me-
chanical training, in the towns and
| cities, manual training and in the
country agriculture and home eco
nomics. This legislation was passed
with practically no opposition.
Another important educational bill
introduced by Senator Laney and
passed by the senate provided an
equalization fund for needy schools.
by which an appropriation of $125,-
900 is made. Among the provisions
of this bill is a guarantee of mini
mum school term of not less than sew
en- months in any public school dis
trict voting an eight mill tax for cur
rent expenses, employing one GER
tilted teacher to instruct not fewer
than "a pupils nor more than so,
maintaining under each teacher in
each classroom an average month
ly attendance of at least Is pupils,
and paying, to each teacher the mini
mum salary provided for by this bill.
The next important, and probably
the most important, educational
measure to be acted on by the senate
IS that of compulsory education.
This bill, originally providing for Il
seven months term but amended to
four months, has passed the house
and will probably be on the calendar
some time this week.
The second big issue before the
senate is that of taxation. This ques-
ton is centered about the advisable
lty OF the abolition of the present tax
commission and the creation of a
board of equalization. Though this
bill has been on the senate calendar,
1t has never been passed on, due to
absence of members and other caus-
es. Sharp debate is expected from
| advocates of both sides when this
bill comes up. This same proposition
was before the senate last year,
| where it was killed after having been
passed in the house The big ques-
tion is, Will the senate again save
the commission?
The taxation issue as it now ap-
pears is probably a large factor in
the calling of a constitutional convcn-
ton. The calling of this convention
has always met with stubborn resist
ancc in the senate prior to this ses-
sion and has previously met with lit
tie opposition in the house. For this
reason there is little doubt but that
such convention will be called in
1920, provided the people feel as do
their representatives.
In the Assembly
Messrs. Rivers and Turner intro
duccd bill to the following import ::
TO amend an act entitled AN act
to provide for the levy Of special
school tax in Chesterfield school dis
trict, Ruby school district and Mt
Croghan school district No. 18 of
Chesterfield county in support of
schools therein approved the I'd day
of March, AID. 1918, so as to in
crease the levy, including Pageland
and jefferson school dist ricts and