The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-01-17


ber of visitors were present at the hall
OF the House Of Representatives today
when Gov. Cooper delivered his an
aual message to the general assem-
] BY.
Columbia, Jan. l4.-Revision Of
State finances, revision Of the instltu-
tioIs. a new education board. the en-
ployment OF large State constabu-
larry for law enforcement, State!
movie censorship, the need Of State
Office building, the necessity for .
constitutional tconvention, q purchas-
ing agent for all .ate institutions, an
enlargement Of the budget law, SO as
10 provide budgets in all counties of
the State, a resurvey of the State and
alterations in the tax assessment ma
schinery. Increase of teachers salaries,
the enactment Of q State highway bill,
abolition Of the county chain gang
system. ana the creatlon in its stead
Of State system. These are among
the most important matters touched
On by Governor Cooper in his annual
message to the legislature. which was
read before both houses today. The
message caused considerable interest
and will be the cause Of much seri-
Gus consideration on the part of the
legislature It was received as in
formation.
Governor Cooper's message opened
with a word of greeting to the So
ions and an expression of pride in the
condition Of prosperity and economic
peace which exists in the State today.
Few, if any, followers of the red
Gag are to be found within the boun-
daries of this State the message
says.
State finances are the principal
matter discussed by. the Governor.
Expenditures for the year 1919 were
larger thar the appropriations the
executive says, in referring TO the
work of the budget commission.
This was due to the fact that many
departments have large incomes and
handle the expenditure of such mon
eys The governor recommends that
eve should work toward the direct
appropriation Of all money, having
public funds to go into the treasury
and then be expended only under ail-
preparation items The governor
suggests that ali county officers be
REQUIRED to submit budgets OF their
expenditures.
The governor suggests an annual
audit by the comptroller general OF
all count offices. and the employment
of extra clerical help for this work.
changing Of the fiscal year SO as TO
make it extend from July ! TO June
30th. The State he says is always q
year behind in its finances, like
tenant farmer, be- owing money TO
pay expenses.
The governor urges that the Houst'
pass the constitutional convention
resolution, referring TO the people IN
the 1920 elections the matter OF a
constitutional convention next year
He says the present 25-year-old con-
stitution is not adapted TO the pres
ent needs OF the State.
The governors idea Of central
board for the control Of all penal and
charitable institutions involves the
abolition of all present boards OF con-
troll. He suggests that the governor
be made an ex-offlcio member Of all
such boards.
With regard to the creation Of
central board Of education the gov
ernor says: Il do not recommend the
abolition of the various boards OF
trustees; nor should this general
board have power to select teachers,
make local rules for institutions or
school districts. >. but the general
board should have the same policy
directing authority over school dis
tricts that it has over districts tna1
fall under the general law. At pres
ent we are working without we'll
defined comprehensive program. and
without any resposible agency TO de-
tons We should have long-terh
program. all embracing, SO that we
might know toward what goal we are
building" The governor suggests
that on the general education board
should be the chairman Of ;he edu-
cation committees of the two houses.
the Safe superintendent Of education
anfi the governor. and other members
would represent, he says. various
phases of public education. The scv-
ernor says such a board would ave
much duplication of effort. 1t would
Supercede the present State board ~
education. The governor makes II
clear that he is not implying that aay
existing board is q failure. He says
he simply wants to improve the ma
chi.1erv as far as possible
The governor recommends The Gre
elton of u state scholarship loan fund,
to take the place Of free scholarships.
He says the students to whom money
is loaned should be allowed to pick
their schools The fund would. he
SUGGESTS. be handled by the central
cdrrat:cn board.
T:le governor dwells at length on