The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-02-01
THOS. P. COTHRAN
GIVES UP GAVEL
The State. %.

The State, 2S.
The resignation of Thomas P.
Cothran of Greenville as speaker Of
the house Of representatives and a
spirited debate over the bill provid-
ing for an appropriation Of $4,000
to meet deficit in an act passed last
wear to increase the salaries of teach
ers in seventh month term public
schools in the state were the lonely
features of the short session of the
house. of representatives yesterday
morning.
Mr. Cothran, who was first elected
speaker Of the lower house in 1918,
was elected associate justice of the
state supreme court at the session
of the joint assembly Wednesday
morning and will be sworn in as a
member Of that body in April. Mr..
sCothran's resignation was read by the
clerk and accepted as information.
The resignation will take effect upon
the election and qualification Of MIR.
Cothran's successor, the date of which
IS expected to be fixed by the house
at its session. =. Cothran will con-
tinue to serve as a member Of the
house from Greenviile for about two
weeks, until the Greenville supply bill
and certain other legislation is given
consideration.
{ Mr. Cothran's resignation read:
aI hereby tender my resignation as
speaker of the house, effective upon
the election and qualification of my
successor; and with it I wish to ex-
press my deep appreciation of the un'
varying kindness, courtesy and con-
sideration which you have shown to
me personally and officially"
The teachers salary deficit bill, in
troduced by Representative E. Pres,
ton Bruce of Oconee, county, was
given an unfavorable report by the
committee on ways and means and is
apparently destined for stormy ses'
sion in the house. Representative W.
r. Bradford opened the debate, sup
porting the bill, which would pro.
vide funds to meet the deficit in state
aid to every school district that met
during the scholastic year of 1920
the requirements Of the act passed
last year guaranteeing seven
months term to the public schools Of
the state. State Superintendent OF
Education Swearingen applied the act
retroactively to increase salaries in
the seventh month term schools fo1
the entire school session Of 1919-1920
causing the deficit, according to op
ponents Of the bill. The act Of 1919
was proposed and passed, it was
pointed out, with the idea Of its be.
J coming effective upon approval by
the governor, and both representa-.
tWes favoring and opposing the new
bin are agreed that if Mr.. Swearin.
gen had So applied the act there
would have been no deficit. This &C.
ton on the part Of the state super
/ intendent was characterized by va
rious members Of the house as mis-
4 Interpretation Of the law, and ac-
|. cording to Representative E. R. Buck
ingham of Aiken, the house has beer
given choice of backing up an au'
thorized act of state official or Of
5 seriously hampering the educationa.
progress of the st,te. Others speak.
$ ing On the measure were: W. P. Rob.
inson Of Lancaster, r. B. Belser Of
Sumter, James w. Hanahan Of Fair
field, D. B. Peurifoy Of Colleton and
Claud N. Sapp of Richland. Further
debate was postponed with the con,
venihg Of the joint assembly.
The Introduction of a number of
local bills and the consideration of
uncontested business, occupied the
house during the remainder of: the
session, among the bills going to third
reading being Representative Sapp's
measure to confer upon the women of
the state the right to,vote.