The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-03-15

SEVEN MONTHS
SCHOOL TERM
ITEM DEBATED
Senator's Noise, of Sumter,
and Butler, of Cherokee,
Throw Wrench into Machin-
ery-Former Gives Stats
tics


Columbia, March lin the
rush Of the last few days of the
be given mature consideration that
they often deserve. This is one Of
the most unfortunate phases OF
legislation il, connection with the
appropriation bill. Some arrange
ment ought TO be made by which
the committees could frame the
appropriation bill so that it could
actually be considered in the early
days Of every session. The senate
hesitated and stumbled when il
reached the paragraph reading
guaranteeing seven months
school term. 10000" Senator
Davis Noise. Of Sumter. who has
very little to say but who is a
close and careful observer. and
when he has anything 10 say it is
TO the point and worthwhile. threw
a monk into the stu
alton. He presented 4 remarkable
array Of facts and figures to
stress what he considered an un-
equitable and unfair distribution
Of this 100000. regardless of
whether it went to the poor coun-
ties or not And. then came along
Senator Both" Butler. OF Chero-
kee, who chucked in another hand
ful Of wrencieS.
Senator Alan Johnstone, who
was the framer Of the original
"Garris bill" and cooperated with
Calvin Garris which started with
an appropriation Of $4,000 and it
has since grown TO 100000. stat
ed that he recognized that inequali-
ties had probably crept into the
law and that next Year something
should be done to straishten ont
the rough spots. Senator Jeremiah
Smith and Senator George Laney
took the position that education
was a statewide matter and that
there should be no county bar
riers, and that there was no virtue
in the argument Of those who
wanted any reconsideration Of the
method of distribution.
There was absolutely no COM
plant or suggestion Of complaint
about the distribution by Supt-
Swearincen. as he is following the
law, but attention was called TO
the fact that forty-siX counties paid
into the state treasury 100000
and that seven of these counties
received absolutely not penny
back out Of the amount paid for
this support Charleston. for in
stance. contributed more than S34.-
900 OF this particular amount and.
received nothing in return. and. on
the other hand. Horny pai in 81
600 and received $4,000 OUT of
the $400,000 fund. Poor little
Jasper county paid into this $500
900 fund more than $4,000 and
received nothing in return. while
Chesterfield paid in 4 little more
than $4,000 and received in re-
turn for the seven months school
fund more than $4,000.
Senator Noise presented 4 care
fully prepared table which shows
that twenJy-nine counties received
less money than they pad into this
fund. Senator Buffers proposition
was that each county receive at.
least 50 per cent Of the quota that
il paid towards this fund, and that
if a county did not get sufficient
money for the seven months term
from the. accumulation of their
so per cent payments, that they
should raise it by local county tax
alton.
There seemed TO be sentiment
in favor of something being done
TO remedy the situation as COM
planned ol .ither by amending the
law WITH reference 10 compliance.
or reserving something for the
counties making this contribution.
On the other hand, it was said
that TO receive the benefits of
seven months fund, all that was
necessary was d local tax levy of
eight mills. that the school should
have an actual enrolment Of tWen-
ty-iive children. and that 60 per
cent. that is, fifteen children should
attend every day If the schools
did this and did not have enough
money TO run the schools for seven
months. the state would supply
the deficiency. so that the teach
erS would be paid 500, first grade
teachers: SIS. second grade teach
crs and $50 third grade teachers.
But the big fight came in the last
hours of the consideration of the
appropriation bill and by general
consent the matter Went over. al
though q vote was taken by which
the suggestions Of Senator Butler
and Senator Noise We're both de-
featcd.
Senator Noise never goes into 4
fight until he has his facts in hand.
He aad the Comptroller General
prepare some accurate data for him
and those who are interested will
no doubt read these tables with
considerable interest:
Total Taxable
Counties Property.