Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Big Fair Week Oct. 23 to 28 VOL. 13—NO. 25 NEWBERRY, SOUTH CAROLINA,FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1950 Unit Plan To Bring Much Higher Taxes On November 7th, General Election Day, the voters ol the County will vote on School Reorganization. Rather, they will ballot to advise the County Legislative Delega tion as to how they feel about a School Plan which an Educational Committee submitted for public view some weeks ago. We believe that it is a bad bill, and will try to point out some of its shortcomings. WHERE DID IT COME FROM? Did this School Unit plan (hereinafter known as The Plan) originate with the committee which submitted it? IT DID NOT. This plan is what is generally known as a “Model’' and had its origin outside of South Carolina. In Washington? That’s plausible, since the Leftists and as sorted Stinkos up there want to get their hands on our schools and break down segregation in the South. The fewer units they have to deal with, the less trouble. It COULD BE (just possibly could be) all a part of the Truman regimentation plan. By this we do not mean that those sponsoring the thing are pinks, but we be lieve they have been blinded by their honest desire for better schools and have accepted something the ramifica tions of which are not readily apparent. They may have failed to see the subtle boring from within which is the stock in trade of such groups. With our schools prop erly established on a “plan” Federal Aid will come, and with it the white and the black will desk together. WHAT WILL IT COST? If the plan is officially adopted we will have in a few years seven outstanding schools plants, and taxpay ers will be moping about like hunch-backs from the burden of taxation. Good and bad. BUT THAT’S JUST HALF THE STORY. When the NEGRO looks upon all this finery he will find it good—good for HIS race and he will “injunct” to get what the Constitution of the United States says he shall have—Equality of opportunity, and that means opportunity for an Education on an Equal footing. Then the taxing cycle will begin all over again. This newspaper is not opposed to good schools for Negroes, but it does not want our country to be put into jeopardy for something which is not now necessary for either whites or blacks. SUPERINTENDENT FETTERED The Plan provides that the Superintendent of Edu cation be appointed by the Board of Education for a per iod of ONE YEAR at a time. What calibre educator do you suppose they could induce to take the job on such a basis, subject to the kicking around of a part of the seven wtiio would certainly never see eye to eye with him? No real educator would even consider such a thing. But even so, why APPOINT HIM? Should the Sup erintendent be less answerable to the people than other county officials? Newberry county has fared very well under the elective system, both in the schools and in county offices. Occasionally there IS a lemon but it seems to us an occasional lemon is a small price to pay for the right to say who shall serve us, in whatever capacity. TEACHERS IGNORED—ALMOST Under the plan great numbers of things are MANDI- TORY—But NOT an increase in teacher supplements. The Board is “directed” to do lots of things but it is only given the “right” to supplement salaries. Could not a little shot of compulsion in behalf of the teachers been inject ed also? If there is anything left after new buildings, stadiums and powder rooms it MIGHT be doled out to the teachers, but it does not HAVE to be. You will con tinue to go on your knees for it. TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION Time was when only holders of Real Estate were al lowed to pass on matters of taxes, i. e. people who had earned that right by thrift and industry and saving. In this election those as poor as Job’s turkey will cast a vote worth as much as that of the property owner, then take to his mattress and produce more patrons for the school buses. THE DELEGATION “CHECK” Proponents are making much of the check on school taxes by the County Legislative Delegation. The Delega tion dhecks ONLY the county wide expenditures. The BOARD and the Unit TRUSTEES can put your levy at whatever they please. “POOR” DISTRICTS We have what is known as “poor” districts, with low millage. Why are they rated “Poor?” Because they ARE poor.. They have no manufacturing, and their land is unproductive. YET, when these poor districts are in corporated into one of the seven with higher levies their millage will be upped several times. WHY THE RUSH Newberry county is getting on educationally equally as well as any county with like resources, so why the rush? The whole wide world is in a state of flux. Would it not be better to sit this crisis out and wait for a better, more stable time. The government warns that in come taxes will be much higher another year. We can not control that, but we CAN hedge against bankruptcy refusing to levy more taxes on the local level. Commissioner Lominick Dies J. Frank Lominick. 49, died suddenly Monday morning, when he suffered a heart attack. He was about his duties as usual and was about to leave his home to come down town when he was suddenly stricken. Mr. Lominick was horn and beared in the Lebanon section of Newberry County and was the son of the late W. Pet and Mrs. Vinnie Ruff Lominick. At the time of his death, he was serving his second term as New berry County Commissioner. Along with these duties he was in farming and textile work. He was a member of (Lebanon Methodist Church. Funeral services were held Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. with Rev. R. L. Hall and Rev. C. W. Brock- well conducting the service.. In terment followed in Rosemont Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Irene Ringer Lominick, and two children. John Frank (Jack) Lominick and Mrs. Patti Lomi nick of Newberry; the following brothers and sisters, J. Richard Lominick. George R. Lominick and Willie S. Lominick of New berry; Walter P. Lominick of Greer; R Clarence (I>ominick of Greenwood; Mrs. Thad Hinnant of Atlanta. Ga.. Mrs. Fred Clem- ment of Inman. Mrs. David Luth er Ruff and Mrs. Caleb Buzhardt of Newberry. HELEN J. EZELL CLASS MEET FRIDAY The Helen J. Ezell monthly class meeting will be held FYi day night at 8 p.m.. at the home of Miss Emily Newberry on Mar tin street. BUILDING PERMITS Only three building and repair permits were issued during the past week to the following; An- drella Bodie for repairs to dwell ing on Nance street for $500.; George Halfacre for one 5 room brick veneer house on Douglas street for $1100'0 and to Angeline Gallman’s estate for repairs to dwelling on Hunter street, $50. NEWBERRY OUTSIDE J. Dave Caldwell to Hal Kohn, Sr., wo lots and one building, (Formerly property of Levi I. and John Bruce Fellers, Jr.) $1.- 250. MT. BETHEL GARMANY Mary E. Ruff to J. N. Ruff. 89 acres, $500. W. R. Cromer to Thomas W. Keitt, B. Harden Keitt and Mrs. Mary H. K. Hinton, five acres. $500. JOHNSTONE Doris Sligh Richardson to Boyd’s Lumber Company, Inc., 32 acres, $100. LITTLE ITEMS OF INTEREST ABOUT FOLKS YOU KNOW Mr. and Mrs. C A. Fellers and two daughters. Sandra and Di anne. of Charleston, spent the weekend in the home of Mr. Feller’s parents. Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Fellers. They also at tended the Carlisle-Wingard wed ding which took place at the A. R. P. church Saturday even ing. Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Fellers of Bickley West. Va., arrived in the city Sunday night to spend this week with Mr. Feller’s brother, Cecil Fellers, and other relatives in the country. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Weber of Columbia, visited Mrs. Weber’s mother. Mrs. Tom Graham. Sat urday, and attended the New berry Homecoming game at New berry College Saturday night. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Culclasure of Huntsville Ala. were weekend visitors in the home of Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Setzler on College street. Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Gains of Elberton. Ga.. spent Sunday in the home of Mrs. Gaines’s broth er-in-law and sister. Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Setzler, and other relatives on College street. Dr. and Mrs. C. T Paysinger of Columbia, spent Sunday in the home of Dr. Paysinger’s brother and sister-in-law T . Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Paysinger on Boundary street Extension. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Shirley. Mrs. Herman Cromer of Hart well. Ga., and Miss Ethel Cromer, of Greer were recent guests in the home of Mrs. H. O. Stone on Mayer Avenue. Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Nichols visited their daughter. Miss Sus an Nichols, a student at New*- berry College over the weekend, and attended the Home Coming game Saturday night. On Sun day they were guests in the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. Roy Anderson. Mrs. Harry Buzhardt and two children, Harry. Jr. and Ruth w r ho are spending a while in Whitmire with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Young, spent the week end here in the home of Mrs. Epsie Buzhardt on Boundary street. Mrs. Buzhardt and chil dren will join their husband and father, Major Buzhardt in Quan- tico, Va., as soon as living quart ers are available. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Reeder of Laurens visited Mr. Reeder’s sister, Mrs. George W. Senn on Harrington street, Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. McSwain Domi nick of Greenville spent Saturday night and Sunday with relatives here. Mrs. M. J. Smith of Pomaria. spent the weekend in the home of her daughter. Mrs. J. G. Sease and Mr. Sease on Nance street. Mr. and Mrs. E. V. Ragsdale and son, Edward, of Winnsboro w'ere Sunday visitors in the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Sease on Nance street. Mr. and Mrs. Earl C. Taylor, were Sunday visitors in the home of Mr. Taylor’s nehpew, Henry Taylor and Mrs. Taylor, in Lex ington. Mr. and Mrs. Laughlin H. Me- J-iean of Cleveland. Ohio, arrived in the city Saturday to spend a few days in the home of Mr. McLean’s mother. Mrs. S. H. McLean on Nance stieet. Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Wilson and Mrs. J. M. Dominick visited Mr. and Mrs. Truex Padgett and little daughter Betty of near Leesville last Saturday. FIRST BRIDGE TOURNAMENT The First Annual S. C. Fall Contract Bridge Tournament will be held in Spartanburg October 27 through 29th. Albert Mc- Caughrin and Roy Anderson are members of the tournament com mittee and Albert will be in at tendance upon some of the ses sions. Other Newberrians will no doubt want to attend this interesting event. CHANDLER-FRETWELL The following invitations have been received in the city: Mr. William Roslyn Chandler requests the honor of your presence at the marriage of his daughter Marjorie Lenore to Mr. Burlington Alexander Fretw’ell on Saturday, the fourth of November at five o’clock Bethel Methodist Church Charleston, South Carolina SUMMER-JAY Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Miller Eargle of New r berry, announce the engagement of their daugh ter, Nelda Summer, to Houseal Grady Jay of Newberry. The wedding will take place on Friday, November 24th in the •Lutheran Church of the Redeem- Y%?. LITTLE MOUNTAIN, BUSH RIVER AND SILVERSTREET CAN LOOK FOR THE AXE The seven Districts now proposed is not the end of con solidation. Listen to the Committee: “However, from its study the Committee concluded that further consolidation would not only be financially sound and educationally ad vantageous, but also to the best interests of the children of the county. It therefore suggests that Further con solidation be undertaken as soon as practicable.” Well! They’re certainly not going to do away with NEW BERRY, or PROSPERITY, or WHITMIRE, or PO MARIA. Perish the thought! Who then? In the Little Mountain district all the schools are near Pomaria. Bush River and Silverstreet district Schools are all near New berry, with the exception of Chappells which would be traded off to Greenwood. Such the Plan provides, and we quote Subsection 14: “Arrange. .. with adjoining counties for interchange of pupils or educational service.” (Em phasis ours.) And thus “further consolidation” would be effected. SECTION FIVE This concluding section of the plan is important and we quote it in full. “Each Newly created school district shall assume the bonded indebtedness within its boundaries.” How does this work out? In the new Newberry District there will be incorporated, in part or in whole, the follow ing districts (with their millage) 1 Mt. Bethel - Garmany (6) ; Long Lane (3) ; Hartford (8) ; Johnstone (5) ; St. Philips (8); Helena (4); Jalapa (2); Beth Eden (3). These districts have a combined levy of ^9 mills; Newberry has 32. These levies are for paying off bonded indebtedness which the Plan says must be assumed by all. How equal ize it? Divided equally among the nine districts each would have to carry a levy of eight mills to make up the total 71 now owed by them jointly. Newberry, St. Philips and Hartford, would not be af fected but all other districts would be raised from 2 to 6 mills to take care of present indebtedness, to say noth ing of financing the NEW PLANS of the promoters. Cer tainly they will want MORE money if they are to do anything under the Plan, and then—and then Newberry, Hartford, St. Philips will re-enter the picture with ad ditional levies, together and along with ALL OTHER DISTRICTS which have been incorporated. Was this thing designed with only the big schools in mind? YES —there's no need to feed the thing you intend to kill. (The above based on each school district having the same amount of taxable property which is not the case. The assessment in each district would have to be known to arrive at the exact millage increase, but it would be more than 8 and not less. MOVES TO FAIRMONT Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Wherry (Eva James Davis) and family have moved from Startex to Fair mont. where Mr. Wherry has ac cepted a position as overseer of weaving in the Fairmont Mill. Pomaria School Programme At George D. Brown, of the State Department of Education, in co operation with the Pomaria High School, and the Newberry County Department of Education has set up a guidance program whereby leaders in our chief professions will speak at different times throuout the year to the students and patrons of Pomaria High School. Each speaker will dis cuss the possibilities in his par ticular field and i tis hoped this information will help many of the high school students to decide what their life’s work shall be and what preparation should be made for it. Many boys and girls have not thought too seriously about the furture and consequently are not making an effort to prepare them selves for anything in particular, but once hearing these speakers The first of these speakers, J. M. Eleasor, Clemson College Ex tension Specialist, will address the group Thursday morning Oct. 26, at eleven o’clock. The public is also invited to hear Mr. Eleas- er. Later this year Governor Thurmond. State Supt. of Educa tion, Jesse T. Anderson. Dr. R. C. rier. President of Erskine Col lege, and Mr. John Norris. Mana ger of the South Carolina Nation al Bank of Newberry, will appear on this program. BIRTH OF A SON Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Cook are receiving congratulations upon the arrival of a son, Warren Eu gene, at the Newberry Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, October 18th. Mrs. Cook the former Margery Warren and son, are do ing nicely. Mrs. L. W. Wilson, who under- wene an eye operation in the Charlotte Memorial hospital sonm two weeks ago withstood the ordeal nicely although she is 79 years of age. She is planning to return to her home on Cline St. here this weekend. BOOK DEDICATED TO DR. PAUL HIESEY. Dr. Paul H. Heisey, Associate Professor of Bible at Newberry College, is honored in having a book dedicated to him jointly with two other distinguished edu cators. Doctor Ralph D. Heim, author of ‘Treading a Sunday Church School,” has dedicated this volume to Dr. Heisey, Dr. Loyal H. Larimer, and Dr. John Philip Schneider. The book has been praised as ‘an excellent study both of the details and the principals involved in leadership of a Sunday church school.” Dr. Heim, possessor of four Witten- dedicated this book to three of his former teachers because, ‘‘All of them had been an inspiration from my first meeting with them. In addition. Dr. Hiesey was my frst specialized teacher in Christ- an education and has been a friend through all the years since.” Miss Vernetha Fulmer, spent the weekend in Leesville, with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Fulmer, and with them attended the State Fair in Columbia on Friday. TAKEN—Copper and pewter cof fee pot taken from table setting at Fair Wednesday night. If re turned to Frank Sutton, no ques tions will be asked. 25-lt. FOR SALE—1 Vacant Lot 56X 159 feet on Summer Street be tween Bob Boozers and O. B. Chandler’s. Price only $800. V. L. ADAMS, 1715 Harper street Newberry, S. C. Phone 1236-J. 25-2t. FOR SALE—1947 PLYMOUTH DelLuxe Fordor Sedan. Good condition, ogod seat covers,heat er, and good tires; exact mile age 40,000 and man-driven only. Price $950. Contact V. L ADAMS, 1715 Harper Street, Newberry, S. C. Phone 1236-J. 25-2t. CARD OF THANKS I wish to thank the many friends and loved ones for the kindness shown during the death of my husband, Claude Abrams Reeder. Mrs. Claude Reeder ON SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVELS Subsection 14 of Section 6 defines the duties and powers of trustees and reads in part as follows: “determine the additional school levy, over and above the county wide levy.” Again, Section No. 3 “Finance.” “That when the Board of Trustees of any school district... .determine the operation of the school exceeds its pro-rata (share) .... shall report to the County Board of Education the additional special tax, which in its opinion, is necessary for such purpose, and upon the COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION approving the same, it shall certify the same to the Auditor of Newberry county who SHALL LEVY A SPECIAL TAX upon all the taxable prop, erty of such district. .. .for the purpose of making up such deficit.” Thus we have a situation where thru prodigality or stu pidity or theft of funds, or a dozen other reasons, some one throws a district into the red, Trustees and Board, and they alone, can put a tax on you to pay the bill. Don’t let anyone tell you there is a Delegation check here. There is none. The ONLY authority the Delegation has on the District level is found in Subsection 8 of Section 7, re lating to the issuing of short-term notes. This is regu lar procedure and nothing new. 1 * To the oft heard question “What Does It Mean” we say: To us it means first that within five year’s time there will be left only seven sohool plants in Newberry county; that thousands of children will have to be transported at public expense; it means that within five year’s time one fourth of the teachers of the county will be out of work; it means the breaking down of community life and denial to the child of that all-important teacher-pupil relation ship ; It means in time to come the regimenting of chil dren according to the dictates of a Washington bureau crat. // County Fair Oct. 23 * 28 + |1.50 PER YEAR The Lexington Story; And A Sad One It Is Fortunately we do not have to take the word of any one as to whether the School Unit Plan will raise taxes. Our neighboring county of Lexington is now operating under a similar plan, having condensed its many districts into nine. The following figures are the same as those of the Treasurer of Lexington county and cannot be refuted: 1949 1950 White Knoll Dist. Old Tax 19 Raised To 32 Mills Centre Dist. Old Tax 18 Raised To 32 Mills Saxe-Gotha Dist. Old Tax 21 Raised To 32 Mills Congaree Dist. Old Tax 26 Raised To 40 Mills Hulon Dist. _ Old Tax 22 Raised To 49 Mills Athens Dist. . Old Tax 31 Raised To 46 Mills Swansea Dist.- Old Tax 34 Raised To 46 Mills Mack’s Dist Old Tax 32 Raised To 46 Mills Cross Roads Dist Old Tax 32 Raised To 46 Mills Calvary Dist. Old Tax 38 Raised To 46 Mills Culler Dist. Old Tax 30 Raised To 46 Mills North Edisto Dist Old Tax 32 Raised To 46 Mills Summit Dist Old Tax 21 Raised To 26 Mills Cedar Grove Dist. Old Tax 19 Raised To 26 Milsl Piney Woods Dist Old Tax 16 Raised To 39 Mills EXAMPLE: A property owner in Huron district in 1949 paid on an assessment of $1000 a tax of $22.00. When he pays his tax THIS year (now 7 due) he will fork over $49.00. In other words he will contribute $27.00 to THE PLAN. What will he get for this additional money? Noth ing, except in time to have his school taken away from him. But he will continue to pay that 49 mills. The above figures were taken at random from assessment lists but they are by no means isolated cases. In the new Lexington No. 1 district, made up of nine old districts and including Lexington City schools the millage was raised in ALL OF THEM from 2 to 11 mills. In Swansea district No. 4, made up of 14 old districts EVERY ONE OF THEM had an increase of 10 mills, aver age. In the West Columbia district, made up of nine old dis tricts, the tax at West Columbia remained the same, ALL OTHER districts were upped from 2 to 14 mills. Gilbert district No. 5 is made up of 14 old districts. The millage was raised in each of the districts from 2 to as much as 8 mills. In Chapin district, made up of the old districts of Mace donia, Piney Woods, Newberg and Chapin, millage was raised on each of them, ranging from 5 to 13 mills. The only DECREASE we find worthy of note is in the old Batesburg-Leesville district which had a levy of 58 mills. In the new district (which bears the same name) the millage is 49. But there is no mystery about this ex ception. It is made up from the increase of 28 mills from Samaria, 27 mills from Hulon, 14 mills from Gilbert, and so on from other members of the district. How they man aged to saddle such increases on these poor districts with out loud protest is a Lexington story. These increases are DUE IN WHOLE to the new School Plan. No other taxes of any kind were added between 1949 and 1950. (PLEASE NOTE: An effort will be made Ao discount these damaging figures. We want to assure our readers in advance that they are TRUE figures—the SAME fig ures wfhich appear on the official records of Lexing ton county; the SAME figures which appeared in the newspaper of Lexington county as an official notice to taxpayers. The originals are on file in our office and may be inspected by any interested person. Don’t be mis led by a mass of figures. We have made ours plain to the point of triteness, so that even he who runs may read— and, we hope, heed.) Lexington has appealed its sorry plight to the SU PREME COURT but there is perhaps little the Court can do about it. REPORT FOR PHYSICALS AND INDUCTION Mrs. Julia Ezell, clerk of the local Selective Board reports that 56 men from Newberry county were sent to Columbia, Wednes day, October 25, for physical ex amination. On October 30th 33 more men from the county will be sent for physical examination and on Nov ember 8, 60 will go for physicals. Mrs. Ezell also said that she will send 20 men on November 28, for induction. These men have already received their physi cal examinations. HOMECOMING DAY AT BUSH RIVER BAPTIST CHURCH Rev. T. B. Altman, pastor of Bush River Baptist Church, has announced that plans are being completed for observing home coming day at the church on November 5. Special invitations are being mailed to former pastors, non resident members, and others who have aided in the recent building program of the church. The public is invited to bring picnic lunch and come for the reunion also. A complete program is to be announced later. HOLLAND INFANT CHRISTENED Massie Reuben (Maxey) Hol land, Jr., infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Massie Reuben Holland, nee Doris Whitmire, was christ ened Sunday morning, October 22nd at Epting Memorial Metho dist church, by the Rev. C. W. Brockwell, pastor of the church. For the christining, little Max ey wore a dress which was worn by his maternial grandmother 44 years ago. Among the many relatives and friends present for this special ocassion were his great uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Crawford Whitmire and family of Fountain Inn. BIRTHDAYS Mrs. Claude Sanders, M. P. Davis, Rev. J. B. Harmon, Bobby Schumpert and Miss Cora Domi nick, Oct. 28; Mrs. Welch Wil bur and Rickey Perry, Oct. 29; Mrs. W. S. Waters, Mrs. T. E. Epting and Mrs. D. N. Knight, Oct. 31; Wyche Dickert, Bran- an Yarborough and Dot Son, Nov. 1; Mrs. L. G. Eskridge, Mrs. Julia R. Smith, Theodore Neely, Mrs. William J. Linderman, Miss Lennis Hove, Mrs. I. H. Wilson and John W. Waldrop, Nov. 2nd.