Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-02-16
Communicated.
For the Sunbury American.
To the People Of Northumberland
County.

County.
FELLOW CITIZENS IL feel il nv d-tv pub
Iicly TO address You When | was elected ms
Superintendent Of the Public Schools OF our
County, | agreed to accept the Office for
$3.50; because believed as did the drec-
tors, that if ! labcred for low salary. our
County would receive what did not receive
Afterwards il was ascertained that our Coun-
iy did not receive it, and il was in view oft this
TACT, and that might give my constant at
tention to the duties Of the Office. that tie
directors signed petition and that conven-
tion was called. In that convention motion
wa. decided according to which my salary was
considered raised, and was go published in
the different papers under the signature OF
the Secretary. But the Department at liar-
risburg. decided that the proceedings of said
convention did not raise my saery; so it is
now what it was before viz :: $3.50 The di.
rectors who voted for an increase OF my salary
and the officers Of said convention evidently
did not think that q strict adher.nce TO parlia-
mantary usage and rule was necessary, but
thought that a majority would be sufficient
neither do ] believe that il would have been
required, had 1t not been for remonstrances
made against the proceedings, which had
their origin, as firmly believe, more in the
fact that ! am democrat than any thing
else. The Department uses this lenguage in
! regard to the matter: I'VE overlook and
override meJe technicalities whenever we can
do with safety" and then add that they "were
compelled TO place themselves ona strictly
legal foundation" Now, ! venture TO assert.
without the fear Of successful contradiction.
that the prime movers aud authors Of the re-
monstrances are either Wings or Know
Nothincs or both, who ara afraid democrat
might be paid for his labor. BY this opera.
tion l Tean no reflections on those Of the
party named WHO are above dragging politics
into the affairs Of Common Schools,
was told that on the dry Of the conven-
ton of directors in Sunhury, Efforts we're
made against me on that very ground
Though majority of directors would be
in favor Of an increase Of my salary, under
al the circumstances, l desire no farther
action IN regard toit ! have thus FAR lived
honestly and honorably, and can do go with
out the s255, which majority of directors
were willing should receive
regret that on my present low salary. ]
cannot do what told a number would 10 /:
VIZ hold kind of normal school next
spring. in some central part Of the county
free OF charge
in this view it is unfair TO our county TO
receive only $3.50 for their Superinteudents.
when it has to help other counties nav a
Thousand, twelve and even fifteen hundred
dollars. In those counties the Superutend-
ents can give their entire time to the work
and We must help them pay their salaries
A. it regards the Office Of Superintendent,
that Is another question. If the peUple do
hot Ike 1t, they can have ii repealed but ss
long as 1t exists, our county has as good
risnt to reasonable share Of the money APP
! propriatea for the salaries Of Superintendent,
as other counties. would be the last man
to have people stick to a law. which thew do
not approve; and if / knew this day that q
majority OF the people in PENNSYLVANIA were
! opposed to the Office Of Superintendent,
, would not only resign at once, but = would
/ do all could hoGorably, 10 have the law
under which il exists, repealed.
! This was the ground l took in regard TO
! tie liquor law, and would always take. The
/ people have right TO rule. and 10 one has
right 10 force laws upon them, which they
do not approve.
/ In conclusion ] would state that | said
again and again before and after the conyen.
! tIon at SaEOury. that If the increase Of my
salary had to be taken from our County
! appropriations, ] wculd not touch dollar Of
| II, but il it came from the general fund had
as good right ls other Superintendents to
be paid for my labor, and will leave it TO
any reasonable man, whether there WAS any
thing wrong or unfair in the matter and feel
certain did not happen to be Democrat,
/ would not have Jared as did.
Yours, Respectfully,
! JOHN j. REIMENSNYDER.