Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-11-18
Would Like to Know.

aIEssRs. EniTORs OF FREE Pass"
would ike to ask you few questions
and hope they will not be considered imperti-
ucut. The State Superintendent Of Free
Schools did not report the portion Of the school
fund which Jefferson county was to receive,
this wear. Cor SIX weeks after the time prescrib-
eli by law OF at least Of usage for his SO doing,
thereby preventing the Boards Of Education
from making their leyies at the proper time
When, at last he did report it appeared that
Jefferson county was 70 receive about twenty
one hundred dollars less than it got last year.
Il is now the middle Of November and " Nary
Red " even Of this diminished amount has yet
made It's appearance, at least the Sherihs say
So. although oar County Superintendent has
promptly complied with all the requirements
necessary for our getting a share. This is not
the worst, for ! have heard from reliable
source that the State Auditor has notified Mr.
Bracket that he School f,iRd has been used
/ for other purposes and that he Dr. Brackett
must dralc lighAy on The treasury" Hon Mr.
/ Bmckett is to draw al al if the money is spent
the auditor does not explain. Under these
circumstances, Of course the poor Jefferson
County school master is not only a5rC Id but he
/ is ont with vengeance, as will also be the
/ school children in a short time if this matter
/ is not seen TO.
And now for my questions: What has be-
come Of the old song so familiar to us all for
| the last six years about the mismanagement or
rather the stealing Of the school fund by the
I Radicals and where is the Utopia you Demo-
/ Gratis promised us last year, ii we would only
elect Governor Jacobs and Democratic State
officers and Iegslators2 With all the rascali-
/ ty o. the Radicals land freely admit they had
| their share Of it) they managed 10 keep up
/ some show Of decency and they did not quite
/ act the hog but kept on increasing the school
/ fund every year-a little, | confess, but still,
( something The Democrats on the other hand
appear 10 have rendered the State bankrupt in
one year If we are to consider the condition Of
| the school fund as fair sample Of their doiDgs.
/ VIII You please answer my questions and
/ throw some light on this subject? As the
I Irishmsn says Z" it is hard going to law with
/ the Devil when the Court is in h-ll" II beg
your pardon for the word, it is the lrishmans
I fault and newspaper may be the wrong
source from which 10 ask information about
the misdeeds Of the party to which that paper
/ is attached believe, however, that yOU are
as far from upholding rascality in any pollti-
/ cal party rs / kROtc are from practicing st
/ yourselves aud am confident that you will
/ use your influence towards redressing this ter
/ rible outrage
Nov. ID, 1871. A BLOODY RADICAL.
The above communication though from "Bloody
Radical" is from one that we believe did not get
so from bleeding the public treasury-in this par
ticular he is an exception to the rule. We would
answer his intcrrogatories with pleasure, if we
were Just now prepared to do so, butNve know we
cannot satisfactorily with the lights before US, and
therefore respectfully refer him to the proper
State officials Our only solution Ofthe statement
of the Auditor ,ifit be the Auditors statement,
verify that the School fund had been used for
other purposes that had in all probability, been
so used before the incoming Of the present State
dministration-probably kept company with that
500 900 deficit in the State Treasury unearthed
last winter upon the advent Of a conservative ad-
ministration. Hoe Mr.. Bracket is to draw will
be best answered By his ingenuity in such matters
A recent letter Of the General Superintendent Of
Free Schools viii afford % A Bloody Radical" an
exhibit that il regarded gratifying-that conclu-
sively demonstrates that the revenues Of the
School Fund are Increasing and not diminishing
as is supposed to be tie case by our correspondent
The people Of Jefferson well know how they
have been taxed fer Schoolpul2oses, and that the
bulk Of tia, paid by them has been appropriated
| for other portions Of the State. This very fact
calls loudly for some improvement in the public
school system-a reform We eagerly look for by
legislation this winter. Under old school law
every dollar appropriated by the people of Jeffer-
son for school purposes was expended rithin the
county and duly accounted for and the schools
throughout the county provided with teachers the
year round No,-, Notwithstanding the enormous
taxes, the schools eff this county-we cannot speak
for others-are now and then suspended for want
! Of funds 20 carry them on.