Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-02-08

y 3 .: 3
WOODSTOCK. VIRGINIA. e 80
----------------- -----sI1.sz-
THURSDAY Morning. February. s:ls72
Much is being written and said about
the per diem and mileage Of members Of
the General As.emb.lys
OF course; this Legislature is striking
where 1t hurts, ana those most sensitive
must hollow. Tho Funding Bill is q
dead duck" EQUITY courts are beseiged
and must yield in time cities ARE threat
ened with a removal Of State deposits I'M,
less they pay us: more interest; county
superia tcndents Of schools who have been
receiving $500 to $500 salary for a
month's work, and $l0O Incidental: ex,.
senses. are in danger Of being adjudged
sinecures, and they must all be permitt-
ed t, cry out against their prosecutors.
How manfully these old sappers of the
peoples substance cry. "stop thief" when
they are pursued.-Shenandoah Demo-
crdt.
The above was written by one Of our
delegates in the General Assembly. We
would have thought a portion Of the
article was intended especially for US,
had we not been otherwise assured. We
claim that representative of the people
should not misrepresent even one OF his
constituents. The facts as stated in the
above article should be contradieted by the
= writer. He should tell his readers that
the errors were not made intentionally,
that the salary of county Superintendent
is limited by law to $3.50 dollars per
apnum, aad that many do not receive
that amount, that county superintendent
pay all the contingent expenses of The
office, and even when necessary for them
to visit Richmond on official business,
they go at their own expense. He was
not only ignorant Of the salary but also
oftbe duties Of, and labor performed by,
county Superia seudents, Or he would not
have estimated it at one mon tbs work.
We-were entirely ignorant that they
we're about being adj judged "sinecures, "
sud If such is the case, it is about being
done by parties ignorant of the labors
and salaries of the Office AS for our
selves no such vote BY the present
Legislature could mske as "hollow." las
to the Legislature being prosecutor: Of
ofpersons holding that Office, We have
not looked upon them as bearing that re
lation. to county superintendents, ether
wise that they do to the people of. the
state in general. Upon the same theory
we nay account for ,the'general CRY Of the
people against the Legislature, as cry
against prosecutors. While we do not
fear persecution from that source, we do
notcourt it. We are not disposed to
make either aesreal. Or an imaginary
martyr of ourself aud ride into Office
upon. fhe cry Of persecution. We are
perfectly willing that the present status
of our schools should be the criterion by
which We shall be judged We claim
that in Shenandoah ). the system is in as
successful operation ns anywhere in the
state, and that our citizens enjoy the
benefits and cenveniences of the system
to as great an extent as in any, and to a
greater extent than in many counties.
We do not pretend to say that our schools
are as efficient as they should be, but
they are as efficient as could reasonably
have been expected.
To the Legislature, We would say, Of
you we ask only justice. If you can
degise more efficient and more econo
mical plan by which you can dispense
with the services of County Superin-
tepdents, it is your duty to do SO. The
people expect you to legislate for their
good, and not for the benefit ofanF par
,icular class. Act for the people, not
for your own private interest or to graf
fly feelings of private luminosity. We
have no desire "to sap the peoples sub
stance" we would rather that that sub
stance be applied to the payment ofhonest
debts. We claim that our services have
been worth more to the people Of this
county than the salary which we have re-
ceived, and we do not claim pay for one
hours service which was not rendered.
We most earnestly protest against being
classei with "Sappers Of the peoples
substance" who "cry stop thief when
they are pursued" That expression is
certainly more applicable to tho'e who
receive pay for services not rerde red and
incidental expenses where none have
been incurred.