Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-05-20
Official Dictation,
VIIICI
Editor Spectator i:

4.
j. E. Guy, County Superintendent of Schools.
addressed to the voters Of Augusta county, ap-
pears In your paper Of the 18th instant, calling
upon the people to require of every candidate
for the Office OF Supervisor to declare distinctly
bis views upon the school question and OF
course, Mr.. Il. wishes that none shall be elect
ed but those who are fully committed in favor
of the system. Thus we are to have this school
question brought into the arena of politics. We
understand that Mr.. Guy, in this dictaton to
the people, is but conveying the views of his SUI
perlor, the State Superintendent, the Rev. Mr.
hutfner, who has promulgated pamphlet In
| which he sets out the same. So it appears that
the public mind is again to be distracted with a
Rutiner pamphlet on subjects very near akin.
The people, therefore, had better be little
cautious, as experience has proved that divini-
ty and politics are rather bad combination.
We hear cur people constantly complaining that
our elections are too much Influenced By feel
ing and egpedlency, we have too little regard
for men. The ONCE OF Supervisor is one OF
very great importance, and there is very great
difficulty In getting tie men who are compe-
TENT to take the Office. So far, the people
have been quite fortuuate-they have made
their selections with reference to the fitness OF
men alone, and we hope they will be neither
coaxed or frightened from the propriety by the
fnlmina,ions OF Messrs Rufner and Guy.
Why has not MIR. Guy given to the people
q statement in full of the taxes levied and col
lected off the people Of the county? He gives
the amount collected and paid into the State
Treasury, and leaves the inference that in con-
sequence Of the repeal Of the dog tax and the
reduction OF the amount paid into the public
Treasury an increase oftsxa!ion by the Super
visors is indispensable to the success of his pet
system. The following statement will show the
true amount of taxes paid, and to be paid, for
the years y and 70. b. the county, exclusive
OF the corporation OF Stanton:
For '72. amount paid into State Treas
ury, $16, 400 0C
Nett amount levied by Supervisors. 1860. GO
Nett amount of Dog Tax, ....,..-.,..,,. l,790. GO
Total amount School Tax for 1872. $40, $50 90
For 1873, amount going into the State
treasury Sl6 400 90
Amount levied by Supervisors, ........ II, 1856 90
Total amount for year 1873. 900. 500 1856 90
Thus ii will be seen that noIwit hstaudng the
Dog tax has been repealed, Thirty Thousand
dollars is paid for the year 1873 by the people
Of Augusta for school purposes, and yet Messrs.
Guy and Rufner cry for more moDey-giye us
Supervisors who think as we do and we will
make the properly holders and Taxpayers
squirm. We will educate our voters.
Would it net be well, Msssrs. Editors, for
Mr Guy 10 tell us TO q cent where and to whom
all this money goes? It is said that it requires
40 per cent, first and foremost, to pay the Of
fee holders. Is this true? In looking out
from my stand point, see no fruit from the
grand Free School system. Take the Middle
brook road from the corporate limits Of Staun-
ton to the cad Of Beverly Manor, on each side
of the road, embracing 40 families, and not one
Of them derive apy benefit from your Free
schools. One gentleman has the privilegesot
sending his children to the schools in the Town
by paying Tor each, $3.50 per month.
Perhaps there is more in the movement than
appears on the surface il may be important to
some parties that the State shall go radical as
the programme OF that patty is Free education,
and to eaten the money power payment Of the
State debt-an upper and neither milestone for
the Conservative Tax payers this movement
is thrown out as feeler for the Fall elections,
as some gentlemen are swimming in Radical
stream, they may see salvation In the arms of
that party. BEVERLY