Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-04-01
Report Of the Legislative
Com ma ittee on the CassVillo
school Scandal.

Report of the Legislative
Committee on the CassviiIo
school Scandal.
Senator Anderson, Chairman Of Tie
joint Committee On Education, made
the following repor: to the Senate. viz
The joint Committee on Education to
whom sss referred the communication
Of the Superintendent of Common
Schools la relation 10 the charges
against A. l.. Guss, late Principal Of
the orphans school at Csssyllle, with
directions to inquire into the same, beg
leave 10 report:
That your committee, in th. dis
charge Of ihi. duty, examined large
number Of witnesses, visited the school
aud gave the accused and accusers all
the time required, and the utmost lati-
tude IN the examination Of witnesses to
enable the committee to arrive at the
truth, and to lay all the facts before
your honorable bodice, so that no ln-
justice may be done the accused, the
orphan children Of the department.
Much Of the testimony taken is gross
ly indecent aud unfit for publication.
Your committee. therefore. recommend
i. 20 be not published in any shape or
manner, but FLED among the records OF
the Legislature, where it may he read
br member. aud those only Interested
therein. As the jurisdiction Of the
Legislature only extends to the reno
val of the school, the question of Mr..
Guss' guilt or Ipsccence has not neces-
sarily to be pzs.ed upon. Ii the con-
tinuauoe Of this school is unwise or in
eIpedient, especially if its usefulness
is destroyed and its continuance is IN
jurirg the system, it ssould be prompt
iy removed. The superintendent of
soldiers orphans testified before the
committee, if the rumors concerning
Pref. Guss were generally current III
the school and in the Community, aud
were believed, even if untrue, the effect
would be to destroy the school and the
system.
Your committee fad the rumors ar ,
generally current il the school and
throughout the county, and that they
are believed hy many. The children in
fhe school sre familiar With these scan
d.lou. stories and make them the sub
ject Of daily conversation. The effect
Of this Is 70 corrupt their minds, and so
long as they remain there they will be
subjected to this influence. Ii the ru-
mors are ali false the effect Is the same.
The fact that Mr.. Guss owns the prop
erty, is publisher of newspaper, is a
politician, and has bitter and unrelent-
ing enemies, is sufficient reason 10 be-
llere that 10 long as the school remains
there these scaDdalous rumors will be
kept afost. " hen Prof. Guss became
. candidate for political hopors, he
should have reliuqui.hed his control Of
abe school, or II should have been re.
moved.
This is a correct principle in all
case. especially Was it important in
bis case, as be ran for Office in 4 coun-
ty split into factions and denoralizeG
BY strife and hate. 1t WAS this that
gave such currency to these reports
aud their spread over the State ha,
done incslculsble injury to the school,
and to public morals. Your committee
are OF opinion the school should have
been removed long ago, and that would
have avoided the uece"es.ity Of an ex-
animation, which should never have
taken place. The Inspectors of the
Orphans School Department, in the
judgment of your committee, failed IN
the discharge Of their duty. Going 70
inspect schools of this character when
such visits we're expected, and as the
guests of the principal, is not proper
discharge Of duty. Hao the lnspec
tors discharged their duties properly,
The Superintendent would doubtless long
since have removed the school. there
being strong reasons for its removal, in
dependent of the guilt or innocence OF
Hr. Gass. While much of the tesii-
mopy ~as contradictory, enough re-
maiDea amin peacbed 10 justify the COM
nittee in believing that the conduct Of
A. l.. Cues, principal, vas Of an I'M
proper character. But as she reputa-
ton of Prof Gu.s is not only involved,
but slso the reputation of scores Of
soldiers orphans, the question CT his
guilt or innocence IL renittsd to the
courts for investigation.
The evidence il 60 contradictory .hst
it would require repetinon: and your