Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-03-10
THE CITY FATHERS.

THE CITY FATHERS.
REGULAR sEssION-GENERALB BUSINESS
THE CITY TREASURER VS.. THE PRES,
DENT OF THE SCHOOL ROARD-MoURN
Full DOUBTS OF PRESIDENT EVAN
ABOUT THE vINDICAToR-THE PRoPo
sITION TO RUN ROAD THROUGH TIL
WATER wORKs-A CENTER SHOT OF
&C., &C., &C.
The City Council assembled for its regu
lar session of meditation Tuesday evening
Absent Messrs. Echols, German, Funk
houser and Bagby. The following bust
ness was transacted:
| ACCOUNTS
Among the accounts allowed was one o.
$799 for the schools for February, one Of
$50, being the State tax for the trust deco
for the water works, and one of $115 fol
expenses Incurred in quarantining a gen
tleman who arrived in Staunton some
months ago, and was suspected with
good reason of having had the small pox.
The quarantine lasting nine days. An &C
count of Bagby & Earman for laying pave
ment near the residence of Col. Skinner,
approved by the City Engine er and disap-
proved by the Street Committee was rejec-
ed, Messrs. Kayser and Abby saying that
1t was the poorest piece Of paving they had
seen in the city. Mr.. H. H. Peck was al
lowed $66,62 credit on his rent of the Don
agile property for improvements made by
him. The account of the Superintendent
of water works for months salary $187
with deduction of $7S for work done for
citizens and an addition of $2S,75 for wag-
es paid help, leaving balance due of
$13S,1S was allowed.
A petition of J. G. Marquis, for the re-
issue Of a lost obligation of the city, was
referred to the Committee on Finance, the
Clerk Of the Council saying that the bond
had been paid. The receipt of Witt &
Holt for $4,000 city 8 per cent. bonds for
their Main street property was filed. A
petition of Maj. N. II. Hotchkiss for the
reimbursement of 500 paid by him at the
Virginia Hotel for a supper to a party of
Northern editors, but for the furnishing of
which supper the Council had made no Or
der. was laid on the table.
THE CITY TREASURER VS.. THE PREsI-
DENT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
The President read the following COM
munication from Mr.. Heber Ker, the CITY
TREASURER'S OFFICH, y /
March 18th, 1876.
To the President and members Of the Oity
Council
GENTLEMEN Il very much regret that
! the statement reported as made at your
last meeting by the President Of the City
School Board is so entirely inconsistent
with the facts, so unjust to myself, and SO
discreditable to the city that I feel it to be
my duty to notice it, and to give the facts
as they are.
The President of the School Board says
81 have been compelled to have taxes col
lected to pay the lady school teachers" 1t
is not my purpose, nor is it my right or
privilege to make public the private affairs
of any citizen-but assert without the
fear of successful contradiction that the
President of the School Board was no more
instrumental in having the tax referred to
collected, than the smallest boy in his
school. Ifhe was, let him produce the ev-
idence. The tax was collected solely by
the persistent efforts made through this
Office.
1t was also stated that the Lady teach
ers had not been paid since November.
Why then did the President Of the School
Board take up the warrants Of February
Sd, 1876, and not the warrants for Neyena-;
Der 1875. Simply for the reasons that the
lady teachers haze been paid regularly, and
had no other warrants than those of Feb.
Sd; all the others having been paid.
It was also stated that the lady teachers
had been compelled to sell their warrants
at from 10 to Is per cent. discount. Eigh-
ty five per cent. of the entire amount al
lowed the lady teachers for this scholastic
year has been paid IN cash. I know that
other warrants have been used by the lady
teachers dollar for dollar. How is it poss-
ible then, that they have been compelled
to sell their warrants at 10 per cent. or Is
per cent. discount. Can such statement
be justified in the light Of the above facts.
call upon the President of the School
Board to produce single lady teacher who
has been compelled to sell her city warrant
at any discount whatever during this en-
tire school session.
Ihave, as public officer, extended to.
the lady teachers every courtesy and kind
ness. have always told them never to
sell their warrants at any discount what
ever; that in such contingency would
| provide for them, and / have done SO in
several instances.
I can but regard the statement made by
the President of tie School Board, as un-
! kind and unjust to myself, and injurious
to the credit of the city.
I know it is fashionable to discredit the
city finances, but it is only done by those
whose interests are served thereby, or who
are wilfully ignorant of the facts.
Respectfully,
HEBER KER,
City Treasurer.
Mr.. Evans-Gentlemen you have heard
the communication of the Treasurer. What
| shall be done with it?
| Mr.. Bledsoe-What did he send it here
| for?
| Mr.. Burke-What have we got to do with
it?
Mr.. Fultz-It is addressed to this body
because the statements to which he replies