The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-12-06

ol elgnb HlOUIIlS. I'll tpP"lCso W ole
thousand dollars for period of double
the length of time, yet neither the youch-
ers nor any information that | have been
able to get warrant the charge that he
made any purchases of any moment, fur
Their than the ordering of some repairs and
improvements, which | am far from say
ing were injudicious. Indeed, am salts
fled that Mi. Davis did not allow him the
p,iraege of making any purchases. except
in some cases where the steward could not
well control. such as furniture for the
principal IS rooms art material, stationery,
and some medicine for his own use. Even
in the matter of the boys winter cloth
| ing. the Doctor wishes and directions
were disregarded, and he was emphatically
| told by the steward that that was some
thing which did not concern him. | am
well satisfied that sometime before DIR.
Vaughan left, Mr.. Davis was complete
master of the situation, and so much SO
! that he did not hesitate to countermand
any order that the Doctor might give
even to the servants and | am sorry to
say that, so often were the servants re-
minded that the steward alone employed
| and discharged, these countermands were
generally obeyed. This being the state of
the case, in my Judgment the reckless ex-
penditures and mSmanagement of the
| first four months Of the fiscal year, are
chargeabe mainly, if not entirely, to Mr..
Thomas S. Davis. / would here submit,
that had the expenses of these four months
corresponded with those of my term, our
disbursements, it is evident, would have
come within our annual appropriation.
And | DO not hesitate to promise here that
Since we have been relieved of Mr. Davis,
the wants of the Institution shall be pro-
yided for and provided for aceH, for less
| sum Of money than the State annually
places at our disposal, and we will thus be
! enabled to introduce still further improve
ments in the schools and about the prem
| Uses.
THE POLITICAL PHASE.
Reporter-Mr. Davis. in several por-
lions of his statement undertakes to con-
vey the impression that his removal was
owing. in part, to the fact that he had
changed or was thought to have changed his
politics, and mentions your having threat
ened him in this particular.
Mr.. Roller observe that he does. Now
as to the language that he undertakes to
put in my mouth, | have only to say that
it is absolutely false, as can be proven by a |
gentleman who was present during our
conversation. But as we are on the sub
ject of his politics, / would remark, that. |
after being trusted by our party as he was,
made acquainted with all the plans of our |
county canvass, admitted freely into every |
conference. and selected as one of our |
challengers on election day, he accepting |
the position, and then to be secretly affil- |
iating with the other party and to vote it's [
ticket. as it is declared he did, and as | |
now believe he did, indicates q general |
want of principle that renders him unfit |
to hold any position of trust.
THE COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
Reporter-Did you entertain OF express
any ill-feeling towards Mr.. Davis, as he
alleges, because he was a supporter of Mr..
Curtis for the office of County Superin-
tendent of Public Schools as against your
brother ?
Mr.. Roler-So far from that engender-
ing in me any hostility to Mr.. Davis, /
solemnly declare that did not know his |
views On the subject, and that it never
occurred to me that his influence either
way was Il matter of any moment. While !
| did oppose Capt. Curtis appointment, |
for certain reasons, L never warmly urged |
my brothers. name, as he applied for and
accepted the position in opposition to my
advise and wishes. Such stuff as this is
in keeping with his declaration that l be-
came more embittered against him on ac-
count of his beating me in the fight for |
matron. | did not know that Twas wa
ging any fight arith ham about the matron. |
knew that he was talking around, misrep- |
resenting and abusing Mrs. Preston, whose |
retention had merely advised, because l
had found her in the occupancy of the Office, |
and her devotion to the duties Of her place !
had won my hearty appreciation Of her fit |
ness for the position. AS it was a delicate |
matter for me, the principal, to edrase the
Board of Visitors in the matter of their |
selection, how eould it occur to me that
the wishes of the steward, if he had any, !
would be Of the least concern OF impor- |
lance to them ?
This like his discussion of articulation,
the number of teachers we should employ, |
his having apolicy for running the Insti
tuition, &C., is but another evidence of his }
misapp.ehension of his position.
PUBLIC FUNDS FOR PRIVATE USE, &C.
l forgot to state when we were on that |
subject, that one of my charges against |
him before the Board of Visitors was that !
he had appropriated public funds to his !
private use, in the matter Of his ordering
the Staunton Tindicoaosl and Richmond |!
Dispatch to be sent to kis oor,a address, and |
then putting the accounts for the same
among his monthly vouchers to be paid
for out of the funds of the Institution
These papers were considered and treated
by all as his private property, and no one
would have thought of taking the liberty |
of not sending them to his chambers with |
his other mail
THE WHOLESALE CHARGES.
In his concluding paragraph, he says
that 'since the 9TH day of July, 1882, ty- |
ranny, arrogance, extravaganza, gross
mismanagementa and extreme petty boss
ism have been the order Of the day, and
have not only been applied to some of the
officers and employees of the Institution,
but even extended into the management of
the poor blind pupils He makes no APP
plication of this language, and leaves us in
doubt as to whom he means. Did he refer
to himself, not only the most Of our peo-
pie here, but all outside who observed his
demeanor, would vouch for it's correctness
If he means it for me, the charge gives me
no concern, Us no acquaintance of mine in
either party would believe it, even if it
were based on better authority than the
word Of Mr.. Thos. S. Davis.
HOW THE IMPROVEMENT WAS EFFECTED.
Reporter-One other question, Mr. Rol-
Ter, and | will let YOU off. You state that