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

OfulIlitIlly COHSulltu ny tIie DOdIu dt III
sessions, may state that at the last an
nual meeting, when it was found that TIN
Institution had been charged with thi
large number of cigars during the year
the Board, not being willing, as am in
formed, to be made an excuse of for sucl
an expenditure, unanimously adopted ;
resolution that no more cigars be purchased
on account Of the Institution and that JUS
so much whiskey rs might be necessary fol
medicinal and culinary purposes should bt
bought. AT that time there were two
boxes of cigars in the Institution. Those
two boxes lasted during two meetings Of
the Board and two meetings of the Exec
utiye Committee, and nearly half u box
were left over. undertake to say that
six boxes Il year is a liberal estimate fol
all cigars used by the Board, Executive
Committee, and the guests who are
present during Board meetings.
And this brings to me the question Of
guests. AS to who or how many were pres
ent prior to my administration, | know
nothing. If Mr.. Davis undertakes to say
that fifteen guests were present at one
time since have been Principal he states
an absolute falsehood, as every officer at the
Institution can testify. AS n matter OF
course, did not undertake to count tho
guests present on any occasion. Whoever
were there were welcome and | was glad
to see them. Having been Il member Of
the Board under former administrations
was struck with the fact that our visi
itors were so few in comparison with those
at the old meetings. At no time can re-
member when us many as six guests dined
with us at one time. And they were neither
political bummers nor strikers. but gen
tlemen of known character who would he
welcomed to the table. of any who knew
them.
/ desire to say that his reference to my
visitors is only in keeping with the other
reckless statements made rs to other mat
tiers. have been allowed the same privil-
eyes in the entertainment of company as my
predecessors. That | have had more
guests than they do not believe. That |
have abused the privilege by having had
here any one for a period greater than a
day or two, OF have had any greater num-
Der than some three OF four at one time,
and then for meal or two, is utterly I'M
true. My family and myself have been
more entertained than we have entertain
ed, and it has been n subject of remark
that we have had at our table fewer Of our
friends than at any other period Of our
welded life. feel this remark more than
any other that this man has made. for I
know that it may have the effect OF pre-
venting some of my friends from accepting
the ordinary hospitality of meal, should
they he here when it is announced
Mr.. Davis has had company here frequent,
ly. / should despise myself were | able to
say how many and how often.
THE COAL CONTRACT.
Reporter How about the coal purchased
in the fall of 1882, which Mr.. Davis states
was sold to the Institution by q member
of the Board at $40 per ton, when it
could have been furnished by other parties
for 81. 25?
Mr.. Roller-As to that | know nothing,
it being before my incumbency. You had
better inquire of Mr.. J. w. Waddy, the
member referred to. So far as the coal
contract for this year is concerned, would
state, that under direction of the Execu-
tive Committee, sealed proposals were in
vited from all the coal dealers of Staunton,
and the contract awarded to the lowest
bidder-Mr. M. E. Miller.
ADDITIONAL TEACHERS.
Reporter see Mr.. Davis states that
Immediately upon your entering upon the
Office of Principal you introduced two adj
ditional teachers. and that you are board
ing seven more teachers than were ever
boarded there before, and that all this cost
the Institution about $4,000 more year
than it had cost under the old manage
ment.
Mr.. Roller observe that he brings this
charge against me with the remark that
''that convinced him that he 81 was not
a competent administrative officer" I'm
der the laws of the Institution the power
to employ teachers is vested in the Board
and not the Principal. About the 1st Of
April, by direction of the Board, engaged
the services of a young lady to give calls
thenic instruction to our pupils, at sal
AIRY of Sl5 per month, without board. On
the first day Of September last, by direction
teacher in articulation at a salary of 800
per year, with board. This last one is
the only other teacher now boarding here
that was not boarding here when | came
into the Institution. This inacouracy of
statement is totally inexcusable in Mr..
Davis, if he really desired to tell the truth
about the matter. Even granting his state
ment to be true. that seven more teachers
were boarding in the Institution than UNI
der the former administration, (which is
not the case, there being only FOUR and
the additional salary paid heing only $3.50,
how does it speak for the stewards man
ttSCiIiClIb W cAuo duililO Citu ~ oiIUultt COot
the Institution $3.50 to board seven per-
sons but little over nine months when
there is no extra charge in servants atten-
ton, laundry bills, OF fuel?
TEACHERS SALARIES.
Reporter How does your aggregate
Of salaries for the fiscal year, 1882 .,
compare with that Of former administra-
tions3
Mr.. Roller-By reference to the report
for the year l879-S0', find that our aggre-
gate of salaries is $500 in excess of that
year. This excess is more than accounted
for by the difference between the salary
paid the steward in 1879 80 and that PAL d
during 1882 'S3. In the former year that
salary was $675, whilst in the latter it was
$1,000. For the fiscal year 1883 's4, am
satisfied that the aggregate will be consid-
erably below that Of 1SSO-'Sl, notwith-
standing the introduction of new features
in the instruction department.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.
Reporter-Mr. Davis states that at the
close of the last session, finding that the
Institution was Strengthened financially by
extravaganza and bad management, the
principal sought to shift the responsibility
on to the steward. What have you to say
to this 4?