The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-09-03
has no other authority to take such steps ;

4
has no other authority to take such steps
nor has he, if only his injurious and
absurd construction were correct. But ii
is as false and forced as his construction
of the act relating to the $500, 900 received
from the sale of the States interest in the
A., M. & o. r. r.
Auditor Mayre in all this but pursues
the policy toward the free schools which
his faction has always followed in its leg
islation and administration. Worse even
than this diversion of the school funds was
the recent course of Bourbon legislation
toward the schools. Among the first acts
Of the Bourbon usurpers was to repeal the
act creating the county judge, the county
school superintendent and the Common
wealth's Attorney in every county a board
for the selection of district school trustees
and establishing therefor an act twin
brother Of the ballot-kiIler) providing for
the election by the Legislature of an cleo
toral school-board for every county, &C.,
to choose the district trustees Thus in
every county of the Commonwealth (al-
though the majority of the former boards
were practically under Bourbon control)
all the schools, at one fell swoop were
put as fully and exclusively in the hands
of Bourbon partizans as our registrations
and elections were under the Anderson
Election bill A more disastrous blow
was never aimed at the schools, as it places
them at the complete mercy of their enc
mics.
But not content with that, bill was
passed with the intention of forbidding
Teachers Institutes, one of the most i'm
portant adjuncts of our school system, for
it's Improvement and elevation; but,
luckily, the Bourbon statesmen las usual)
Numbered by amending the surong act, and
their stab at the Institutes and the schools
missed it's mark. But the inimical intent
was none the less, nor does it lesscry aloud
for vengeance.
Last spring, in response to inquiries, it
was found that teachers warrants were
shaved more or less in the towns and
counties of Alexandria, Allegheny, Am
herst, Augusta, Bedford, Cumberland,
Danville, Dickinson, Essex, Fairfax, Han
over, King and Queen, Lancaster, Lunen-
burg, Manchester, Montgomery, Nanse-
mond, Norfolk county, Northampton,
Page. P1ttsylvania, Powhatan, Rocking
ham, Scott, Southampton, Sussex, Warren,
Washington, and Wythe, while many
counties were not answered for at all, or
elusively. At the same time it was found
that warrants to the following amounts
were outstanding unpaid, that should long
before have been cashed Amherst, 81, 400 !:
Appomattox, $415; Beford, 81 1852; Car
cline, $50; Carroll. 81, 400; Craig, 1852 :;
Fairfax, 81 ,695 Goochland, $425 Greene,
S41e Greensville, $6OS; Henry, 200 :;
Lee, $2,O23; Lunenburg. $1,395; Nanse-
mond, Sligo Northampton, $1,46O !;
Patrick, $1,O11; Pittsylvania, 1904 !;
Prince George, $500; Pulaski, $500; Rus
sell, 81, 6O2; Scott, SIS ,296; Southampton,
s797; Stafford, $SoS; Tazewell, $4,000 I;
Washington, S., 1928; Westmoreland, $44l !;
Wise, 1888; and York, 81, 1926. From
many counties no reports were received
and many answers were only don't
know But enough is seen to show into
what condition Auditor Mayre betrayed
the schools and teachers.
And now another estimate and appor-
tionment are about due for the school year
1856. 100000 is due from the A., M.
6 0. money. All over the State. still,
teachers are forced to shave their war
rants for last years. pay. What are the
people going to do abont it? 1t is too
grave matter for indifference,-to grave
for partizanry. No man can sacrifice his
children to the Moloch of Bourbonism.
Action is demanded to rescue the schools
again from ruin. They and Bourbon rule
are incompatible, just as Bourbonism and
free schools cannot possibly co-exist. The
people must take their affairs into their
affairs into their own hands, or they will
bitterly repent it. There is no room for
further trial of persistent betrayers of
every trust. Down with the usurpers !
WhGO,