Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-03-04
The Complaints Preferred Against Hon
John E. Massey.

THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE SENATE COM
MITTEE THEREON.
The Virginia Senate adopted without dissent
the following report Of the committee on
charges preferred by Senator Flood against
Hon. Jno E. Massey
To the Senate Of Virginia.:
The Committee on Public Institutions and
Education, to whom was referred the follow
ing resolution:
Whereas, it has been represented to the Sen
ate of Virginia that the superintendent of
Public Instruction has been guilty Of collect
ing from the State Of Virginia, as expenses
due him as a member of the Board of Visitors
of Blacksburg College, money to which he
was not entitled:
Res0Loe6, That the Committee on Public In
stitutions and Education investigate said
charges aud report to the Senate, and said
committee shall have power to send for per-
sons and papers
respectfully report that they have given the
tion and submit herewith all the evidence
adduced before the committee.
THE FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
AS to the charge that the $500 appropriated
by law to pay the necessary travelling eXpen-
ses of the Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton was intended to cover the expenses of
attending meetings of the boards of public in
o1ic9o a member, your committee are of the
opinion that the funds thus appropriated can
not be used for that purpose, as they are APP
propriated to pay chs (the Superintendent of
Public 1nstructi0n) necessary travelling eX-
penses while engaged in the duties Of his
Office (See section 183 subdivision a. of the
Code, and decision of Court of Appeals, Trus-
tees of Normal School Us Auditor, Virginia
School Reports, Volume s. 1SS4-'S5, Depart
ment OF Public Instructon), and that he is
not required in the discharge of his duties as
Superintendent of Public Education to attend
the meetings of the boards of the several edu-
cational Institutions but does SO in accordance
with the several statutes passed making him
er oDici0 member of certain institutions. \
II Your committee, however, are of the
opinion that the manner in which this money
has been drawn from the Treasury while in
accordance with precedent, is not in conformity
with the spirit nor intent of the law. 1t has
been the custom to draw this money in stated
installments of 500 each. The law (section
1873, subdivision H. says he shall receive a
sum not erceetlang $500 in any one year for
necessary travelling expenses, and yet it has
been the custom for years in this office to
committee that an itemiZed statement of ex-
penses should be submitted, when the money
is drawn from the Treasury.
ACQUISITION OF REASONABLE EX PENsEs.
AS to the charge tha3 NJ. MASSEY has got
ten out OF .ne treasury of the Virginia Agri-
cultural and Mechanical College, in the shape
of travelling expenses. money that under no
construction of the law he should be entitled
to- the law in regard to the expenses of the
board (secton 1886 of the Code) reads: ''Such
reasonable expenses as the Visitors may incur
in the discharge of their duties shall be paid
out of the funds of the college," AS to what
is reasonable expenses" we would suggest
that what is intended by the law is that the
expenses actually paid out in going from the
residence of the member to the institution and
fhnr h
the Institution. Taking this view of the law
we do not agree with the construction placed
by Mr. Massey on the law, of his right to
charge his expenses in going from Alabama
to the place OF meeting of the board for the
purpose of attending meeting thereof and
returning to Alabama; we think that he could
only charge his actual expense from his office
in Richmond which is his official residence
during his term of Office, to the place of meet
ing and return.
THE FIFTEEN DOLLAR CHARGE.
AS to the charge that he presented a bill of
$15 for attending meeting of the board in
Richmond. Mr.. Massey claims that he was
absent in another part Of the State attending
TO the duties of his Office as Superintendent of
Public Instruction. Ii so, he was entitled to
his actual expenses in returning to the meet
ing of the board
After a careful review of the testimony we
find that it has been the custom of the visitors
of Blacksburg College to render their bills for
expenses to the treasurer of the Institution,
and they have been paid without question;
and we find from the evidence submitted that
Mr. Massey, in making his charges for eXpen-
ses as a member of the Board OF Visitors of
the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical
College considered himself justified in doing
so from his construction of the law and from
precedent
Your committee are of opinion that there
should be a uniform law as to the expenses of
boards of visitors Of educational institutions.
tnn ,GrfvI nod
should be paid. We therefore recommend
the passage of the accompanying bill
w. LovENsTEIN,
Chairman Committee on Public Institutions
and Education.
Mr.. Massey has written card in reference
to the charges made against him by Senator
Flood, and in explanation Of the law under