The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-02-25
Mr.. Massey, g Case.

The Richmond correspondent Of the
Petersburg I?2deG Appea1 refers to the
charges against Hon. r. E. Massey, and
the action of the con- lnittee appointed
to investigate and report upon them as
follows, under date February 20:
The feature OF to-day's session in the
Senate was the report of the committee
on public institutions and education
with regard to the charges OF Senator
Flood against Hon. John Il. Massey,
superintendent of public instruction.
Senator Flood was not in his seat when
the report was read and on account of
his absence it was laid on the table.
Mr.. Massey was in the chamber and oc-
cupied a seat near the presiding officer.
He called Mr.. Gordon to him and whis-
pered something as soon as the clerk had
| finished reading the report. and Mr.
Gordon Immediately moved that the
rules be suspended and Mr. Massey al
| lowed to address the body, Objection
was made on account of Mr.. Floods alb
| sence, and the motion was withdrawn.
The following is what the committee
SAYS in substance
AS to the charge that the $500 appro-
priated to pay the travelling expenses
was intended to cover the expenses OF at
| tending meetings of the boards OF pub
! lie institutions, of which the superin-
| tendent is an ex officio member, that
they are Of the opinion that the funds
cannot be used for that purpose, as they
are appropriated to pay his travelling ex.
/ lis office. he officer is not required, in
the discharge of his duties as superin
/ tendent OF public instruction, to attend
/ the meeting of the boards of the several
/ educational institutions, but does so in
accordance with statutes making him q
| member of such boards. The committee
are of the opinion that the manner in
which this money has been drawn, while
in accordance with precedent, is not in
conformity with the spirit or intent of
1 the law. 1t has been the custom to draw
this money in stated instruments of 800
each. The law says the superintendent
shall not receive q sum exceeding $500 in
any one year for travelling expenses, and
| vet it has been the custom for years in
this office to draw the exact amount.
The committee think an itenized states
ment should be submitted when this
/ money is drawn from the treasury.
With regard to Mr.. Massey having
gotten out of the treasury of the Agri-
cultural and Mechanical college money
that under no construction of the law
he was entitled to, the committee quotes
from the code, which reads: "Such
reasonable expenses as the visitor may
incur" What is meant by g reasonable
expenses" the committee think, is ex>
penses actually paid out in going from
the residence of the member to the in
stitution and returning therefrom, and
his expenses while at the institution.
4 Taking this view of it the committee
think Mr.. Massey did wrong in making
that Alabama charge. They think he
could only charge the expenses he would
i have incurred from his Office in Rich
mond, which is his official residence, to
and from the place of meeting. After
/ reviewing the testimony the committee
/ find that 1t has been the custom of the
! Blacksburg visitors to render their ac-
4 counts forexpenses and they have been
4 paid without question, and Mr.. Massey
considered himself justified in doing as
he did from his construction of the law
and from precedents The committee
conclude their report by recommending
bill making uniform law as to the ex-
penses of boards Of visitors of education
al institutions. The bill provides that
only the actual expenses incurred shall
be paid.