The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-02-18
Mr.. Massey's Side.
From Richmond State. Feb II.

In the Senate yesterday Senator Flood, of APP
pomattox, is opposing a bill to make Hon. John
u. Massey member ex-OGicio OF the Board Of
Visitors of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute
at StauntOn and the University at Chariottes-
ville said he did SO upon the ground of 5nat gem
tleman's unAtness to hold such official positions.
Mr.. Floods charges, in brief were that Mr.. Mas
sey had improperly drawn money for his
services as q member of ether Boards In one
OF these instances the Senator claimed that Nil.
Massey. in 1880, when he went to Alabama to
get married, charged the State seventy five dol
lars expenses in going to and from that State.
In another case Mr.. Flood claimed that the
superintendent Of Public Instruction had
charged fifteen dollars for attending meeting
of a Board which was held in his office III this
city.
These charges occasioned considerable discus
sion in the Senate. DR.. Dunn and others ex-
pressed perfect confidence in Mr.. Massey's in
tegrity and ability to fully explain these mat
tiers. The subject WINS referred to the Com
mittee on Public Institutions, which met yester-
day evening to consider charges against the
Board of Visitors Of Blacksburg College. Mr.
Masseys case did not come up, but will be heard
by the committee this evening at 4 O'Clock.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction, in
speaking OF these charges to representative OF
this paper this morning, said that he was salts
fed that lie could explain them satisfactorily
to the committee this afternoon. So far as the
charge for his trip to Alabama is concerned, Mr..
Massey said that in September 1890, he went to
tat State to marry the lady who is now his
wife. WA ere he received summons to at
tend an Important meeting Of the Board of
Visitors of the Blacksburg Mechanical College,
which took place at Mountain Top, in Abe
marie county, in this State. The visit necesst-
tated change of his plans and delayed him
some time. His marriage took place on October
ist of that year lie had, Mr. Massey said. paid
his expenses to Alabama, and was then upon q
mission of the highest Importance to him. He
had in order to comply with the summons to at
tend the Board meeting to come on here, and he
thinks, and his friends think, that it nothing
more than fair that he should be reimbursed for
the expense Incurred in making this extra trip.
He admits that he has free pass the rail
roads, but contends that that is given him in
his unofficial capacity and has nothing to do
with his charges for travelling expenses.
Mr.. Massey points out the fact that members
Of the Legislature and many other State au-
thorites, if not Judges, are furnished with free
railroad passes but the fact does not prevent
them from claiming the mileage allowed to
them by law. Now, SO far as the charge that
the Superintendent Of Public Instruction drew
fifteen dollars for the Board meeting which
took place in lis office in this city, Mr. Massey
says he does not clearly recoliect this case but
thinks probably, that it occurred in this way.
His official duties required him to make frequent
inspections Of the public schools institutions
and other educational institutions Of the State.
That while absent in some distant part Of the
State performing these duties he was summon
ed here to attend meeting of the Blacksburg
Board. The charge Of fifteen dollars was for the
expenses incurred in travelling from the point
where he then was 10 this city. He does not
think there was anything unjust in this charge.
Mr.. Massey is perfectly confident of his ability
to explain to the Committee on Public Institu-
lions this afternoon all OF these matters. He
has no lear but his course wi be approved.