Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-28
HON. JOHN E. MASSEY.
CARD IN REFERENCE TO THE
CHARGES MADE AGAINST HIM.
Explanation OF tho Law Under which He
Acted and Statement Of Pre-
ccdents.


Mniie tie matters cohil"iH't VI "Vio
Undergoing investigation desired to have
lem "sifted 70 the bottom" and thought
f..t not 10 say anything TO tho public in
,.rown vudication until tho committee
should have completed It's work.
Now. the committee having made its re-
,.ort iustice O. myself 20 my friends, TO
,,r,i, fairness. and honesty. and 20 the
,.,rt, at whose hands received the Office
ih..d. requires mo 10 give The public a
,Is.n statement of the laws under which /
lave acted and the manner IN which
i..,a construed md oboyed them.
y.gr uniform courtesy and fair dealing
,.....ra.e noe 90 ask the liberty Of making
statement through your valuable and
i.urruu-.y-rcad PAPER
Ia..ire i0 say. b fore stating the law
o.l ,ne facts. chat have no purpose OF
.re o. indulge Ia harsh terms or sharp
OIL. usms of nav aesailaat. Otors NAV
..rr. MN. but ! Dty him. lie will, 1
...t. End that the n0tOriety be has thus
..t.a,rd vail prove both Improbable and
ilr4cusome.
TIE LAW.
The ffth subdivision Of section 1896 Of
tfr Code OF 1887 saws
1. shall Doe his duty chat IL. Of the Su-
..r..f.uient Of Public Instruction. as OF
o.. ID. mae be consistent with his other Of
f.al engagements to make tours Of in
...rtou among the public free schools
throughout the state
Compliance with this law requires the
>.nrrnteudont 10 be from his Office when
r he believes the interest of public
...ltiou can be- best promoted by IL.
Irs.arl it my duty not only 20 make
t.ra q inspection among the schools of
g.. state. but 90 encourage and attend
,..affnc4 Of teachers and uperntendents
frtae purpose of studying together the
f... systems Of school organization and
o.. lest methods Of discipline and teach
.is1 regard it my dnty 10 attend meet
-..- NJ -uperntcndcuts and educators OF
l.Irr States. and 20 visit industrial and
,.tnr Progressive institutions OF learning
f.tl may acquaiat myself with what Is
f.,r done in educational lines IN other
..t... and thus better qualify myself for
... Ulgu and responsible duties Of my Of
Int1e performance Of this duty | have
attended educational conventions and as
4.ors. and visited schools IN several
Santos. and attended the last National
..ilouM Convention which was held
J.. toronto. Canada.
tfteulauce upon these meetings II
..rcflv 90 the interest of the pubic free
Yls # Virginia Just a. much so as AZ
t.rllnce upon teachers meetings" Oh
'.nmcr normal institutes IS.
Ihe fourteenth subdivision OF section
f...t the Code of 1851 apprOpriates sum
n.ft, exceed in the aggregate $500 IN any
wear. tO Doe approved by the Board OF
Education. 90 delray the necessary travel
I.r expenses of the Superintendent OF
In.lc instruction while engaged ia the
.r...- oft hlS Office.
In. Committee ON Pubic Institutions
n.. Iiucation decided that this fund can
tleu-td 90 deiray expenses incurred
D.. attending meetings of boards OF Visl-
t.r. Of colleges or like institutions. but
must bee. 3D.. the law prescubes. used 10 de-
r.. the superintendent Necessary
travelling expenses while engaged IN the
n.i,sof hls Ofhce.n 10 sustain this dccl-
son they refer 10 the section above quoted.
a.I 10 the decision of the Court OF Ap-
r.I. trustees of Normal School cS. Audi
.r. Virginia School Reports, volume .,
i-'-J.'
Livery dollar drawn under the foregoing
4g. and more besides, has been expended
800 accordance with ITS provisions.
Ibs Superintendent of Public lnstruc-
tiou is. er-0fci0. "a member Of the Board Of
Visitors of the Agricultural and Mechani-
cal College. / was also a member OF the
Executive Committee and the Committee
of Control Of the Experiment station
during the year 1850 oud part Of 1871. ana
had II attend meetings OF these commit
tees IA addition to those OF the board.
Section 1896 OF the Code OF 1887 says;
Such reasonable expenses as the visit
ors NAV incur IN the discharge Of their
duties shall be paid out OF the funds OF
Honest differences Of opinion may be
entertained as 10 what are reasonable
expenses"
Members of former boards whose names
are synouymes of intelligence. honesty,
aud integrity, thought $500 salary 10 inc
rector and ten cents per mile for gong TO
aud the same sum for returning from each
meeting Of the board, and five dollars per
day for each days attendance Tor each OF
the other members, reasonable and proper
expenses. | have in my possession re-
ceipted bills made In accordance with
these rates of charges.
Most Of those who composed tie boards
which thus construed the law, and charged
accordingly. are among the most honored
and worthy citizens of Virginia. and the
announcement of their names would pre-
clude all Suspicion OF their slightest pur-
pose or wish to do anything which they
aid not conscentiOusly believe TO be right.
| have their names, but forbear men
tionlng them because II Is not pleasant 10
have ones name placed in the line OF
criticism before the public, though his
every sct may have been Just and proper
and susceptible Of perfect vindicatlon.
AGGREGATION OF EXPENSES OF BOARD.
In July. 1885. tho expenses of board
meeting are charged as one item they
aggregated S34460. In September OF the
same year they aggregated $AS. In
January, 1886. the expenses OF the board
meeting were S453.60. In March OF the
same year they were 1902.
REDUCTION OF EXPENSES.
subsequent meeting of the board it
was resolved to reduce the expenses OF the
members from ten cents per mile each way
aud IS per day to five cents per mile each
way and - per day:
In lssS both the charges of mileage and
per diem were abolished. Since then men,
bers Of the board have charged the amount
OF the railroad fare of the roads over which
they travelled and the amount of their
hotel bills.
These charges varied according to the
distances travelled and the expenses in-
Cured by the respective members, but l
do not believe any member charged dime
more than no believed himself to be
honestly entitled TO. The rector receives
~ INV.
IL is well-settled rule Of law that wit
nesses are entitled to mileage from the
place from which they are summoned.
This equitable rule IS equally applicable TO
members of the Board of Visitors when
called to attend special meetings Of tchca
rfy Uere not before dppr'Sed.
As my duties required me TO be from
NY Office q considerable portion OF my
time, was sometimes nearer the places
az which meetings were held than some
Others. Ny expenses in those cases were
less than theirs. When oficisl duties re-
CURED me TO be at my Office and meetings
were held there made no charge at all.
Once, while out of the State on busi-
ness Of importance 10 myself. 1 receiv ed q
telegram informing me that business OF
Importance 10 the Virginia Agricultural
and Mechanical College required prompt
attention. | postponed the business
which had taken me from home and went
NJ once TO attend to the interest of the
college, and then returned TO the place
from which was called.
As thus ezra trip was taken wholly IN
the interest OF the college charged il the
sfoe' amount Of the extra expense incurred
IA ITS interest.
PERSONAL.