Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-16
THE BOOK CONTRACT
GOVERNOR o'feRRALL KNOWS or NO
REASON TO SUSPECT SCANDAL
The Old Arrangement wss Rsnswed ON
Purely Businsss orounds-osmb''ns nj
J.ckson City-Executiyc Acts.

Governor O'Ferrall was seen by Dis
match reporter yesterday I'm regard TO
the alleged scandal In connection with the
adop,ion OF textbooks for the puohc
schools OF Virginia. The Governor said
that he had read the report that hau
appeared In the Norfolk Pilot concerning
the matter and had also seen the editoriai
Comment of other papers. but that he
knew of no ground to suppose that any
thing wrong had beep done In the adop-
ton of the books. Certainly, IL there u
that wrong-doing rests upon three peo-
ple" continued his Excellency. "and. they
are the Governor, the Attorney-General,
and the Superintendent OF Public In
structlon. who constitute the State Beard
of Education. L desire 10 s.ale me-
would not have my administration tainted
by any such thing. but know or noth-
ing 10 warrant any belief that any scan
dal entered in the action OF any member
of the board in the selection or schooi
books
The Governor said that the body had
adonted the same books which had been
In use in the public schools In virginia
for the past four years because the schooi
superintendents from all over the state
had written to the board that they were
In favor OF practically no changes wnat.
ever. Governor OFerall also remarked
th-t nv keeping the old books the board
had saved thousands OF dollars to the
people OF the Commonwealth. that would
necessarily have been spent had there
been a change. He did not think 1t was
the proper thing for the board to incur
such expense in such stringent times as
then existed. Every member Oh the
board voted for the books. Governor
O'Ferrall said that he would be glad to
be made cognizant Of any foundation Tor
such allegations as had been made, as
suring the Dispatch man that he would
have a prompt investigation.
GAMBLING AND RACING.
Speaking Of the vice now carried on
at Jackson City, just across the river
from Washington. the Governor said that
II was his purpose to bring the defect
Of the States gambling laws to the at
tention OF the Legislature as soon as II
convenes again. He was out and out
opposed to gambling, pool-selling. ana
jack-leg horse-raclng, such as Is carried
on at Jackson City. but under the present
statute he was powerless so far as the
racing at that place was concerned. His
EACelleDcy eApldlHtu VIC
element Of Washington came over to the
Virginia Monte Carlos to play the races
because the laws here allow pool-selling
on the tracks of chartered driving parks
and fair associations.
OTHER CAPITOL NEWS.
The Governor has appointed DR.. J. Hall
Moore, Of Richmond. and DR.. ID. y. Rust,
of Alexandria. members Of the State
Board of Dental Examiners for terms
OF three years. DIR. Moore succeeds HIM
self, while DIR. Rust Is the successor OF
DIR. Gingrich.
Governor O'Ferrall has also appointed
Messrs. S. p. Reed and James w. Hen
drck commissioners 10 act in conjunction
with two commissioners to be appointed
by the Governor of North Carolina for
the purpose of establishing the boundary
line between Mecklenburg county. Va.
and the counties of Granville, Rowan,
and Vance in North Carolina.
Governor O'Ferrall yesterday refused
to pardon James III. Clements. OF Nanse-
mond county, who. in February last, was
sentenced to the penitentiary for year
and half for housebreaking.
The county treasurers and clerks OF
the State are making their reports very
promptly TO the Auditor. Among the
callers at the Capitol yesterday were
Messrs. S. y. Coleman. Sheriff OF APP
pomattox; 'Arista Hoge. Treasurer of
Stanton city; ]. J. Porter. Clerk OF
Louisa County Court, and j. s. Barbour
Thompson. of Danville.