Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-12-29
GOV. o,FERRALL's ANSWER.

BOarQ or FuDllC inSCruCtlOu, ldS1 hiS u U
gave to the press statement in reply
to the charges by the Norfolk Pilot
that corrupt methods were used In
awarding the contract for school books
to the American Book Company. John
E. Massey, Superintendent of Public
Instruction, did not join in signing the
card for the reason that he proposes to
seek redress from the courts.
The Governor and Attorney General,
after quoting the headlines in the ar
ticle and mentioning the fact that 1t
was not signed, say:
This article charges that the public
school book list for 1894 was adopted
by the Board of Education with in
decent and unseemly haste. and of the
previous book list $500 says: The star
chamber list OF Mach 25 was revised,
and the last of May or the first Of June,
1890, the university books were put
back.
The Board Of Education met on the
18th day of March, 1894, at the Office of
the Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton. When this board met to perform
like duty in 1871, its meeting was held
on the 9th day of February; 1878, in
June. 1882, March Is; 1856, May 13;
1890, March 25 and June 4. OF these
seven meetings three were held 10
March, one in February, one in May
and one in June. The 1890 book list
was adopted March % and June 4. Can
the most sensitive and fastidious per-
son properly apply the articles strong
language to either board?
"rhe article says: There must be an
investigation. Not an investigation by
committee appointed by the Gov
ernor, because such committee must
necessarily pass upon the Governors
official negligence, to say the least of it.
The construction placed upon the
constitution by the board, composed of
Governor Lee, Superintendent Buchau-
an and Attorney General Ayers, was
this: There can be but one book list.
Every four years list is adopted
School superintendent for cities and
counties were called upon to express to
the board their views, offer suggestions
and criticize the books in use.
Extracts from the reports of the
county and city superintendent are
then given, and almost without excep-
ton they show that no change in the
books was desired. Upon this evil
dence, the card says, the book-list was
adopted.
The statement goes on to deal with
the Pilots charges as to the contract
and says
"The form of CHS contract had been
in use for years, its every stipulation,
term and condition had been agreed
upon and determined by the parties
and it only remained to write out what
had been agreed and submit the same
to the Governor for his approval and
signature, and who should do this was
matter of no consequence. When re-
duced to writing and signed by the
Governor the contract had on it the
terms, ETC., as agreed between the par
ties to it-then and now believed to be
for the good of the community and the
discreet, proper and honest exercise OF
the authority and power entrusted by
the constitution and laws of Virginia
to the board of education. The records
of the board are kept open to inspec-
lion, as the law directs. They are in
the custody of their secretary, ]. A,
McGilvray, efficient, industrious kind
and courteous. He is ready and
prompt to make copies of papers and
exhibit the minutes, contracts and se. otn
CT papers to any and all who come to
him with authority from the board or
any member of it. What more can
any reasonable man ask9
"Mr. Massey is known throughout
the State. He has served with dis
tinction and honor in the General As
sembly, with ability managed the audi
tors office, filled the high place Of
Lieutenant-G Governor and is now serv-
ing his tecond term as superintendent
of public instruction. This long and
varied service to the Commonwealth
should have protected him from an as
sault through the columns of news
paper, instigated by whom he knows
not. Mr.. Massey met the charges pre-
ferred by State Senator Flood in the
Senate, session of 1891 '92, and was I'M
harmed" After quoting from section
1472 of the code, the penalty for any
school officer who takes money or any
reward for his influence in securing
contracts for any school supply, the
card closes as follows:
sin the light of day, 60 before the
grand inquest of the country, make
your accusations, and take the conse-
Quences. Do not stab in the dark.
The American Book Company, of
New York, has sent the following for
publication:
"We have read the sensational arti-
Gle published in the Norfolk Pilot of
Sunday last charging the State board
of education of Virginia and our repre-
sentative with wholesale bribery and
corruption in connection with the
adoption of textbooks for the State
and awarding contracts for tine supply
of the same. The proper tribunal to
investigate such charges is court Of
the Commonwealth of Virginia, and
we shall only trespass on your space
at this time to say that every material
charge, SO far as it affects this COM
pany or its representatives, its dealings
or its methods, is misleading, false and
libelous, and we assure the people
of Virginia that the falsity of these
charges and their libelous char
acter will be fully established
by suits which will be instituted at