Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-03-11

The Committees Report.

The Legislative committee appointed
to investigate the charges. against the
officers and teachers of the Deaf, Dumt
and Blind Institution at Staunton
made their report Saturday, after i
very thorough, impartial and patien
investigation of tie matter.
The evidence upon which the com
mittee made its recommendations, ant
the public impressions concerning thu
institution and its management are
in our opinion, widely dissimilar. The
committee acted on one part of thu
evidence-that which showed a lack o
harmony between those in authority
and a too free use of whiskey at thu
institution-while the public ha
been wrought up over sensational evi
dence that the committee discarded a.
unworthy of consideration.
The committees report and the evi
dence agree that there was but on
case of immortality at the institution
in the last thirty years and that ont
affecting teacher now principal of {
similar school in Western State, ant
who was prevented by unavoidable
circumstances from coming to VirgInis
to defend himself.
editorials from which the Inference
could be drawn that immortality an(
drunkenness were vices now practiceC
at the institution, and that the
charges, which covered a period Of
time running back to 1868, applied il
full force and effect to the present
time. In this way a strong public
sentiment against the institution was
To-
every samblance of truth and which
was answered to the complete salts
faction of the committee.
The editor of this paper was appoint
ed a member of the Board of Directors
in June, 1894, to fill the unexpired term
of the late Col. George Dennis. Tha,
term practically ended with the Janu
airy meeting, and in fact with the pres
ent month Personally, we have the
very kindest feeling for the committee
and for the many courtesies extended
us. We believe, also, that the report
of the committee will be generally en-
dorsed and that very few will be found
to offer criticism against the conduct
Of the investigation or its results.
But in justice to the retiring board
and to defend it against a possibly er.
roneous impression on the part of some,
we call attention to the following facts
There were no charges against the
present board. There we're no charges
or evidence against any teacher or Of
fcer that embraced the period repre-
sented by the board as at present con-
stituted.
No complaint against a single officer
Or teacher was filed before the present
board or was brought to its attention.
There was not witness who knew
anything about the institution who did
not testify that it's management had
improved greatly in the last two or
three years and that it was in better
condition now than it had ever been
within their knowledge.
The committee itself reported that
the management of this institution
has materially improved within the
past two years"
Out of all the evidence intended to
prove immortality, neglect of duty,
drunkenness on part of officers, teach
ers, or pupils, there was none offered
that covered the two last years and
none that reflected in the slightest up
of the institution.
loiiCNiuS uutu oHO CoHLhitoee louuu
the only possible solution to the ques
ton that would have satisfied public
we have no criticism to
offer against it's action. We trust only
that the retiring board will not be I'M
fairly judged for what it was in no way
or blamed for a failure to
correct abuses that were never brought
to its attention and which happened. if
at all, prior to it's appointments Char.
IottesUiWe Progress