Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1898-05-14
Letter From Ex .suporinrcllden& 0l
Schools.

L
Intended no wrong personally. From
my many years intimate acquain-
lance with him | would not harbor
the suspicion that any error that he
may have fallen into proceeded from
the heart. What does the "oflicial
secretary of the Board of Education"
say in response to DR.. Mapp's in
lquiry? Upon examination of the
annual report of the county superin-
tendent for the session 1885 '86, L
find that the county superintendent
was allowed for the year $84.39 for
his incidental expenses" how much
wiser then is the Doctor now than
before? Every county superintendent
of schools is furnished with copy of
those reports and repetition of the
same thing does not give any addi-
tional weight. This much then falls
to the ground If the said "oflicial
secretary" only meant that the
county superintendent report stated
that certain amount was incurred
by the county superintendent for his
expenses in official duties, l take no
issue; but when he says these ex-
penses were allowed, most emphati-
call deny that he or anybody else can
| find any such statement in any an
nual report that ever made during
the sixteen years of my official life
and l never lodged behind any incl
dentals or other doubtful sections to
cover up any school monies received.
ali of my reports itemized and plainly
stated all amounts received for the
schools from every source, and the
same for every expenditure. They
are spread on record and the severest
criticism is invited. 1t is unfortunate
that the said secretary failed to
state who allowed these expenses. II
/ they were allowed by the county or
district school boards their respective
records should show it. If by the
State School Board the number and
date of the warrant could be pro-
duced, and by whom paid. The
county treasurer's books will show If
paid by him. But who made out the
annual report for the last scholastic
year OF my incumbency2 My term OF
office expired on the first day OF July
and the annual report could not be
made out until after the annual meet
ing of the county school board, whose
business it is to settle with the coun-
ty treasurer and make final close of
school finances for the scholastic
year. This meeting by law was held
in August. From it's reports the
county superintendent received his
figures for his annual report to
the State Board. l do not re-
member attempting to perform
any official act after my legal term
expires. Yes, Doctor, there is mis-
take somewhere, and the sooner-that
mistake is ferreted out, exposed and
corrected the better for all parties
concerned. No Doctor, the fact that
l did not receive any compensation
except my salary, for expenses in
Cured, does not prove that their
payment was "either unusual or I'M
just" But my annual meeting with
the State superintendent very few
sessions were missed by me) and
never having heard the matter men,
toned either in public or in private
leads me to the conclusion that such
expenses were not allowed in the
counties during my term of Office.
Accomac stood in the front rank and
and was largely consulted as to her
school workings by the other coun-
ties. What has been the custom
since does not concern me and OF
which have nothing to say. That
these expenses ought to have been
paid, is not the question, but they
were not, and for the simple reason
no authority was found for it. Yes,
the State Superintendent travelling
expenses incurred in official duties,
not exceeding $500 are paid, but are
paid by strict enactment OF the law,
Now if there is law allowing the
same right to the county superin-
tendents the law can be produced
and that ends the controversy; but
should there be no such law, it would
be we'll for the county school officers,
to take heed lest there be trouble
in the future. What differences the
clerk of the State Board may make
or indeed anybody else, are utterly
worthless. ITO the law and to the
testimony Law officers must be
guided by the law. The highest Of
fetal is as much bound by it as the
humblest citizen. think l will be
sustained in the assertion that public
funds, the result of taxation drawn
from the hard earnings of the people,
should of all others be held most sa-
cred and be expended only as the
strietest construction of the law Will
permit. Again regretting having
been drawn into this unpleasant
controversy and disavowing any hard
feelings towards any, believing what
ever errors have been committed,
have been of the head and not of the
heart, and sincerely hoping the time
will never come when the slightest
cloud will cast its shadow upon the
escutcheon of our schools or its Off
GERS. am
Respectfully,
JIG WEAVER,
Ey ~ Su1,t of Schools