The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-10-01
Mr.. Roberts Makes Reply.

Hood River, Sept. %, l9O3-To the School
Directors of District No. 5, (OdelD Hood River
Personalities, though amusing If cleyerly
done, cannot be permitted to becloud or pre-
vent us sticking tQ-the point at issue between
us, our teachers salaries and the ability o.
the dist let to pay as good or better than ouI
neighborlng schools We therefore pass such
personalities as exhibited in yours of recent
date as of no consequence, and unworthy Of
further notice.
In my last, gave a detailed statement OF
cash on hand, and approximating from last
years income the probable sum at your dis
posal to run our school during this year, and
deducting expense account showing we could
afford to be liberal and up to date with our
teachers, sui, as mentioned, | was "anx-
ious and willing TO be corrected" This state.
ment of funds was read direct from our county
superintendents office at The Dales, over the
signature of the assistant superintendent
You inform me, and through the press the
voters and taxpayers, that the statement is
false, misleading and deceptive" An ex-
animation of our school board clerks books
viii show this financial statement was cor.
rect 1t Is now up to you to prove your posi-
tion by figures and statements of fact, as vi.
tuperation and personalities do no good nor
prove anything. If you cannot thus prove
your position, then you most certainly owe
us public and ample apology for such q
gross and uncalled Tor insult
We would be the last man to doubt the abil-
ity OF the esteemed young ladies who teach
our school, and trust in their success but If
they had received $40 each per month more,
| would nave mad more confidence still and so
FAR as II yet understand the situation, we could
easily have afforded it; now unfortunately
100 late, having signed a years contract,
which no doubt Is duly filed with our county
superintendent. However this discussion
was begun with an eye for future benefits; we
fiatter ourselves We are succeeding admirably
and greater attention will be given to our
school affairs than of late.
That Scotchman should have the impu-
dence to criticise school work is really too bad
Everybody knows, of course that his native
country away up there in the North seas is
totally unknown, and never was recognized a
factor in making the world wiser or better
through literature schools and colleges. arts
or industry! But have some consolation re-
naming. 1t was sSamuel johnson who hated
Scotsmen with all his heart, when asked by
"BOZzy:' Cant you get any good out of a
Scotsman" answered: "Yes, when you catch
MN young enough Now, was caught
ing into me, among other things, one thing as
old as his venerable self, viz that when pay
taxes we want to know what's done with the
money and to get value for it. And just as
certainly as have been one of the heaviest
taxpayers for ten years In our district from
leased and personal property, | have every
right, regardless of nationality, to INQUIRE in
TO its ex penditure,
It seems in that country, they must not be
very smart either, when they actually pay
schSol maams as much cash per month AS we
dO-where the buy ing power of money is
much greater-give them IL months paw in
the year, and finally, when hard work and
old age comes along actually pensioning
them for life, just as If teachers had been pub.
lie beneiactors.
regret must still ma intain that none of
our directors visited our school while in ses.
sion i'm l902-3-though also denied-the school
record confirms it, our late principal so prO-
claimed il when remaTking: at was discour-
aging to say the least" G. g. ROBERTS.