Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1904-03-23
STATEMENT OF FACTS.

As certain statements have recently been circulated in relation to the acts of the present board of trustees of this school district, the Journal Miner has made some effort to become fa- miliar with conditions as they exist and gives the public the result.
 Our public schools have never reached higher standard of efficiency than under the management of the present board. They have made every effort to give the patrons the best ser vice possible, not only in the selection of teachers, but in business manage ment as we'll. In so doing they have incurred the ill-wiII of a very few persons. Some whose friends or rela- tives have not secured places upon the teaching force, others who have placed personal greed or gain above the well fare of the district. In the construc- tion of the new school building which has met the hearty approval of the public in general, criticism has been made, because the board has not per mitted any advantage to be taken of the interest of the public.
 A report has been circulated that the board has refused to exhibit the account of the expenditures made upon the new building. From what the Journal Miner can learn all of the vouchers for the payment of money | by the board, must go to the county superintendent of schools, Professor Jolly. It is he who issues the war rants for the payment of the money, and he cannot do so without these vouchers authorizing him so to do, and the board does not handle a cent of the school money. These vouchers are on file in Prof. Jolly's office, and open to the inspection of any one who may take the trouble to examine them. The board of trustees has also careful and detailed record of all vouchers issued, which is kept in the office of Superintendent Billinghurst at his office in the new building, which are also open to inspection.
 Another report has been circulated that the present board is uncompro- misingly opposed to the erection of a primary department in West Prescott. The action of the board in following the instructions of the patrons of the district, should be a refutation of such statement. We have it however from the board, that it is not opposed to taking such action as may be de- sired by the people of the district, and individually favor the establish ment of such schools and buildings as they may be instructed to build.
 In a community the size of Pres colt, it is impossible to please all of the people, and some criticism has been made in the erection of the new building. It is urged that the board should have constructed two build- ings, one in West Prescott the other upon the present site. The board could not have done this under the expressed wish and directions of the voters. To have done this would not only have been unwarranted but un- lawful, as we'll.
 A full investigation into all of these matters can be easily made, and we believe that no criticism can be made when the facts are known.
 The Journal Miner has taken the trouble to do this, for the purpose of allowing those who may so desire to verify the truth of the statements made. We are interested in the schools and desire that they are kept at their present high standard, and believe that the interests of the pat rons will be better served by the pres ent board. A, change at this time will be at least experimental, and no mat ter the capabilities of a successor to Judge Andrews, the person would be handicapped by the lack of a full knowledge of the policy and plans of the board, which we believe will be of untold value to every parent and pupil of the district.
 Any citizen, man or woman, who has paid county or territorial school tax during the past year, or the parent or guardian of child of school age, can vote at the coming election.