The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-11

Among the many misleading statements
made in the campaign circular which
Chairman c. b. Slemp, of the Republic
can Committee. recently published in the
News Leader, none Is more glaring or
unpardonablc than the one pretending TO
show that there is Il difference OF over
$4,000 between Mr.. Swanson's figures
and those OF Secretary Frank j. Brent
IN regard to the total expenditure Tor
thc public schools for the year ending
July alst, 1904 State Chairman O. B..
Slemp addressed letter TO Mr.. Brent,
asking him what was the total eXpen-
.tllture for schools In the counties and
cities of the commonwealth for the school
year ending July 81, 1901" Mr. Brent
stated that it was sl,a9O,9sS Mr.. Swan
son stated in his Hanover speech that
''rhe total expenditure for tic public
schools in 1901 was S2,5ll.ooo. 1t will be
seen that the statement OF Mr. Swanson
docs not confinc the figures to the eNpen-
litures in "thc counties and cities. Mr..
Slenlp's question TO Mr. Brent did
81. < 10 Z. x
conflne the expenditures TO "tho coun-
ties and Cities There is no con-
t..adic,ion between Mr., Brent and MIR.
swanson The truth IS, Mr. Swanson
,rderstatGd the amount OF the cSpcndl-
are FOR public schools for the year end
'.iy 1885, Mr.. Slemp seems 10 have con-
yen;catly forgotten that the State Of Vir-
glE!0 expends every year 4 great amount
2G money or public educational institu-
tons. But when this Republican circu
lar was issued, attempting to show that
%thcre was 4 difference, there was in the
possession of Mr. slemp II letter from
Secretary Brent, explaining 10: him fully
that there YVES no discrepancy, and stat
ing to him that Mr.. Swanson had under
stated the amount; and yet, with this
letter in his possession, Chairman Slemp
permitted a campaign circular to be sent
out from Republican headquarters, claim
ing that there was a difference of over
$5oc,0o) IN the two statements.
In his letter TO Mr., slemp, Mr. Brent
SAID: /:
: T. a
1.-THE iisr,,.s quoted By Mr. Swanson
at Hanover Courthouse We're evidently
based upon the article in the Times-Ds-
patch, TO which you refer. The state
ncnt was prepared in this office, and
was, to come extent, an estimate rather
than u compilation OF accurate figures;
though, upon investigation, ] find that
it Is rLtt1er an under statement than an
oVcr statement OF the amount expended
by Virginia last year for public educa-
lion. The amount mentioned in my letter
OF the 10Th instant 10 you, as embracing
the total expenditure for schools in the
counties and cities of the Commonwealth
for the year ending July 81, 1904. is the
amount that viii appear in table Of our
report .and does not include the amount
paid out by the second auditor nor the
amounts appropriated TO the state Fe-
male Normal School, William and Mary
College, Virginia Normal ard Industrial
Institute, at Petersburg, not to mention
the amounts paid 10 the Virginia Poly
technlc institute, the University of Nir-
gina and the Virginia Military Institute.
all Of which are parts Of oul great pub
lie school system. Neither does 1t in
clude the amounts paid out for our sum
,ner schools where from 2,oOO to 2,J0G OF
our public school teachers receive instruc-
tion every year from four to six weeks,
You will thus see that the statement in
the Times Dispatch of the 18th Of the
amount expended for public education In
Virginia for the year ending 1901 is far
short Of the amount actually expended
for public education In Virginia
This letter was written on September
eath, and on September 3Oth Alr. Slemp
wrote his acknowledgment. The pubica-
lion In the News Leader was made on
or about October 5th, showing that the
Republican chairman had had Mr.. Brents
letter In hand several days when he
caused his misleading statement to BIZ
published The incident carries with II
lis own comment.
In ordisr to show just what the Denao-
cratic administration is doing for public
education, we print the following tabu-
lated statement
EXPENDITURES FOR FREE
SCHOOLS, 1901
Pay OF teachers ,........,,,,.., 81 ,66s. 800 2
Pay OF district clerks .,,,,..,., aoe32 p
Pay OF division superintendts. 55.lD 4
Paw OF treasurers ..,,..,.., 1868 .
Rent account .)...,f..., l6Gl5 9
1fuel and lights ..............,.. 72,729 T
Insurance account .,..,.,,,..... Gag
Textbooks for INDECENT pupils. 2i50
Expenses for county and cleo
i6rnl i,oards ..............,..,. i2.o5o 9
Oihct contingent, expenses..,. f2.5ls :
School journal ........,,..,..,. 5la
Summer normal schools --,..... 900
g Central oftic. ....,.,s,,.,..,... 1895 7
l,.1 a .