Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-06-22
Communication


Mr. EDlToR:-
We were very much interest
ed in the communication from JUS
lice last week.
We think the action Of The Cpun-
tv School Board in increasing pay
of 2nd grade teachers and saving
resident graduates of our State
Norma!s shall he paid $40 IS all
right-'of course they will have to
depend on these two sclasses to
teach their schools, but what is,our
board of trustees to do unless the
higher authorities provide them
funds?
Publicity is the cure for ali our
troubles long this line. Our reo-
pie should know just what is done
by orr public officials, and list
how they are wrapped around the
little fingers Of a few.
If our enterprising editor would
attend the meetings and report GER
batim the proceedings of our board
Of Supervisors for at least twelve
months. the kink would be ierked
out of the lions tail, and we would
soon know "who is who,' or in 9TH
re words we would know whether
we have any supervisors or not or
whether they are mere figurehead,s,
and a few others run the whole
county. To illustrate Ono better
time than right now; At M et-
ing of the supervisors before the
last county levy was made. Mr..
Jim Bumper went before the board
and made inquiry as to when
the board would proceed to lay the
next county levy, and the board I'M
formed Mr. Bumper That at their
next regular meeting such action
wonld be taken.
"All right" said Mr.. Bumper
"Mr Scniggs and | want to be heard
are all large taxpayers and we think
we have a right to be heard.
Lo at the next meeting of the
Board of Supervisors MessrsB Bumps
Scriggs and Skinner were on hand
Now it seems that before the
county levy had been raised 1Oc fol
roads and bridges and other public
improvements. Our board OF schoo
trustees this wear asked the boarc
of Supervisors for an increase IN
county levy for the benefit oil
schools. Our commemorative at
torney said the l0c increase was
not needed this year for roads OF
other public improvements. but ad-
yised the supervisors to simply
tronsfer this Zoe increase and use
it this year for the schools and in
that wav our taxes wOuld not be
increased from what they were last
year. but right here stepped in
Messrs. Skinner,Scriggs and Bumps
and said mo" We are the big
gest taxpayers in the county, your
schools have enough money. The
commonwealth attorney says you
do not need this 10c increase thi:
wear and it. must come off and il
did come off.
Now there's the whole situation
in a nutshell.
Now these three men had NJ
more right to be heard than Others
in the county in proportion, at leas
to the amount of tax they pay
strange too that while these very
: men who objected to an incre ase il
[ the county levy. that would fal
-, equally upon every taxpayer would
| venture to say, were you to go tf
them with subscription paper To-
money to help build schoolhous'
or help pay a teacher in some ne
: elected neighborhood, cheer
, fully give you more than this littl'
: increase in their tax bill woul(
, amount to.
Now some Of our supervisor
may argue that while these mel
had hearing before them they dit
: not persuade us for we INTENDED
, doing just as we did anyway. Well
, we don't believe you.
Why not advertise the fact tina
at certain meeting certain thing
) are to bp considered and thus Civ
5 every body chance for a hearing.
Think Of this too-those mel
e could step across the street and at
}, tend meeting of the board and b
back in their Office in 30 minutes
. while it is another matter for
: man to ride Is or 20 miles to al
tend meeting. 1t is just thi
way with the majority of the pee
ple-we think we have called a
public servants. men who are caps
HE men who can't be run" bv