The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-18
FORUM
Chesterfield Matter Again.

ChG0sGfuct0
Editor OF The virginian:
sir.-Pleare print the following letter, which
explains Itself:
My Dear Sir.-Thinking that you may be
somewhat interested in the matter ! deem II
not improper to call your attention Gas well as
that OF Mr.. Baker and Mr.. Ivey in the repre-
sentative capacity of each Of YOU'D. to an article
in the Peoples Forum Of The Richmond Viz
gilman of January 49, headed, Chesterfield
school Controversy" signed Chester
There ID a material mistake in the article.
and / deem It just to the people Of the county
at large, and particularly the board of super
visors referred to in that article wherein after
referring to Judge Watson and the Common
wealth attorney and the lack Of criminal svi-
-denee. 1t Is distinctly stated that they tmean.
ing the citizens committee / SUPPOSED later
prevailed on the board of supervisors to have
& Son, experts. which the board of supervisors
unwilling allowed. without authority OF law.
The language in quotation is the mistake to
which call attention.
The board of supervisors referred to the
which then had the financial interest of
both county and school funds under super
vision. And to show that this board Of su-
pervisors did not act unwingy at any time
or under any occasion bearing upon said In
vestigation 1t Is only necessary to call attention
to the actions of that board whenever they oc-
CURED. On the day DR.. Gillian requested in
writing an investigation (Which request is on
sive citizens and largest taxpayers Of Man.
chester and Bermuda district. who well
known and whose names can be obtained II
dsstred and where and from whom they OBJ
tame their facts and data appeared before that
board and made such full statement OF facts
and conditions as to the school funds in these
districts which had been ascertained by them.
rs to cause these citizens to believe that an In
vestigation into said matters essential
that II that board would order an investigation
along with that OF DR.. Gillian they these citi-
zens) would pay for said investigation OF the
schools out OF their funds. That board
declined their offer to pay. but deeming their
official duty to act in the premises appointed
special committee to employ expert accountants
10 10 irva ftuat hnf Hyajfa Cd
committee to sum of 5000 for this particular
service. Under the agreement made by this
committee with Messrs Boudar & Son. these
experts made their report. to this board which
was accepted and filed and paid for at the
time.
The result OF this first investigation was Of
such nature and showed such conditions that
the board deemed IL necessary to make Sec
ond agreement with thse same experts and
required them to make detailed statement OF
delinquences. II any. Of the different years with
respective amounts for each year. as to the
treasurers accounts and for the several school
districts of the county with their ana
delinauencies, IL any. These experts made their
detailed report required. giving the diff
ferent years and delnduencies Of the county
treasurer. and as TO school districts. which de-
tailed report was duly filed, and became mat
ter OF record in the Office Of that board. These
experts were then paid for these several investi-
cations and reports and discharge.
1t is absolutely impossible for anyone to
imagine the conditions which existed at the
time these Investigations were made and re-
ports filed before the board. where these dis
CrepancieS with their Inherent amounts, dates
and by whom the same due will appear. and
any citizen officer or lsyman does himself and
this board and taxpayers an infnsttra who I'M
dertakes permits himself form any
clusion to said conditions without investiEa-
ting the work and reports made by these
perts. which reports are file.
These facts and said reports show that the
board did not act unwngy. but o,lr in the
faithful discharge of a high and honorable duty
imposed upon them by the official position then
occupied by them. They acted upon facts as
they were reported to them. and having so acted
they with becoming dignity refused to rescind
what they had done. at the last and special
meeting held by :hat board when motion to
rescnd was made for that particular purpose
The same facts which this board acted on at
that time be still obtained TT this board
saw At to act. why should not others do like
wise? The door is open. Let somebody ex-
plain.
shall forward similar open letter To Hon
~. w. Baker and Hon. w. s. Tvey ana to The
Richmond Vtrgtnian, that you and each Of
you and the people generally know II You
and they desire what has taken place before
this board in regard to this investigation.
Yours truly,
T. NJ GREGORY
Woodland Heights. Jan It. 1912