The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-02-22
did NOT
DEMAND INQUIRY
RIC Nd. VA. snac,a1

r 1 c II N o N d. VA, Special
Though every inch of ground was
bitterly contested. the Chesterfield CIT
liens who appeared before the SEN
ate Committee on Public Institutions
last night TO show why the State De
partment OF Education should be sub
/ Jected 10 an investigation, forced rem
resentatives Of that department TO al
NIT that changes had been allowed in
the records of the office; that ali the
county superintendents have not been
required to file their reports on time
and have not been prosecuted for fail
ing 10 observe the law; that SuDerin-
b tcndent Eggleston had openly en-
dorSed superintendent who admitted
mat MS report, as to money received
ana expended, was erroneous; that
they did not know whether the Ches-
terheid schools had been visited bv an
inspector in the last six or seven wears
The hearing consumed more than
three hours, and it was consequently
too late for the committee to go into
executive session to determine mon
recommendations to the Senate. This
session viii probably be held Tues
day afternoon.
The resolution calling for the in
Sestigauon has already been passed
! by the House Of Delegates. 1t was
introduced in the body several DAYS
ago by Captain w. w. Baker. the
'Chesterfeld delegate, and almost
Unanimously approved.
-Four citizens spoke for Chesterfield
county The Department Of Public
instruction was represented by Su-
perintendent Joseph d. Eggleston. Jr..
and Sescretary Reaumur c. Stearnes.
Associated with them was Attorney
Charles Lassiter, of Petersburg, who
represented the Bermuda School Dis
trict of Chesterfield.
Opened for Chesterfield.
" w. Lambert one Of the Chester
4 heid citizens, opened the argument
II being understood that he or one of
his associates would have the privi-
leSe of closing.
We are here before you. gentle
men of the committee" Mr.. Lambert
said to ask you to favorably report
TINS resolution in order that the af-
fairs of the Department of Public In
struction may be investigated by a
legislative committee. We will give
you the results of our own investiRa-
ton in Chesterfield, and when you un-
derstand them we believe you will see
that similar conditions probably exist
at the very door OF the State depart
ment. We are told that they are
much worse in more remote parts of
the State.
Charge Negligence.
Al the outset we wish il understood
mat We are not bringing personal
charges. We do not charge that Mr.
Eggieston has stolen anything. we
do not charge that anyone is guilty of
/ anything criminal
We do charge, however, that the
OihctaiS of the Department of Public
instruction have been negligent So
Negligent were they that If we had not
become dissatisfied with conditions
and started our little row in Chester
ted that county would have lost SIS
900. We have saved that much in a
county that lies almost within "a stones
throw Of Mr.. E.gEleSton'S Office. We
believe that $1,000 will be saved 10
the State If you have this invcstica-
ton.
Among our charges is this: That
Mr.. Eggleston, or some of his officials
nave allowed records in the office OF
the Department OF Public Instruction
TO be altered-not when filed, but
months later.
i hand you two Chesterfield school
reports-both for the same year. 1910
II you will look at them you will see
that IN many important details they
are diSsimilar. The first report we got
from Mr.. Eggleston's office before we
started TO investigate conditions in our
county. Later We asked Mr.. Eggle-
ston for another copy. He gave IL TO
us, but we saw that numerous items
had been altered. These items were
Changed after the original report had
been in the office many months. They |
were not changed until we started our
investigation. These items refer TO !
dollars; not scholars We have never
been able TO get a satisfactory expla- !
nation.
we first appealed to our trustees |
but could get no explanation. We
then called on our division sunerin-
tendent, DR.. Charles Hazen. He asked |
fer ten minutes time. Then he re
turned and said that he had resigned.
A short time later a statement was
published as coming from Mr.. EggIe-
ston' IN which Dr. Hazen was highly
recommended and his resignation de.
plored.
Next we called on Mr.. EggIeston.
lie treated us courteously but was
unable to throw any light on the sit
uation' Now, gentlemen. we are ap-
pealing to YOU The matter is not
purely local one. Every trail leads u