The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-11
Liquor Referendum Not Men.
toned, but Shipment of Liquor
to Dry Territory, He Saws,
Should Be Forbidden--Statc
Should Care for Dependant
Classes and Treat Chronic In.
cbriates.


Classes and Treat Chronic In.
cbriates.
teachers arc being better prep.,cd ~
meet advancing standards and those
IN charge are entitled TO the confidence.
support and cooperation OF our u"n.
pie. hSo
In 1905 there were sovcnty-four blrh
i sirn3ois, whilS now there are four hun
three hundred and nfty-cight in six
years The people of Virginia have
SHOWN shoN their estimate Of the value OF
On oTe1 mos schools 6. by donatins lorge sums
inc esta hlishment and maintenance OF
nigh schools which have been well
called the peoples colleges"
1t has been but natural ho,revcr
that under the stimulus and cncourarc
nent of State aid to these schools.
some som communities that wero not ready
did not Justify high school work shomJd
strive to enter into the high .,Iooi
o ~ IN order to receive the benefit
Com o5 nta,e aid to high schools. Such
couraRement OF State aid. for. as
rule. tho community with sparse
p ppnh,cIi has ia;u the hardest school
distances, fewer children and less
financial resources than In more nonu"
lows communities. Therefore. the neS,
nj
country schools is the enlargement Of
the Graded school fund to an amo,,nt
which Will enable the smaller and
S Soorer communities throughout tho
hld. The General Assembly OF 1910
appropriated the sum OF twenty.fyo
, - Gus dollars to encourage the es-
room. three room. and four room smo
buildings in the country district,
I'm, ms fmali amount, as the reports In
~ nc department OF Public Instruction
sno*. has been, OF great benefit 10 the
sparsGly settled communities and has
greatly encouraged tho people who
have contributed large sums for the
buildings, and are now. for the mrs.
time, blessed with excellent graded
s schools, II the amount heretofore ap-
n +, u,eu. which has proven entirely
enty-nve thousand dollars. the SUPER
lntendent of Public Instruction is Ger
tam that from two to three dollars
Tor every one Of state funds would be
sNnscribed by the localities. so great
- ne need and demand for schools
OF TINS class Probably tho greatest
bubble school system is tina, II is not
reaching back into the smaller CON.
mu.h; earnestly hope that "a way
cal step In the development OF our
rural schools system may be taken.
Accounts OF Local School boards.
INC Intelligent efforts of the Depart
nent OF Public Instruction 10 provide
sshool statistics OF the most thorough
closed certain facts which should be
brought 10 the attention Of the Leg
h stature. Many OF these facts have
am. also BY members OF the pepart.
ment OF Public Instruction, and am
nicaheo TO observe that the state Audit
ing Committee has reached the same
conclusion as to the one 10 which
am about TO give expression
our local school boards arc disburs.
ing ,re o. warrants on county and city
annually More than ono Hundred ana
twenty trcasuEcrs and above six hun
dred clerks OF district school boards
t heep me accounts ! am Informed that
mcnted by assistance within the de-
partment and by means OF extra help.
mas proved insufficient TO bring about
a ann IN Keeping these accounts
which arc manifest on the face OF re.
ports rendered. Besides. indications or
error not on the face OF tho reports
have sometimes seemed 20 apparen,
as to convince those in charge OF the
necessity of having the accounts thor
eo,ughly revised and rcstated More
man II ono treasurer has iia,ly refused
TO submit any report at all.
special accountant In tho Depart
ment OF Public Instruction stems to
be necessity. and laws should be
Guire treasurers TO settle their ac-
counts with school boards promptly
and completly, Under the nrcsent sys
t or one or two recalcitrant treasurers
or CLERKS car bring renroach upon the
whole body OF fiscal officers charged
with the collection and disbursement
o. school funds, The Department or
Public Instruction through It's special
accountant should have the right ~
inspect the hooks OF local school OFF
Giaia and treasnrers. TO prescribe the
kept, to call for records and to cx-
amine witnesses under oath.
State Office building.
The progress of the State has been
SO great for the last TOW years tina
notwithstanding the recent enlarge
mcnt OF the Capitol. and the addition
made 10 the Library building there is
now great need for more office room.
The offices of the Superintendent OF
Public Instruction and the Adtutant
General are SO crowded. as to be un
comfortable and inconvcnient FOR the,
transaction OF business. The Examiner
nee Of Special Tax Commission and
Secretary OF Confederate Records are
In rented Offices. The law and general
libraries of tho State are rapidly filling
the Legislature was about to assemble
rooms necessary for tho proper dis
Pdtcn OF public business had to DO
vacated to afford the necessary num-
Der OF committee rooms. Besides these
rented offices, tho Secretary OF the
commonwealth and AdJutant- General
rent storage rooms There Is, there
fore, need for an office building of size
sufficient to meet present and expand
ing needs Of government. The square
north of the Capitol has been purchased
by the city Of Richmond and alter
conference with some of the city Off
Gals feel sure that that part OF the
square cast Of Fords Hotel can he
purchased by the State from tho city
IL used as a site for an office build
ing. Lots In Richmond are rapidly in
creasing in price and advantage should
be taken OF this opportunity to pur-
chase IA suitable and convenient ldt. +,
therefore, recommend the appointment
of committee OF the General Assent
ly to purchase the lot indicated If I,
can be secured at reasonable price.
and II not some other suitable lot 10
be selected by the committee.
prInftnn