The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-19
.EGGlESTON WATTS
BEFORE DECIDING
SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTION
WILL ISSUE STATEMENT
TODAY.
SEE GOVERNOR FIRST
WILL CALL MEETING OF BOARD
TO ELECT SUCCESSOR VERY
SOON IF HE TAKES Ma
TIONAL POSITION.
SEE GOVERNOR FIRST

Though 1t has been regarded as a
foregone conclusion that State Super
intendent Of Public Instruction JOS
eph ID. Eggieston will accept the Of
flee of chief of the rural service OF
| the national bureau of education. ten
dered him by Commission p. p. Clax-
| ton, Mr.. Eggleston himself has not
yet said the word.
The Virginia superintendent return
ed last night from Washington, where
he went to have a conference with
DR.. Claxton. Approached on the sub
| ject of his contemplated action Mr..
Eggieston said: IN tell you tomor-
row." and beyond this re refused to
commit himself. He expects to have
| a conference with Governor Mann
this morning and will then announce
his decision. If he does accept.
Would Have to Go Soon.
! Mr.. Eggieston said he would have
to assume the duties of the position
/ very soon. The regular meeting OF
! the board of education. which elects
/ his successor, is scheduled for Janu-
| airy 14th, but in the event that he de-
| cides to resign, n special meeting OF
| the board will probably be called for
| Saturday or Monday.
/ 1t Is the tacit understanding in cap
! itol circles that Mr.. Eggleston has
made up his mind to accept the at
| tractive position offered him, and the
capitol Kitchen cabinet" has decided
| that Secretary r. c. stearnes will be
the new superintendent of public in
struction. In the event OF MIR.
| stearnes election he will have the
privilege of naming his own successor
| as secretary of the board, and, OF
| course, under the existing circum-
| stances speculation as to who may
land that position is worse than use
less,
Peculiarly of Law.
! One peculiar feature of a vacancy
/ in the office of the superintendent
| of public instruction is the fact that
! though he is elected by the people
! the power to appoint an ad interim
! official does nor rest with the govern
/ or. as is the case with all the other
elective offices. Article 3, section 131
| Of the constitution provides that the
| board of education shall I'll the va
! cancy, and the superintendent Of pub
/ tic insrruction Is ex-ofsicIo president
! of that board.
| Another curious feature developed
/ yesterday when it was geenraliy re-
! garded as certain that MIR. Eggleston
would resign. is the blunder in the
/ state code, which carries two sections
| bearing In this matter directly at
/ variance. Section 81 provides that
| when vacancy in any elective office
| occurs during a session of the general
| assembly, the vacancy shall be filled
! by the joint vote of the two houses.
! specifying the superintendent OF pub
| lie instruction along with the other
| officials: Aand that during the recesses
the vacancy shall be filled by guberna-
! torial appointment. Section 1434 of
| the code, which agrees with the con-
| stitution. stipulates that the one va
cancy of superintendent OF public in
/ struction shall be flied by the board
: Of education and all the others by the
( governor.
| The members of the board OF edu-
| cation are Governor Mann, Attorney
| General Williams. DIR. j. NJ Page,
| Of the University OF Virginia: Dr. j.
| l. Jarman. of the State Normal. and
| Colonel III. c. Ford, of the Virginia
| Military institute.
| Superintendent Eggleston's term
will not expire until February /.
| 1914