Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-07
LETTER CHARGES CRAFT
IN BOARD OF EDUCATION
Salem Man Must Testify Before Leg
islative Investigating
Committee.
PROBE CHARGES TO BOTTOM
Head OF Salem Bettermcnt Club
Thinks Some Schoolbooks Adopted
by Board Arc Unfit for Use-In-
vestigatOrs Must Report Shortly.

Having charged that graft" exists In
connection with the adoption OF school
book lists In Virginia, IL. f. SheloT.
president of the Salem tVa) Civic Bet
terinent Club, has been summoned to
come to Richmond and give complete
explanation, under oath. before the Les
islativo committee now investigating
the schoolbook question. of charges ne
has made.
The committee will reopen its inquiry
Tomorrow night. but Mr. Sneior IL not
expected to testify until Tuesday hiSht'
The letter In question, which apparent
~ questions the integrity OF the state
Board OF Education. was addressed 10
Senator w. l.. Andrews. OF toahohc'
MIR Shclor I'm his letter states mat the
club OF which he Is the head has been
nuuiring into the Schoolbook matter
for long time. and now that the mat
ter Is being considered BY a legislative
committee ne believes the Information
which has been gathered should DO
made public.
Senator Andrews received the letter
several days ago and turned IL over 70
Delegate julien Gum. OF liehF!co'
chairman Of the investigating commit
tee who cauacd summons TO he issued
for Mr. ShcloS The letter rchearses
that there is a general dissatisfaction
regarding the schoolboob situation
Throughout the State. and expresses the
hope that the Investigators VIII soon
be able to ascertain whether there mas
been or Is any grating" being done
In connection with the adoption Of
schoolbooks.
CHARGES THAT SOME hooks
ARE UNFIT FOR USE
In his letter Mr.. Shelor charges that
some of the books selected By the board
for adoption in the public schools are
entirely UNIT for use. and that. in the
opinion Of many parents. children are
required TO study entirely too many
subjects. With reference TO graft in
the present system, the letter says, in
part:
The writer has discussed this with
the School Board here, and they say
that the State Board Is responsible The
Attorney General writes us that our
local board il responsible for this state
OF Affairs. and many people say that
graft IS at the head of IL, that whoever
gets tn. rakcon is not satisfied with
the amount ON the necessary number
OF hooks, but adds TO the list TO get
more money
The letter Is regarded az "A dircc.
thrus; at the State Board OF Education.
and members of the Legislative Invest-
eating committee will probe TO the bot
tom tho charges IL contains. At the
outset of Tho Inquiry = !eEatc Gum
announced that ne desired II understood
that II was not tho purpose OF the com
mittce 10 Investigate the State Board,
bu, TO hnd out whether publishing
houses have Giscrim!na,ed against Vir-
ginia in the matter of prices charged
for textbooks. Delegate Gum. with
other members OF the committee, is now
determined that Mr.. Shelor shall tell
just why he made the charges and pro-
ducc evidence. Il he can. 10 support l.is
contentious that grating" has been
done.
Under the resolution which ca He'd for
the inquiry, the investigating commit
tee must report its findings 10 the pres
cni General Assembly. Should the in
Tcs;iSatogs ask for AN extension OF
time /; is not likely that either branch
OF the Legislature Will be willing to
grant II. II is known that several
members OF the General Assembly be-
lieve that the inquiry should hc brought
10 close as soon as possible Many
witnesses have already been examined
and mass of testimony has been coll
lectcd.