Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-01-04

lives in The Constitutional Convention and the
LEGISLATURE. he obtained the passage oil a JOINT
Resolution appointing commission 10 in'es'i-
ate The grievances suffered by our people from
b. ov.r.charges and determinations complain
on of. A written argument was printed and
disseminated with most marked effect, not only
on the Judiciary Committee to whom it was
addressed, but on the public opinion OF the
State. in the right direction. About the same
time the Chairman of the Committee on Cor
pora,ions, (IIon. VIM. h, Travers,) reported a
bill requiring the Legislature TO regulate the
charges upon the railroads Of the State. Our
ultimate success, therefore, is only matter Of
time, as all the principles upon which the re-
form and our relief ARE dependent have been
fully recognised. The present, or problbly,
the succeeding Legislature will we hope and
believe, in pursuance of the Constitution, give
the much needed relief. For the services rem
dered in this matter we have thus far received
a fee of one hundred dollars, together with an
additional appropriation Of two hundred dol.
lars TO detray travelling expenses, aud the cost
'ot printing. The time employed in exclusive
devotion TO this important object occupied the
joint or several service of the undo igned for
at least two months.
The second matter 10 which we were en-
ployed by you was to guard the interests Of the
County in the payment of its conditional sub
scripton 20 the Shenandoah Valley Railroad,
and TO counsel and advise the Commissioners
whom your body appointed TO superintend the
exchange Of the County bonds for shares Of
stock. This has been one Of the most delicate,
responsible, aud. will add, disagreeable
trusts, ever committed to us, in the profession.
In its execution, The senior member OF the firm
has attended every meeting of the stockholders
held since our employment. His object was 10
obtain such information as would enable Va 10
give proper ADVICE in the interest OF the Coun-
~. We have attended the meetings Of your
Board where subjects were discussed connected
with the said Sub>cri ptOn, and given our legal
opinion aud advice. The senior member OF
our firm has attended every meeting OF the
Commissioner :, who have indeed declined to
pay over the bonds except after consulting ana
advising with w., as the counsel oil the County
in this matter. We have endeavored 10 exer-
else a proper degree Of frmness in discharging
this mportant duty, and have the evidence 10
show that our vigilance has prevented the pay
ment Of at least 81 900 worth Of bonds Tor
oYer-esimated work done, and materials Turn
/ iShed, auder the contract, or conditional SUB
scription. Although the whole amount SUBJ
scrlbed will all be paid when the road Is com
pleted, We have telt I our duty to guard against
the temptation of rs abandonment by paying
! for e.horbitant estimates, Moreover the saw
ing of interest 10 the County is very consldera-
| BILE, and la the over-estimates alluded 10 would
! have amounted to some $500 or upwards.
Our enpoymen, by the Company has termna-
/ ted OWING, we are CONVINCED, to The fact that
/ we declined TO defend their I.;elests when ad-
B verse To those OF the County.
For services rendered you in this behalf we
herewith present onr bill for 0O,-credItin5
the County with 500, already paid to detray
expenses of travelling TO Front Royal, where
The Stockholders have been IN the habit ct
meeting.
/ The third and las; matter in which we wire
employed bv your homo dLle boy wa as your
counsel ~ the IN Junction suit of the Baltimore
Il Ohio Railroad Go rs Jeilefsnl County pen
ding in the Circuit Couu OF the United States,
,or Wost Virginia, and in cIEnet ton ihere"i
TO recover the back taxes dye the County. This
suit was fought o eUfoIce the collection OF
said taxes Ievtd for County and township pnr-
poses hy this County. You authorized US. as
! your counsel, to compromise tie salt by receiV-
ing such gross amount as we should agree upon
with The Company. Tits Inter authority, how
ever. you subsequently,, oy implication evoked
In defending he said suH we lepaifeu TO fark
er>burg on two occasions aud look such acuoh
is exigencies demanded, and took copies oil
the pleajlnge in similar suits. In the Pre>ton
IpuHly suit, Which was GSlueu ~ q eo' t'0',
VIC attended at lis trial and before its decision
To tie our argument and made preparation
therefor. In the mean time, proposition came
from the Company 10 your Board to effect
settlement, through a committee Of your own
bod, and accordingly you passed an order on
the 9Th Cay Of ID, cember, iu. ant, appointing
committee of four 10 respond to ihe oycrtpres OF
! the Company by visiting Baltimore and enter.
ins iRto negotiations. This committee visited
Biumore twice, and, in accordance with your
order. were accompanied by u 90 counsel. We
made on, 4 blll for unpaid taxes due the County
which amount 10 about S2i 900. We advised
your committee. at the same time, that there
were some offsets Justly allowable, and some
legal difficulties peculiar To TIE case of Jefferson
! County, as the Winchester & Potomac branch
dc not touch any othe, County in this State;
and as our tax books show Ell a mere trle
tualiy assessed gAinst the COMPANY In the
first place, under The Tax law. one Company
cannot lie taxed 10 construct another Rllroad,
aud this would exempt the Company fon s.
much oil the tax for 1872 as vas levied to pay
the interest on the bonds issued 10 and the Shen-
andoah Valley Railroad; secondly, Tor the year
1870 the rule adopted by your body as to other
tx payars, on the Shenand- all River, would
exempt the w. IL p branch for tht year, as
that road suffered sewers damage from the food,
again there was serious doubt whether the omis-
sion 10 assess the personal property of the occu'
pancy could he corrected for period farther
back than two years. Aud finally the scliGn OF
the Legislature of Virginia ltlt most doubt
whether they intended TO subject the Wlnches'
ter d Potomac Road 10 taxation at all. ULdr
these difficulties peculiar TO our case, ana apart
/ from those general questions involved in the
case of cther Counties, we thought your com.
miuec would be entirely jusitiable in compro-
missing upon $4,000, and we so advised then.
As they have reported TO you; they final Y COM
promised on Sl0,O5G. They have reported to
you heir action, and recommended its favorable
ccil. liberation. Verv respectfully.
GREEN x LUCAS.
Supe rvisors OF Jefferson,
TO Green s. Lucas, DR..
To counsel, advice and services
in the matter of County Subscrip
ton TO the Shenandoah V. X. X
including our expenses, travelling,
sc. ~ S'oo
B, amt already paid for expenses 500
TO defending suit Of b. s o. K.
Co. VS. Jefferson Co. in the Circuit
Court of the United States and
services in settling the taxes with
said Company and in the compro-
mise Of said suit. 'oo
100 1000
Balance due Green & Lucas 500.
On motion, it was ordered that the
action Of the Jail Building Committee
IN extending said building, be and is
: hereby approved Inv the Board.