Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1882-03-04
oUR SHARE or THE VIRGINIA DEBT
Hen. J. VI. Mason interviewed.

interviewer with the lOilONlus Ae>utNs.
REPoaTER:-I suppose you noticed what
was said about YOU IN the Register, and l
have come TO get the facts. There has been
a whisper on the street Tor three months
that. rs counsel for Wall street parties, you
maturcd a plan TO make Us pay the so-calied
"West Virginia Certificates, will you give
Us the facts So this business may be under
stood by cur people
AIe. NA-oN II examined the subject and
advised certain OF the holders - 10 their
p-oper course. Very briefly; The funding
hii' lS-lI directed q certificate % be Issued
fgr of each bond that was surrendered
b.iu. tue which Virginia declares Is our
share III her auti-war debt. These certh-
Gates provide that they viii be paid by VIZ
..ipia IN accordance with such settlement aa
mich, be had with West Virginia Ny sug-
cesli1a Wa. % asS Virginia 10 bring SUIT
AGAINST West Virginia IN the supreme Court
Oh the United states for q settlement. IEe
h-st step was 20 pool the certificates so Is to
authorize some one to agree TO accept from
Virginia . pro T4.r OF what might be paid
bv West Virginia. This was necessarily the
frst ,-eu. because Virginia will never bring
thar sG.s unless Is elect viii ee % relieve
her o. all the assigned % Us. Bu, It was
impossible wiruin the short time that would
Intervene ctiore the adjournment OF the
Virginia LEGISLATURE, 20 educate the holders
zap 90 ,le point OF pooling, and II was imper-
ativeiv necessary % amend the klddieoerger
tiu 80 thar tbls suit would doyetMl WIN the
r,aiius.ment. Section disposes OF oi the
deb, by declaring that certificate snail De
issued abou, In these words; Virginia has
/ this day discharged her equitable share OF
I bond uo.-; leaving balance OF s.,
I Co 5o accounted Tor by Ncs. Virginia with
/ out recourse on this Commonwealth. me
plan WAS tomakcth ccrtihcateread; " Va
I lss taiz day discharged o. bond no.: leav-
ing balance of s., which Will be PAID
no r.t, out of the iGads received from est
/ Nlr-iuil ia settlement OF her lrJporu0a OF
I the deb, existing January l, lS6I. lou
Observed the bin as passed r1ies@tcs the
whole subject 20 oar Legislature aud the
I holders have irTetricyGbiy lost their oppor-
uui.v. There is q universal conviction IN
F West Virginia that SIC DO not owe any part
, of lnis dcut. WLlChis 50 deep-sea.ed thdt no.
thing shor, of decision OF The hishes,
/ C0ar. can ever shake 1t aud the only posi-
/ bic chance was 20 induce Virginia 10 bring
! the suit. Ii the proposed movement had
been executed, the certificates would have
/ had p substantial basis and q certain fixed
.ra-sc, vahje. ug5 thls opportunity beng
/ lost. their pJs4aeat beng dependent upon
! the clpriccs Of West Virginia politics, DO
DO. believe there viii be many buyers after
these facts are understood should they
ever reach Wall street. ! think this IS all
yog ssh E. know.
Rfe5mEe:-Why cannot the merit Legis-
/ laEr- bring the sEitt
+ Mr.. "a A-oN:-As q matter OF course the
/ R,aliustcrs will never disturb the Riddle
/ berger 1i,i and the Fundcrs acluiesce very
checr.uily iu q result they tried 20 prevent,
/ bu. Haich liehtcns their taxes. Ia fact
( ,hera E, Il rapidly increasing determination
/ ON i.tn sides not o. reopen the debt ques-
/ tio0 The bonds are not and never Will be
held 40 Eome, hence there viii be no local
/ interest on influence in their favor. Having
} thu. "rajjustcd her own debt, Virginia
Will harIF take her daughter by the throat
she Will hardly initiate the servant, who
I l8r-l-.p l., dco1. lard hands on hls fellow
/ s.rt..t saving pay me THAT thou oNtst
RrpoErEE:-l OU have been n New ! ora
on Chs, business some timer
/ llH Mason Since about the 2nd OF
/ January. The proposed movement was u
/ band med when the Riddle5erger bill was
passed. The plan was % amend the bill and
/ Jaeu provide Dor the svit by separate stat
! ute.
Rre.HrER:-I have heard that Mr.. Gar
ret. at tac b. &, O. is a large holder Of these
certificates. Has heSny scheme TO get them
. raij'
( 1Ia. 15AsoS:-I have very little into7ma-
. . DAD, D fr-n DI
'uan.-- A. Is believed on Wall street thai
. tic. Garrett has large interest and ! have
been trying 90 guess hls scheme. lie Ger
uu.v cnUot eN2ec; any favorable leg'Nia-
.iuu ia West Virginia, and he must compre-
bcai the situation ~ old Virginia, but % has
occurred CD we lof course d, Is mere con-
lecture. taat he intends % citer his cerun-
Gates l. an o.,>e, t) Oh. take, which Will ot
accumulated AGAINST the Railroad during The
pen. lcv u. ,ae iuiJncticns granted by tl'
Federal judges.
eRrrE.-WiN tia. scheme succeed
1lE. NA,uN:-It most certainly Will not
Tle Constitution Is express; state canao
d.. gc5 except by another state, and an OIL
-a F. - uucl q suit u.s. an action OF debt
Inn. tl. a.v OF these securities, IN my Judg
mont. BE viii lose his money unless he is a
: ulyt1 unload upon ti5 uuwary.
RIr.RTaG. -Thes, certificates arequ0teC
/ 81. Virginia deferred 10 10 cents.
rtr Mason -Inat !, manufacturer
ru.-a-.u 10 q million was forced on tu,
+ market, tfe price would fall largely below
/ H1roErEE; Blu, why should they sell fol
auy..Ia- 81 lhey are worthless?
T,. Nit~oy An idea prevails am0na