Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-11-16
NIX. MASON'S SCHE NE.

htJhfluht . a. Di'bN't'ts
The Virginia elections being over, the
prass of this State will no doubt devote
more or less time and space TO the subject
q the public debt. One of the shapes in
which that debt appeared before the last
Legislature, and in which it will appear
before the next Legislature, is the PROPOSE
ton OF James Mason, who spent SO mach
time in Richmond nearly tive years ago,
and vet failed absolutely to carry bis point.
Mr.. Mason is a native of Winchester, We
think, and ia wellknown there; and here is
what the Times of that place has to say OF
him and his debt bill:
Mr.. Jim Mason seems to be trying to
break up the Democratic party IN West
Virginia by means OF paper called the
West Virginia Democrat. We could not
possibly be surprised by anything Mr.. Jim
Mason sees fit u do, but in this case the
milk in the cocoanut is an attempt to toist
upon Virginia ard West Virginia certain
obligations growing out OF the aate'Leti0m
debt. Mr. Mason represents a syndicate.
So as Virginia is concerned, Mr.. Mason
NAV as well hold his breath. Virginia will
never be q party to any such folly.
Neither Virginia nor West Eirginia-it
we may be permitted to speak for both
will ever counteaauce in any way the
scheme Of Mr. Mason's syndicate. If there
were no o, her reason, the amount OF the
debt which stands charged up to West
Virginia is so large that 1t we're mere folly
to talk Of paying the whole of it; and as
she will be compelled to repudiate nine
tenths of il, she will hardly stop short OF
reuudiating ten-tenths. The total was in
round numbers fifteen millions Of dollars
in 1871, when the Virginia Legis-
lature so kindly charged it up to
West Virginia. The rate OF in
terest is per cent. So that the whole
debt is now not much under thirty millions
of dollars. The assessed value OF the real
and personal property in that State 8
about $3.50, 600 900, or less than six times
al much IS the debt. Of course there are
no debt-psyers in West Virginia worth
taking into the calculation, and We might,
for the reasons already stated, dismiss Mr..
Mason and his wild scheme as unworthy
of further notice, if il were not for the fact
that Mason's paper aud his syndicate have
received q good deal OF attention from
some Of the papers Of the new State.
We will add that West Virginia has
never in any manner assumed the pay
ment of the fifteen millions Of dollars
turned over to her in 1871 as her portion
of the public debt of the two States. Her
people have been much annoyed at seeing
the certificates Issued By Virginia spoken
OF in the papers as West Virginia certi6-
Gates" and have recognized the fact that
her good name was involved. But they
have never acknowledged the justice of the
claim thus set up against her. We
know her people we'll aud We are conf
dent that they have no intention Of sssum
ing any portion whatever of the debt which
was owing by Virginia at the time OF her
partition. They claim that for reasons
which they consider valid, West Virginia
owes none of it. We do not concur in
that opinion; but as the people Of Virginia
have also made up their minds net pay all
of the thirty millions which in 1871 she
assumed as her part OF the debt, We need
not say anything more on that point.
Mr.. Mason is eudeavoriDg, as We undei
staud the matter, 10 get West Virginia to
paw a million or two Of dollars for all OF
the certificates. But he will not succeed.
The people Of that State are not in the
humor to listen to such propositions The
offer to accept ten per cent. or less is pretty
good evidence that the certificates were
bought for next to nothing BY spectators.
The Legislature of Virginia ought to
have nothing whatever to do with Mr..
Mason or his syndicate or their scheme.
They ask no money from this State; but
they do ask Us to help them to bull the
West Virgins certificates BY taking &C
ton that will commit Virginia to the JUS
tice of their claim against West Virginia.
A lawyer in one State who was employed
BY q friend 10 another State 20 collect
some claims Cor him wrote to his client
to send him sn order to pay say one hun
dred dollars of the money he had collected
TO q person to whom the client, so it was
syerred, owed it. The client sent the order
and his lawyer at once entrusted II to
lawyer living near his client for collection
from the deluded client. Soft Virginia
esrti6ss the Justice Of the claim Of the New
York syndicate she may end her cerhh-
Gates returned for collection from her.