Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1889-02-16
|STILL HaNKERlNG TO POKE HIS
NOSE In THE DEBT QUESTION.

CHARLESTON, Feb. 12.-Eugene Dana,
one of the wealthest coal operators in
the State, has offered $500 for a written
opinion from Fleming's Attorney, Z. y
Knight, in favor of the constituti0nallty
and legality of the Democratic proceed
ings on the governors returns. 1t IS
safe to say that no such opinion will be
hazarded.
President Carr has introduced reso-
luton to extend the session. 1t comes
with bad grace from him, and sounds
more like the voice of the old stager =
from Berkeley. 1t or anything like it
should be promptly defeated.
Golf had 81 votes to-day, Kenna 81, the
rest scattering the Labor men will vote
for Writ R. Neal this week.
After all the opposition to dickering
with the debt certificates simply because
they have the name of = West Virginia =
tackled to them, Opposition from the
people. the press and from all parties,
Gettinger comes in again with an obnox-
ious resolution that is promptly and Of
fectIvely squelched by ringing, truth.
bearing statement of the case by Sena-
tor Morris, which will stand as the senti-
ment of the people against all schemers
and stock brokers. 1t will be remember
ed that the House passed a resolution not
to touch the debt question lobbyists OF
their scheme until the people had vote
upon the question the house and Senate
Committee jointly agreed not to commit
the State in any way the press and the
people irrespective of party fear and op-
pose any money extorting scheme to be
laid by men who like two years ago paid
their way to work for those who were
interested if they where not themselves
and Matched by monopoly incubators
with an eye and a pocket to the brood
But we are glad to be able to say that
Senator Morris resolution covers enough
ground here to defeat any and every at
tempt to commit and compromise the
taxpayers.
THE DEBT QUESTION.
The West Virginia certificate question
was revived to-day by a resolution in
troduced in the Senate by Gettinger
that :. 1t is the sense of this Legislature
that the State is and always has beer
ready and willing upon the proper state
ment of the account to pay an equitable
proportion of the same, if any thing shall
be found due from West Virginia. -
This was followed by resolution from
Senator Morris. that, $ 1t is the sense o
the Senate of West Virginia, that thi
Legislature should in no way conside
the Virginia debt question, or receive an,
of the so-called certificates issued b,
Virginia. as this States part of the deb
of Virginiafor the following among other
reasons
s. First-Lack of consideration-(a
That part of Virginia which is now Yves
Virginia received no actual benefit from
the expenditures which caused the deb
to accrue (b) Virginia has not paid he
debt and in no event could be entitle,
to any contribution from West Virgins
before paying the same.
"Second-Lapse of the time-Such
length of time has elapsed since the deb
accrued that West Virginia is not liabl
for any part of the same.
"Third-Relieving events-The forma
ton, or rather creation, of West Virgin
ia was so unusal that the State was emit
tied to exist free from all ordinary incum
brance. The occurrences of civil war re
lieved this State from all liability.
"As to the so-called West Virginia Ger
tificates, the following are reasons anon!
others, for West Virginia not purchasing
any part of them on any terms
s. First Virginia issued the said certil
lcates without any consultation witt
West Virginia, or any consent of thi
State.
Second-If any settlement of thi
matter is to be made, West Virgins
should deal directly with Virginia.
"Third-To negotiate for the purchas
of these certificates recognizes that Yves
Virginia is liable for part of the debt.
Fourth-To purchase part of the Ger
tificates would be to recognize the validi
ty of the whole lot-thus. if West Virgin
ia should purchase S8,000,000 worth o
certificates for 81 900, 900, the State woul'
be liable for the remainder of the $15,
600, 900 issued, and the actual outla,
would be $8.000,000.
If any action is taken in the premises
Senator Morris resolution will be adopt
ed.