Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-11-13

August 10, 1891, the amount heretofore sus-
pended in the settlement Of the account OF
the State Of West Virginia for the refund
of the direct tax, viz: 1888, $3.50, has thls
day been certified to be withheld to be
credited as set-off against the amount due
from the State of West Virginia for her
proportion of the undivided Indebtedness
of the State of Virginia to the United
States for Indian Trust Funds that were
invested In Virginia bonds prior to the Oh
vision of the State.
Very Respectfully,
A. G. MATHEWS, Comptroller.
ByJ.R. GARRISON, Deputy Comptroller.
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
CHARLESTON, November 10, 1891. J
Hon. A. c. Matthews, Comptroller Of the
Treasury, Washington, d. c.:
SIR: l have your letterof November T.
in which you say that the amount hereto
fore suspended in the settlement OF the &C.
count of West Virginia for the refund OF
the direct tax, viz. :-s153, 97S 20, has this
day been certified to be withheld, TO be
credited as q set-off against the amount
due from the State of West Virginia Tor
her proportion of the undivided indebted,
ness of the State of Virginia to the United
States for Indian trust funds that were IN
vested in Virginia bonds prior to the OIL
vision of the State.
| / regret that your Department took the
course pursued. hoped that it would De
Hound consistent with right to follow Inc
precedent established by the Treasury De.
oartment liz 1869. when the same seton
| was disallowed and money due THIS otate
vas paid Governor Stephenson.
l again protest against the action OF your
| Department which l claim deprlves tnls
b. Of
her.
| desire to thank you personally Tor the
Uniform courtesy shown the representa-.
ives of this State during the tendency OF
he matter before your Department.
Very respectfully yours,
A. B. FLEMING.
After reading through this CORE
spondence given above, the REGISTER
correspondent could not refrain from
asking the Governor what he thought
Of the proceeding.
81 don't desire to express all that l
think about it," said he. "But l may
properly say that l regard the course
pursued as arbitrary and unjust. 1t is
wholly inconsistent with the former &C
tion of the Treasury Department. There
was paid to Governor Stephenson In
1869, 127,692.75, due this State, not
withstanding the same claim of set-off
had been made, and the amount COL
lected from citizens of Berkeley and
Jefferson counties before these counties
became part of West Virginia has
been paid the Governor of West Vir-
ginia, to be held by the State in trust
for and paid back to the citizens from
whom it was collected or their heirs.
That amount was not withheld, being
held to be due to private citizens, but
the amount due the State was kept
back. The Treasury Department then
held that debt due this State could
not be withheld to be credited on set
off as they have done in this direct tax
case"
"Was there any difference between
the situations, then and now, politically
or otherwise?"
"No difference, except that our State
government was then Republican and
is now Democratic"
'Then how will the Department at
Washington attempt to reconcile its In
consistent positions"
sit can't be done. II the Treasury
Department was right then, this State
is now being wronged to the extent OF
said S153, 97S.75. Ii wrong then and
right now, the general Government was
then wronged to the extent OF said
$127, 692.75."
sis this action of the Treasury De-
partment final?"
81 thinl. Cone.c- VII this winter
be favored by the Democratic members,
and trust by the Republicans also. Ii
it is not done, this wrong Will hgure as
an important issue in the next campaign
in this State"
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