The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-08-10
gpeelal pt.palel o ne Inlelltaeaee,.

is Not Exactly the Way it shouIe be.
Special Dhpatch to the Intellt9enoer.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. a-The
West Virginia direct tax case is still
under consideration by the Department
Of Justice. Notwithstanding that ex-
Governor Wilson's ordinary incoheren-
cy was somewhat enlarged upon for SO
special an occasion, and that the sound
OF his remarkable voice issuing from the
usually silent portals Of the department
caused a crowd of wondering listeners
to collect in the street, the knotty ques-
tons involved are yet undecided, and
likely to remain so for some time to
come.
There are two OF these questions
| which must necessarily be determined;
First, il the government has legal
claim against the State OF West Virginia
in the matter OF the Virginia state
bonds, can it be used as set-of TO West
Virginia's demand for refund OF direct
tax under the late act OF Congress
This is purely q question OF law, u
that is decided in the affirmative, then
the next, and more important, question
is us to whethr or not such a state oil
affairs has ever existed as would pro
duce this legal claim. This is largely q
question OF fact, aud would more prop
erly be determined by q regular court
than by the Department Of Justice.
But before either OF these questions
can be settled it must be officially shown
that the proper legislation has been had
TO entitle the State to receive the money
appropriated by Congress. The de-
fecits in the Joint resolution Of the Legis.
lature OF West Virvinia have several
times been explained in these dis
patches. This Is q side OF the case
which Ex-Governor Wilson and his con-
freres are now studiously endeavoring
to escape. They would most willingly
consign it to oblivion for the time be-
| ing ut least, for there is contingent
fee OF some $4,000, to the sonorous eX:
Governor, involved, and in spite OF
valiant boasts and profuse promises, a
Joint resolution OF the late Legislature
not defective in that it does not author
ize the Governor OF the State to receive
the money appropriated in behalf OF
the State, has never been forthcoming.
The eX-Governor's anxiety Ill this
behalf is easily understood. 1t has
! always been an open secret here as to
what he wanted with his portion OF the
fee, $4,000. His active canvas OF the
Third congressional district previous
to the late Hinton convention which
renominated Mr.. Anderson will OF
course be recalled. This canvas Mr..
Wilson proposes to renew under more
favorable auspices ut the expiration OF
Alderson's second term. Nothing
could have been more acceptable under
those circumstances than this modest
little fee Of 5000.
But "somebody Numbered" Your
correspondent called attention to the
fact that two copies OF the famous
Joint resolution have been flied III the
Treasury Department, and that both
are defective in exactly the same
particular. When attention was first
called to this an authorized denial was
ut once rushed out from Charleston, i'll
which it was stated that the defect was
owing to the mistake Of the clerk who
made the copy, and that corrected
one would be filed Immediately. Short
~ afterwards cx-GOv. Wilson and his
party were here and exhibited what
purported to be copy OF the resolu-
ton correct throughout.
This, however, was mere memorln-
DUN, and again it was promised that a
corrected and duly authenticated copy
would be filed. Several weeks alter
wards the same party was in the city
again, and notwithstanding the fact that
the Comptroller OF the Treasury had
himself called their attention to the
omission no action was taken, but the
Comptroller was told that the matter
would be attended to rs soon as tho
party returned to Charleston. A few
davs ago the same gentlemen returned
and argued the case involved before the
Acknowledgement. Still no corrected
copy. Where is it?
Both copies Of the resolution on file
Treasury Department bear the following
cndorsCments:-
Correctly enrolled,
"a. S. cambridge,
,"Chairman Of the House committee.
"ALEX. PARKS,
"Chairman OF the Senate committee.
"True copy OF the joint resolution. =,
-. b. PEYToS,
"Clerk of the House OF Delegates, and
ex.ohicio Keeper OF the Rolls"
II is doubtless true, us claimed, that a
joint resolution which did contain the
proper provisions was introduced into
The legislature; but did it ever become
law? The clerk who made the copies
is well known to the people OF West
Virginia as u careful, painstaking man.
He may have made the mistake he is
charged with, but it is scarcely prob
able that he would have made two mis-
takes Of precisely the same kind, and
that the officers Of the legislature would
have certified to both in 80 important
matter. This is degree OF careless
ness which can scarcely be imputed to
either the clerks or the Officers. Atany
rate one thing can be stated most posi-
lively, and that is, il at any time in the
future a copy OF the resolution should
be filed purporting to confirm the miss