Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-04-20
west TVIRGINIA'SSHARE
Of the Direct Tax Refund viii Be
Given to Her Direct.
SECRETARY FOSTERS EFFORTS
To Nix the Matter Up With the Indebtedness Of
Virginia TO the United States Sat Down
Upon By the Senate-Ths Resolution
Goes TO the House and Will Pass.
Special T.lsoram 70 tie Rsgtstsr.

6pectdt 16te0f0fn 70 Lbe Ae1St6.
WASHINGTON. D. c., April 19.-Bas-
ing its action upon the logical, compre-
hensive and exhaustive report OF Sena-
tor Faulkner, the Senate to-day passed
unanimously the joint resolution to re-
fund to West Virginia the direct tax
due her. This action has been delayed
until this time for various reasons,
principally because Of the factious and
unreasonable opposition displayed by
the Virginia Senators, which was so
fully answered by Senator Faulk-
ner in his reply to Sena-
tor Daniel, that their position has
never since been defended either by
themselves or any other Senator. The
action of the Senate to-day in passing
this resolution is much more significant,
so far as the interests OF West Virginia
are concerned, than appears on its face.
1t is a virtual declaration of Congress
that the Secretary of the Treaeury can
not withhold any appropriation due by
the United States TO the State OF West
Virginia upon any debt due
by the State of Virginia TO
the United States. l. therefore
involves not only the S153,00O carried
by the resolution but every other ap-
preparation which shall be made by
Congress in the future. There is even
now bill in Congress making an appro-
priation to the State of West Virginia,
which appropriation if this joint resolu-
tion had not passed, could be held up by
the treasury officials in the same manner.
1t can therefore be seen at glance that
this action Of the Senate
has q much broader application
than appears ON It's face. As a matter
of fact there has always been but little,
IL any, doubt that Senator Faulkner's
resolution would pass the Senate, il not
unanimously, at least by an overwhelm-
ing majority. His report covered every
phase of the question so thoroughly,
and answered every possible objection
so completely, that the only wonder was
that the Virginia Senators could afford
to assume a position antagonistic thereto
and afterwards completely a5rograte 1t
under the cover OF an additional
section to Senator Faulkner's resolu
tion, proposed by Senator Daniel and
accepted without objection by Senator
Faulkner. This amendment, which
also passed as part Of the Faulkner
joint resolution, simply provided that
the United States as creditor OF Vir-
ginia should settle with that State upon
the same terms agreed TO between her
and majority Of her creditors, and had
neither bearing or relevancy upon the
position which Senator Daniel assumed
at the beginning Of the dis
cussion. To Senator Faulkner is
due the credit of having definitely
settled the status of West Virginia in
relation to the United States and State
of Virginia in regard to any fund due
from the United States to West Vir-
gnia at this or any future time, and in
addition TO the establishment of pre-
cedent to him will be due the credit of
having secured for his State large
sum of money justly due her, which
was withheld without any justification
whatever in law or fact.
Immediately after the passage
of the resolution by the Sen.
ate, Senator Faulkner was seen
walking rapidly in the direction OF the
House, and it would not be taking
fact too much for granted to say that
very few moments after the Senate's
action the West Virginia Representa-
tives were fully informed thereof and
alert to press the matter to the same
successful conclusion in the lower
house.
The only matter OF any Importance
aside from the passage of the direct tax
resolution was the question OF the proper
wording Of the bill TO amend the Ari-
zona refunding act OF June 25, 1890. A
provision in the bill read that the inter
est on the bonds should be paid "in gold
coin of the United States"
Mr.. Stewart objected and moved to
amend 10 read ''In lawful money OF the
United States" This amendment was
carried by vote of 2s to "a. Among
those voting in the affirmative were
Senators Hill, Faulkner, Wollcott,
Stewart and Teller.
This vote is not considered fair test
OF the sentiment OF the Senate on the
silver question by the gold men, bat the
silver men deem II q decisive victory.
The feature of it was that 1t discloses
l.