Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-01-31
Editor.
The Debt.

uebt question the absorbing topic of
conversation both in and out OF the
Legislature. There is strong lobby
at the Capital persiStently urging, il
is believed, Il settlement of the debt
at this time, or, at any rate, the ap-
pOintment of n commission to treat
with the Virginia commissioners
who as yet have not made their
appearance at Charleston, but who
are in constant communication with
parties there. The Edmistou reso-
luton, unanimously passed in the
House, was referred to the Senate
Finance committee, when it reached
that body, and so far has not been
reported back to the Senate in its
original or any other form.
One day last week Mr.. Worley,
President of the Senate, received a
dispatch from the Virginia Commits
sion as follows:
Resolved, That this commission
disclaim, any purpose or desire to ask
Of the Legislature of the State of
West Virginia settlement of said
debt upon any basis that would fix
upon her the payment of one third.
Therefore,
Re%0'red, further, That this com
mission is willing and hereby pro-
poses 10 enter upon negotiations for
the settlement Of said debt upon any
basis that will ascertain a Just and
equitable settlement of the same, and
If desired by the Legislature of the
State Of West Virginia TO proceed to
make such adjustment on the basis
of the terms fixed by what is known
as the Wheeling ordinance"
Here we have the nearest approach
10 direct, tangible proposition for
basis of settlement yet made, and
taking this dispatch together with
all the circumstances of the case we
have no doubt that this State can Sc
cure settlement upon the basis of
the Wheeling ordinance whenever
she desires to do so. This Wheeling
ordinance of 1868, it will be remem-
bered, provides that in the settle
ment of the debt, to be made with
Virginia, this State shall be credited
with all moneys paid into the Nir-
ginia treasury by the counties now
embraced within our territory, and
charged with what they haye gotten
out by way of permanent improve
ments. How the account will stand
when adjusted on this basis has
never been aScertained by any re-
port or settlement to which both
States were parties or to which both
this State and the holders of the So
called West Virginia certificates
were parties. But sufficient investi-
CATIONS have been made to satisfy us
that upon this basis of settlement
West Virginia has but little to fear.
Indeed it is boldly asserted and be-
lleved by some OF the best posted
men of the State, who have had oc-
casion to investigate the subject, las
for instance Ex-Governor Wilson, J
that in a settlement on the basis of
the Wheeling ordinance it will ap-
pear not simply that we do not owe
the old State anything but that on
the other hand she is indebted To US.
And no one, so far as we are in
formed. has ever claimed that on
this basis of settlement we would
owe as much as Il million of dollars.
The question now presented to the
Legislature is simply this: Shall the
proposition of the Virginia Commits
sion to settle on the basis of the
Wheeling ordinance be accepted and
such a settlement be now attempted,
or shall the whole subject be de-
ferred until the people have had an
opportunity to express their wishes
in the matter and shall have elected
Legislature with reference to IA
settlement of the debt, thus vir-
tually instructing their representa-
tives as 70 their wishes? The debt
question can easily be made the is
sue in the election of Legislature
two years hence, and when the body
meets in January, 1897, every Sena-
tor and Delegate will know the
wishes Of his constituents and may
cast his vote accordingly. We favor
the latter policy because. 10 great
matter of this kind, the people have
q right TO be heard and to an oppor-
tunity to impress their views and
wishes upon the men who shall rep
resent them when the subject comes
up for final action.
AT Charleston the air is full Of ru-
mors, and it is boldly asserted that
the holders of the certificates,
bought up ut two cents on the dollar,
are using money to get the LegisIa-
ture committed To a settlement
The lobby is active in the same eff
fort, and every man Oft is believed
to be the paid agent of the syndicate
and has been sent to Charleston for
the express purpose Of securing ac-
ton at this time. As in all this
smoke there is apt to he fire, il is
clear that no action can be taken by