Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-05
Special to the Register.

Special ia the Register.
CHARLESTON, w. Va, March A.
Governor Atkinson, who has just re-
turned from New Orleans. where he
attended the Mardi-Grcs with a party
of friends, has again taken up the
thread OF official business and is quite
busy at his desk. Asked by the Reg
lister correspondent what action he
would take in case suit were brought
against this State to enforce the pay
ment of the West Virginia certificates.
representing the alleged West Virginia
debt, the Governor said he would in
struct the Attorney General to vigor-
ously defend the interests of this State
in such suit, and would employ the
best legal talent obtainable to assist
him.
Replying to the question whether
West Virginia justly owes any part Of
the public debt of Virginia, the Gov
ernor said:
Il am of the opinion that West Vir-
ginia is not justly chargeable with any
part of the public debt of Virginia.
After West Virginia was admitted as
State" he said, THE State of Virginia
assigned to West Virginia one-third
of it's then existing debt, which was
about $15,000,0 600, and issued West Vir-
ginia certificates for that amount, with
out any authority from the State of
West Virginia. West Virginians gen.
orally claim that they paid about one
third of the taxes of the old State for
nearly one hundred years, and receiv-
ed in the way OF public improvements,
comparatively nothing. In fact, all
the benefits we received were two or
three dirt turnpikes, small appropri.
alton for the Insane Asylum at Wes-
ton, and the expenditure of a small
sum of money in grading few miles
of track in Cabell county. which is
now part of the c. g. o. railroad
system. If it be true that what Ia now
the territory of West Virginia paid
something like one-thIrd of the taxes
to carry on the State government for
the period l have stated, and received
but little benefit from the investments
which became the bonded debt of Vir-
ginia, coupled with the further fact
that when the State was divided the
old State kept practically all of thu
assets, then, II this be true, 1t seems
to me that West Virginia does not
legitimately owe any part of the Vir-
ginia debt. If our State is To be re-
quired to pay one-third of the debt
of Virginia because we composed about
one-third of the territory Of the State,
then, upon the division of the State,
we would certainly be entitled to one
third of the assets. as well as one
third of the improvements generally,
for which the debt was created.
When West Virginia was organized,
it was understood that our State was
% pay her legitimate proportion of the
Virginia debt, and our Legislature d.
rected the appointment of commits
sioners to confer with the Virginia
authorities, with view to arriving at
a fair adjustment of the debt between
the two States. The commissioners
sent by West Virginia to Richmond
were not recognized by the Virginia
authorities. and the old State there
fore refused to enter into negotiations
with the West Virginia authorities to
arrive at proper adjustment of the
question at issue. If, after a careful
investigation of all the expenditures
which went to create the $45 900 900
debt of Virginia, and the taking into
consideration how and where the pub
lie funds were expended, it can be
shown that West Virginia owes any
equitable part Of the debt, have no
doubt but that our people will agree
to pay the same. 1t was, however,
evident to all intelligent West Virgin
ians that the old State had no right
to issue West Virginia certificates, un-
der any circumstances, nor would they
admit that simply because West vir-
ginia embodies about one-third OF the
territory Of the State, that she would
therefore pay one-third of the debt.
Feeling, as now do, that West vir-
ginia does not owe legitimately any
part of the Virginia debt which
amounts to anything. I certainly
would not recommend the Legislature
to pay any part of said debt, nor could
I, under the circumstances, go further
than to recommend the appointment
of commission to arrive at proper
adjustment Of the controversy"