Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-28

on Record in Two Matters.
Special TO the Register
WASHINGi On, May 27.-There is a
Senate amendment to the Sundry civil
bill, now under consideration in that
body, which places a new aspect on
certain features of the West Virginia
debt question. The salient clauses Of
the amendment, which was presumably
inserted at the instigation of Senator
Elikns, are as follows:
THE Secretary of the Treasury, the
Secretary of War, and the Attorney
General are hereby fully authorized
and empowered to compromise, adj
just and finally settle with the Gov
ernors, respectively, of the States
herein named, or with such person or
persons as may be authorized by the
laws of several States to act in their
behalf in making the several settle
ments herein provided for, such set
Elements to be made upon such terms
and conditions as to them may seem
just and equitable, subject to approval
by Congress as hereinafter provided,
and said compromises, adjustments and
settlements to be made by said Secre-
tary of the Treasury, Secretary of War
and Attorney General with the follow
ing States, namely: Virginia. for and
on account of advances and eXpendi
Ja Nv in,
of 1912 with Great Britain and now in
dispute; and as against Virginia and
South Carolina the claims of the United
States on account of principal and in
terest of the unpaid bonds of said
States, respectively, due to the United
States and held in its own right or in
trust by the United States. And any
compromise of settlement they may
make with the said States, respectively,
shall be fully reported to Congress for
its future further action, stating the
amounts, if any, which should be paid
by the United States to any of said
States, and the amounts, if any, which
should be paid by any of said States
to the United States. And the Secre-
tary of the Treasury is hereby directed
to suspend until further action of
Congress any act or proceeding which
he has taken under provisions of sec
ton 4 of me act approved March Sd,
1899 entitled An act to amend and an
act entitled An act to reimburse the
Governors of States and Territories for
expenses incurred by them in aiding
the United States to raise and organize
and supply and equip the volunteer
army of the United States in the exist
ing war with SPAIN as respects the
States of Virginia and South Carolina. "
lie significance of this amendment
lies in the repeal by it of the provision
of existing law under which the Sec
rotary of the Treasury was authoriz-
ed to begin suit against Virginia to
recover the value of certain State
bonds held by the United States. 1t
was to this contemplated suit that West
Virginia was to have been made a
party. The department of justice had
begun the preparation of legal pro-
ceedings against Virginia, and these
proceedings will be stopped should the
above quoted amendment pass. In
place of legal action the amendment
proposes to substitute negotiations for
the settlement or compromise of the
pending claims. Such negotiations
would naturally not attract the atten-
ton that a lawsuit would.
Considerable pressure has been
brought to bear upon Judge Johnston,
of the Third district to induce him to
accept the Congressional nomination
for a third term. So far this pressure
has not changed Mr.. Johnstons deter
mination not to run. II don't want to
come back here" he said, when ques-
toned Prospects of Democratic sue
cess are improving in his district, ac-
cording to the information Judge John
ston receives. In Fayette and Kanaw-
ha counties there are serious Republic
can rows that are Of i'll omen to that
party, and the disaffection among col
ored voters especially is considerable.
The situation is regarded as favorable
for the election of a Democratic sue
cessor to Judge Johnston, even if he
should persist in keeping out Of the
race.
Senator Gallinger, from the Senate
Committee on Contingent Expenses,
has reported a resolution for the pay
ment to Senator Scott and John T.
McGraw of 81 $50 each as full and final
compensation for all expenses and
counsel fees incurred by each in the
contest over SCOTS tile to the Sena-
torship. The resolution was referred TO
the Committee on Appropriations It
is curious circumstance that this res
| olution should have been reported
back from committee OF which Sem
| ator Scott is member. The amount
appropriated falls considerably short.
however, of reimbursing the Senator
for his expenses in connection with the
| contest
Senator Scott went on record during
| the past week on the question vi public
| interest. He took pains TO vote against
| the Allen resolution TO grant the Boer
ENJOYS the privileges OF the floor OF the
Senate, and also against the Morgan
| resolution for the immediate consid-
Grafton of the Nicaraguan canal bill.
On neither of these questions did Sem
ator Elkins vote, though he was in the
city at the time.