West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-03

THE DEBT SITUATION
Proceedings Before Littleneld We're
Open 10 The Public.
WHY ARB FIGURES CONCEALED?
West Virginia Taxpayers Sheuis Be
informes-Corrvpt intiu-
enee ut Work.
THY ARB FIGURES COECBALBDi
NUMBER M.

"i'hih i'I hunts anu u Just proportion oil
the ordinary expenses Of the state govern.
ment since any part OF the debt was con
tractcd and dcducting taxes, etc, col.
lectcd from her counties during said
period.
such property as bridge or road,
II owned 10y Virginia i'm western county,
would have passed by operation of law,
but such property rs judgment would
not pass without legislation. Hence the
Virginia net of February, 1858, trans
ferred all property and said that West Vir-
ginia should account for its value.
Virginia asks the court to state the orli-
nance account and To ascertain the value
OF the property transferred 10y the act Of
1862. The court appointed LittleRcld, its
| master, 10 ascertain the figures required
for stating the account and the value of
the property transferred. Both states had
expert accountants eighteen months in
Richmond collecting this information
Virginia furnished her figures To Little
field last November, and West Virginia
furnished hers May z
The Richmond Loader of May 4, re-
reporting proceedings before Lttlchcld,
said: THE only new thing brought out
in the discussion yesterday was that West
Virginia claims to be liable for 1906
1920 lcss than Virginia claims" The
lawyers were discussing the ordinance ac-
count. Property under the act 1863 was
separate. The Leaders, statement shows
they figured down To 80 cents.
The proceedings were public. Any by
stander could have made memorandum
of the figures furnished by each state 10
Littlefield. II these figures are published
any free school teacher can figure out the
minimum and maximum for which the
state will he brought in debt unless halt
is called
Within iorty-cight hours after West Vir-
ginia had exhibited her figures the certii-
Gates were selling on Wall street on the
basis Of 1913 and within week on the
basis of %. Virginia issued eighteen mil
lions. Hence, Wall street, being accu-
rately advised of the amount admitted by
West Virginia figures, calculates on ex-
cceding nine millions, and this il 81, $780,
1925 less than Virginia claims.
The ordinance charges just proportion
ofthe ordinary expenses. Last April when
instructions 10 Littlefeld were argued Vir-
ginia contended that West Virginia's pro-
portion of ordinary expenses should be
measured by the relative white popula-
tions Of the two sections. West Virginia
contended for relative total populations.
Some of the justices suggested relative
federal populations. On the basis of fed
eral population West Virginia will be
charged with 203-5 per cent of ordinary
expenses. On the basis Of total popula-
tons with IL 3-5.
Is it possible TO suggest any legitimate
reason why the figures given TO Littlefeld
should be concealed from West Virginia
taxpayers? These figures, having been
furnished 10 the master, stand on the
same footing as any court paper filed with
a circuit clerk. Is IL not evident 10 all
that some corrupt influence is concealing
the figures known TO state officials and TO
those holding confidential relations with
them-iigures known 30 Virginia attor-
neys and 10 the Wall street syndicate?
The safety OF this state demands their inn
mediate publication. IL iscommon knowl-
edge that few years ago the certificates
were unsaleable at per cent. Any free
school boy can cipher the profit on Ger.
tiicates optioned at and realized on at
30. IL it not safe 10 predict that, II at
tention be arrested, every paper in the
state, except those controlled adversely 10
her interest, will demand prompt publ
cation of the figures each state furnished
to Littlefeld. IL il up TO Dawson and
the attorney general 10 correct the figures
below II they differ from those furnished
to Littlefeld. Illustration Of figures furn-
ished Littlefeld.
J.. State expenditures within limits
Amount as figured by accountants for
Amount Is figured by accountants for
west virginia ...... 100. 900
2. Ordinary expenses Of Virginia gov
ernment, 1920 TO 1861
Amount as figured by accountants for
Amount as figured by accountants Tor ;'''''''''''
WeHt Fhklhh 10000. 600
3. Amount Of taxes, etc, paid from
West Virginia counties between 1920 and
1861
Amount as figured by accountants for
Amount as figured by accountants for ''''''''''
West Virginia 100000
4. Value Of property under act OF 1867
Amount as figured by accountants for
Amount as figured BY accountants for '''''''
west virginia ..... 200. 900
On above figures for West Virginia the
court must state the ordinance account
thus Charge 81, 500, 900 for state expendi.
lures and 1875 per cent Of forty millions
for ordinary expenses and credit five mil
lions for taxes, etc, brings the state in
debt 80, 900, 900, and this is a. ,3GG. 900 lcss
than Virginia claims.
On above figures for Virginia charge
nine millions state expenditure and 1875
Of fifty millions and credit four millions
taxes, bring state in debt sI3.sOO. 900.
which is 10 say - 800, 900 more than West
Virginia figures admit.
The crafticst Of mon are concentrating
influence 10 distract attention from the
fact that the figures given 81 LttleGcld
arc not given 10 the public. n given 10
the public the thoughtful men Of the state
would insist that proper nonpartisan
commission be- appointed This means
eliminating graiters and restricting the
debt 20 The amount Virginia spent for
roads, etc, which amount the Bennett
comr,ision estimated at three and q half
millions. J. NJ MAsoN
Charles Town, w Va.