Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-06-11
Debt Suit No. 2 Situation


give Them to him. The ordinance
charges West Virginia with the amount
of state expenditures within her limits
viz, roads, eic. 1t appears that the
I Virginia experts put this amount at
exceeding nine millions, whereas the
West Virginia experts put it at seven
and half million. OF course, the read
or understands we give round figures.
The ordinance charges West Virginia
with a just proportion of the ordinary
expenses of the Virginia government,
aud the court will determine whether
! her proportion is TO be measured by
her relative total population Or by her
relative federal population. fit meas
ures by total population, then she will
DC charged v ith IL 2-5per cent Of these
ordinary expenses, and with 20 2-5 per
cent if federal population be the meas
/ ure. 1t appears that the expert ac-
countant for Virginia figured these or
binary expenses for the forty years,
1929 to 1871, at fifty millions, and West
Virginia put them at forty millions.
The ordinance credits the taxes etc.
collected IN West Virginia counties. 1t
seems Virginia put the amount at four
and half millions and West Virginia
at five and half millions. Hence, If
the court adopts the Virginia figures
and measures our proportion of ordi-
nary expenses by total population,
which is most favorable to us, then 1t
VIII state the account as follows:
Cha &c nine millions for state exptn-
dit res within limits: charge IL 20 per
cent Of fifty millions ordinary ex-
penses, sS,S00,e00 and credit FOUR and
half millions for taxes collected, bring
Ing the state in deb. $lS 100000. If the
court adopts the above figures furnish
by West, Virginia, then she viii be
brought in debt $9,o4O,000.
The Virginia attorneys expect the
court to measure our proportion of or
binary expenses By federal population
and this is the expectation of those of
best repute in the profession. II it
measures by federal population then,
ca the above West Virginia figures
This state will be brought in debt ex-
ceeding ten instead of nine millions.
We may safely assume that Virginia
attorneys keep v all street clients ac-
cum tely Informed. Both Carlisle and
-poo 1er and also Littlefield located on
Wall street. There could be no possible
improperly if any Of them gave the
figures 10 friends who inquired. AS
matter of law or morals the figures,
when furnished to Littlefield, stood on
the same basis as any court papers filed
with circdit clerk. 1t is true, some
unseen influence was active to keep
them out of newspapers and conceal
hem IS long as possible from West
Virginia taxpayers, but any bystand-
or, resent at the hearings, could have
got them. fla proper non partisan
commission was managing would it
net publish the amounts for state ex
penditures, for ordinary expenses, and
for taxes, etc., cellectedy Let every cit
zen, who considers himself sufficient
ly In telligent to value honest govern
ment, reflect why the organs Of our
state government machine suppress
the figures.
The Richmond Leader of May s gave
newspaper account of proceedings
before Littletield and said, "the only
new thing brought out yesterday was
that West Virginia claims that she is
liable for S4,336, 1929 less than it is
claimed by Virginia and Mr.. Dixey
the expert accountant for West Vir-
ginia said he had .omitted certain OK
penditures wholly IN West Virginia
by direction Of counsel" The reader
will notice that they have figured to
sighty-nine cents and that, how much
Virginia claimed he could deduct $4,-
36e, 900 and ascertain how much West
Virginia admits.
Virginia furnished her figures early
last November and the certificates Im-
m ediately sold at fifty per cent. Then
came whisperings that Virginia would
be upset when Vest Virginia exhibit
ed her figures. Thirty days age the
quot atoms was thirty bid and thirty
two asked. Forty eight hours after
West Virginia furnished figures last
week they sold on the basis of forty
nine and half. Mays reprint page 90
shows that Virginia issued SIS, 227 1885,
80 of certificates, Multiplying b., 491
gives 5000, AL. In other words, after
receiving West Virgins figures, Wall
street assumes that millions is the
minimum and this is S., 1896, 900 less
than Virginia claims. What then be-
GENES of all the disgusting subterfuge,