Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-05-15
CONLEY ON THE
STATE DEBT CASE
Believes West virginia's Interests
Were Not Endangered Last
Week.

Charleston, w. va, May 12.-Wltn
the feeling that Vert Virginia's in
terests had been in no way endanger-
ed by the result OF the Vii ginia debt
hearings last week, Attorney General
conley and the other counsel have
arrived home from Richmond. While
a great deal was not done in the noted
case, in some particulars this state
got the best OF 1t. several items
charged against us by Virginia hav-
ing been thrown out.
The reports of the accountants for
Virginia are very different from those
OF the accountants for West Virginia.
Under one provision OF the decree by
virtue OF which Special Master Little
field is sitting Virginia's accountants
claim that this state owes Virginia
SIS, 900, 900. Under another provision
OF the decree the accountants have
the claim up to point above $4,000
600. Virginia claims interest, which
is included in these amounts. West
Virginia claims that interest should
not be charged. According to the re-
ports Of West Virginia's accountants
under the one provision Virginia owes
us about 81, 100000, while under an
other it is possible that we owe Vir-
ginia a small sum. Because OF the
reports the hearing was adjourned
until June 20 in order that the ac-
countants might get nearer together.
Old Residents AS Witnesses.
But there is little chance OF the ac-
countants getting together. Virginia
begins counting October 1, 1919, while
West Virginia claims the March 10,
1923, is the proper time to begin.
West Virginia's accountants have
their work in fine shape. They have
dug deep into the records at Rich
mond and have itemized the expendi-
lures of Virginia on improvements
made wholly or in part in the terri
tory now included in West Virginia.
They have the apportionment made
between the two states and the cost
to Virginia West Virginia claims
that an invoice of these improvements
should be dated June 20, 1863, when
she became a state. We also claim
that the value placed on these i'm
provements should be what they were
worth on he date they were turned
over and not what they cost origi,
nal1y
Now the trouble comes in finding
what these values were. The records
charging us with the cost. Attorney
General Conley expects to begin the
taking of dispositions along this line
at once. The old residents who were
familiar with conditions at the time
this state was created will be called
upon to testify and these will have 10
be located Their dispositions will be
filed with the master to prove what
credit should be allowed Virginia
Accountants Continue Work.
But Virginia continues to claim the
full cost. And much OF the claim is
for something which West Virginia
never GOT If a road touching West
Virginia was constructed the entire
cost of construc ion is charged against
this state. There is an item for I'm
provements in Guyan river and all
these improvements were destroyed
several years before West Virginia
was state. The same is true of Tug
fork, and there are numerous cases
standing in the same light over the
state. There was one charged by Vir
ginia for road built from a point in
Tazewell county to Louisa,Ky which
investigation proved never touched
West Virginia This was among the
items dismissed from the suit.
The work of the counsel for this
state from now on until June will be
to find old residents having the de-
sired information. They are scarce
and Il will be no little job to find
them. In the meantime the account
ants for the two states win wrangle
over claims and figures at Richmond.