Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-04-29
STATE DEBT HEARING
BEGINS NEXT TUESDAY
Special Accountant for West Virginia
Furnishes Attorney General With
Partial Account.


Bird Djxev. chief of the accounting
force for the state of West Virginia
yesterday afternoon filed with Attor-
ncy-General Anderson three of the
seven schedules or statements of the
accounts CT the State of West V1r-
einia.
These accounts were directed 70
be taken by the decree of the United
States Supreme Court. the decree
specifying the seven different &C
counts to be taken under the direction
of the master, Charles E. Littlefield.
These seven statements are to show
the status of the accounts as they
have been set up by West Virginia in
the debt matter between that State
and the Old Dominion.
The documents have been prepared
with a great deal of care. and Major
Anderson is TODAY engaged in going
over them with the purpose of famil-
iarizing himself with all the details
and contentious that have been raise d
in the controversy.
Special Master Littlefleld will be
here Monday to resume the hearing
counsel for the State of Virginia will
reach here before the end of the
week and go into an examination OF
the accounts. SO as to be ready for
the hearing when it shall begin Tues
day morning.
Virqinia's Accounts Submitted.
The accounts of the State Of Vir-
ginia were prepared and submitted TO
counsel for the State CT West Vir-
ginia some months ago. and copies OF
the account were furnished to the
lawyers for the State of West Vir-
ginia for their inspection. The mat
ter has been postponed from time to
time. The last postponement, as was
former postponement. had at the
request of West Virginia. the Old
Diminion having been ready to pro-
coed with the hearing some months
ago
Just how long the hearing will last
is purely conjectural. 1t has been
vending for years. and got into the
United States Supreme Court on the
motion of the State Of Virginia. the
debtor State of West Virginia fight
ing every inch Of the ground.
Prominent Attorneys Engaged.
John G. Carlisle. Senator SpoOner,
the attorney general of West Virginia
and firm of lawyers Of West Vir-
ginia-the most prominent lawyers of
the State-are appearing for that
State. while Virginia is having her
interests looked after by Attorney
hnSn uolp
Conrad. John B. Moon. Randolph Har-
rison and Col. Robert Catlett.
Under the terms of the litigation.
which is brought for the holders of
the debt certificates. the State OF
Virginia stands to rid herself Of the
debt The contract specifies that
whatever the outcome Of the suit the
holders of the certificates are to give
the State of Virginia a receipt in full
for her part of the debt. Those are
the express terms of the contract. so
that whatever may be the result the
part of the old debt allotted to West
Virginia will be wiped away so far as
the State Of Virginia is concerned. all
liability ceassDg when final judgment
is entered in the case.
For some years debt certificates
were being sold at mere song. hut
in recent years they have been selling
at a figure that indicates that the
State OF West Virginia is liable for
her share Of the debt and that she
will eventually have to pay. Many Of
the foremost men of that State. and
many Of the leading newspapers have
been urging for come time a peacesble
adjustment Of the matter. but the law
yers are bent upon having a court
hearing Of the trouble.