The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-24
Retiring Attorney-G Gen
eral Engaged oFight
Debt Case to End.
GOVERNOR AND
OTHERS URGE IT
Legislature Preparing to confez
High Honor on Expert Who
Has Given Close Study to
Virginia-West Virginia
Litigation for Past
Eight Years.


pire on February /, Major william A.
Anderson, for the past eight years
the distinguished Attorney General OF
virginia. will continue to represent TIM
state as special counsel until the final
settlement Of the Vtrginla-West yir-
ginia debt litigation in the Uattad
States Supreme Court.
e Governor Swanson, Attorney-Gen-
aral- l-Elect Williams and members OF
the Debt Commission have strongly
urged tho retention of Major Ander-
son. VINO has given six or eight years
to the close study of the case. In
oroer. however. to make this request
effective. special act will be passed
by the General Assembly, probably
this week.
me honor comes to Major Anderson
without the seeking on his part. In
deed. the unanimous petition that he
fight the matter to the end is a
tribute to one who has mastered every
detail. and who Is thoroughly equipped
to represent the interests of his State.
All See Wisdom of Plan.
In the same way. the employment
regarded in the least as reflection
upon the incoming Attorney General.
who realizes that 1t would be dificult
In the extreme to pick up the threads
at this late day and enter a. contest
with brilliant lawyers. who have
Estudied 1T FOR years along with Major
Anderson.
The wisdom Of this course. II is ex-
plained. has been reco gnized BY prac-
tically the entire Assembly.
1t Is impossible, OF course to pre-
LET i.tct yv1,o a eli fr,
case can be reached. Former Con-
gressman Charles z. Llttlefield the
special master appointed by the United
States Supreme Court, has heard all
OF the testimony. Hts report may bs
filed In Washington within tho next
thirty days, after which it will lie with
the court for the regulation period.
Meanwhile, attorneys for Virginia and
West Virginia will be given the right
to file exceptions. Then the court itself
will take up the matter and finally
settle 1t.
Mtuions Are Involved.
With millions of dollars involved, it
Is important that the Commonwealth
contest every possible point, legiti-
mately. which Major Anderson is pre-
pared to do. The question is little
understood by laymen or the public
generally. but to lawyers familiar with
1t the matter is one OF tremendous
Importance.
Because of his familiarity with tho
litigation. Major Anderson was urged
more than year ago to stand for a
third term. though he declined, not
withstanding pressure which was
brought to bear upon him from all
sides.
He said then that other lawyers
could go into the debt case and do the
work just as well as he could do it,
but different view was taken by
Mr.. Williams. Governor Swanson. the
Debt Commission and members Of the
Legislature, the result of which Is
that law will be passed at this ses-
sion by which the State will have
everything to gain, inasmuch as this
lawyer who first worked up the Vfr-
ginia end will he hard at work at the
finish.
Major Anderson's Big Work.
Friends of Major Anderson. In dis
cussing the situation yesterday. ex-
pressed the opinion that 1t was the
most natural thing in the world that
he should desire to retire from Office
after the most strenuous eight years
in the history of the office. Coming
in right after the adoption Of the new
Constitutions, when the Republican
party suuueTlupkf 10 iiuIiilS stlc SUI
frage clause, the Attorney General had
the legal tight of his life, How we'll
no succeeded may be understood by
the fact that the document, as adopt
ed still stands intact, That cons
test alone was memorable. About the
time 1t had been won. Major Ander-
son had to defend the existence OF ths
State Corporation Commission. Its
rate making powers and the rates
themselves. all OF which were won and
adjusted in a manner satisfactory TO
the people and creditable to the law
yers These. with the debt litigation,
gave Major Anderson eight years of
the hardest possible work. though in
the meantime he was lighting for or
defending other laws and other cases.
Ills record Is regarded as the most
remarkable of any during this or the
preceding administration;