The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-01-27
ABOLISH OFFICE
OF ASSISTANT
MIR. Kelley's Friends Think That
He Was Badly Treated and
They Will Likely Accept
Move to Do Away
With the Office.

RIG MOND, VA. - Special. -
IL is whispered around in some of
the more obscure corners of the Cap
itol that certain member OF the Leg
islature contemplates Offering bill
abolishing the office of Assistant to
the Attorney General position that
pays $4,000.
There's politics in this-sure-enough
politcs-and there's no telling TO
what extent the move will go. Some
propose TO do away altogether with the
Office; others to trim down the salary
for.
1t does not require a magnifying
glass or microscope to see that those
not particularly friendly to Judge
Samuel w Williams. the Attorney
scheme go through.
Judge Williams, as everybody
knows, alieneteS = number of his for
mer supporters when ne failed to
appoint S. L. Kelley. of this city, as
unchallenged the statement of ex-Sen-
ator Bibb, of Louisa, that he (Bibb)
would get this office.
Mr.. Bibb has several times an
nounced that he would be assistant to
the next Attorney General and Judge
Williams has never denied it On the
other hand, he has never talked for
publication about the matter one way
or the other. He has simply let eX-
Senator Bibb do the talking.
The Attorney General-elect Is in
Richmond today, but he courteously
declared he had absolutely nothing to
say on any subject for the papers He
explained, in this connection, that he
was here purely on private business
and was merely looking after the
comfort of his wife. whose health is
bad.
Whatever may have been the origi-
nal understanding between Judge Will
liams and the Richmond lawyer as to
the position, the fact is that Mr.. KEEL
ley'S friends are as sore as a matur-
ing boil They insist that MIR. Kelley
was as good as promised the Office by
Judge Williams, and that IL was gem
orally conceded that the Richmonder
would land the place. Confident in
this belief. Mr.. Kelley's friends both
here and in Norfolk worked like TrO-
jams TO get the nomination for the
Southwest Virginia candidate How
we'll they wrought Is demonstrated by
the primary election figures. And
when the announcement OF Mr.. Bibbs'
prospective appointment came they
were at first completely fiabbergasted
and then as mad as hornets.
But IL does not follow that on &C
count of this little byplay in politics
the men hostile to Judge Williams will
be able TO do what they propose The
Legislature may or may not abolish
, General. and IL may or may not trim
the salary. There is much TO be said
on both sides, and great diversity OF
opinion exists among the Legislators as
to the advisability OF taking action in
this matter. Some say it would be wiser
to abolish the office than 90 cut the
salary.
The position was created-or rather
its emOluments were increaSed-at the
time when the State was about 10 in
stitute suit against West Virginia in
the debt matter, and when much work
was ahead OF the office. That work, in
large measure, has now been accom-
plished. The United States Supreme
Court, however, still has 10 pass on
the report of Special Master Littlefield.
In this connection. IL may be stated
that some OF the Legislators think IL
would be the part of wisdom for the
State TO employ Attorney General An
derson as special counsel until this liti-
cation is finally settled. He has de-
voted years of study TO the case, and
has IL at his fingers ends. 1t would
be both unfair and unreasonable to eX-
pect his successors to have so complete
a mastery OF the litigation as he.