Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-04-22
The Debt Suit Scheme.
FIRST ARTICLE.

| The average business man under
stands that, after paper has been nj
ed with the court, it is accessible 10
public. Littlefields, report was recently
filed. 1t Was then impossible TO keep
the official figures secret any longer.
Thereupon the record printed more
than six months ago, was given to the
public for the first time This record
gives the statistics compiled by
accountants for each state. Unless the
unexpected happens within two weeks
several of the most intelligent men in
ca CD and every county will receive the
official figures printed under auspices
no CRATER dares impugn. After this
publication gets scattered very few
editors will print such matter as the
following prattle attributed to state
official
IfLittleheld's findings are accepted
by the court West Va. may become
responsible for from three to five mil
lions"
When the publications referred to
gets scattered the entire intelligent
class will know with certainty, not
only that I.ittlefield's findings abso-
lutely preclude a decision FOR 80 little
as five millions, but there is every
reason to expect a decision for exceed
ing ten millions. LAST week the eerti-
ficates were selling on Wall street on
the basis Of fifty-six per cent and Viz
giuia issued eighteen millions of them.
When informed of Littlefield's find
ings lawyers Will know that the states
salvation depends on having the case
continued before the court hears ex
ceptions to Littlefield's report, and
will also know that continuance is
certain if the court sees that West Va.
really desires it. OF cource play-to-
the-gallary motion will be overruled.
1t Is easy TO see why Va. attorneys
representing the Wall st. syndicate
whose large contingent fee depends on
speedy judgement, are trying to rush
the case. But why should West Va.
be in hurry? Is it not plain that she
has every thing to gain, and nothing
to lose by delay?
Actual occurrences speak louder
than opinions or theories. The other
day an elderly Va. lawyer, when told
about the contents of the printed re-
cords, mentioned facts, and sugge sted
points, which would never occur to
stranger to the unwritten history of
the Va. debt. For example, he said,-
''Surely, you don't mean that they
left out the fact that part Iof the debt,
existing in 1861, was contracted in
1852" The reply was, They not
only left that, but left out about the
archives going up the canal and about
the auditors office being looted by
federal soldiers when Richmond was
evacuated" He said ave had sup
posed West Va. relied on laches and
saw no way to answer that defense,
but it seems they have cooked up
record which effectually outs out
laches." The answer was "They cut
it out by an agreement to commence
the accounting with the year 1923"
He then said,-"But the ordinance re =
quires it to begin when any part of the
debt, existing in 1861, was contracted
and how did the lawyers get authority
to nullity the ordnance" The ans
wer was at seems they overlooked
that point. OF course there is no room
for defense of laches uuless that agree
meat is upset" Then that elderly law
yer said,- "rhere is great difference
between the zeal of lawyers whose fees
are contingent and lawyers whose fees
are not contingent"
j. NJ. Mason.
April II. 1910.