The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-11-03
ATTORNEY GENERAL
FLAYS NEWSPAPER

RICHM OND, Val Especial. y
Judge Samuel w. Williams. the At
torney General, was shofTn the Lynch
burg News OF Monday, in which
was an editorial criticising him for
the appearance OF Major William
A. Anderson as counsel for the State
In the railroad litigation-that which
seeks to make the Richmond. Fred
ericksburg and Potomac pay fran
chise tax to the State, of Virginia.
and demanding to know why II is
that the Attorney General does not
conduct these cases. The article in
the News is as follows:
The Norfolk Virginianl Pilot rises to
an interesting point of Inquiry. Re
1erring to the incident Of last spring.
when Governor Mann named Hon. r.
E. Byrd as counsel for the educa-
honal and charitable boards of the
state, and the quite widespread crit
icism which ii provoked. our con-
temporary calls attention to a dis
patch from Richmond stating that
former Attorney General Anderson
will appear for the State when the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Poto-
mac Railway comes up, and says:
Where is the present Attorney Cen
eral, that he will not figure in this
suit! Is his department incompetent
or is it so taken up with other mat
take part In the conduct of a case
which is regarded as ranking as sec
ond in Importance only to the West
Virginia debt suit? Major Anderson.
when filling the position of Attorney
General, always found time to appear
in behalf of the public when the peo-
pies interests were largely at stake.
Certainly it would seem that the pres
ent department. organized on a much
more expensive scale. might do no
VrFn
when the question Of railway assess
ments was recently before the Cor
poration Commission the chief law
officer of the Commonwealth failed
to be on hand to bring out the full
facts in the interest of the public"
In concluding, the Virginian-Pilot
sharply presents this inquiry:
what's the use Of having an At
torney General, with a corps of as
sistants for both general and special
service, IL outside talent is to be en-
ployed to conduct practically all the
important cases in which the Com
monwealth as such is interest? Will
somebody kindly give us light on this
matter?
We agree with the Virginian-Pilot
mat there may be some good reason
Tor this condition, but ii should be
stated. The public is entitled to know.
And, above all. the knowledge should
be forthcoming in vindicstion of the
Attorney Generals office and the ef-
ficiency of it's conduct, IL such vim
dication be deserved.
We'll, 1 am glad that The Journal
has asked me for a statement in con-
nection with this matter, and that is
the first time that any newspaper has
been fair enough TO ask me regarding
II. said Judge Williams, who was in
perfect good humor.
This matter has been limited at in
various ways. have been given a lot
of criticism which would not have
been necessary had the gentlemen who
have been engaged in it's dissemins-
tion taken the trouble TO say a word
TO me- The facts are these;
This case was argued in the SUI
preme Court of Appeals of Virginia on
January 9Th. Four members Of the
court were present. The court on
Jnauary 29th entered an order di-
recting that the case be reargued at
the March term before the full court
On that occasion Judge Harrison was
absent and the case went by.
Major William A. Anderson was
Attorney General when the first case
was argued. 1 came into office Feb
ruary LIST. and at once went to work
TO prepare the case. Major Anderson
was consulted by me, as was proper.
he being my predecessor, and l de-
sired 10 get all the facts he had bear
ing on the case. After talking to him
a short while he kindly volunteered
TO appear with me. / appreciated
his Kindness and think il was exceed
ingly kind in him TO offer his services.
They were. Of course, accepted. When
the date came for the March hearing
as have said, Judge Harrison was in
disposed. The case was then set for
I hope Major Anderson will appear
with me for the State.
AS soon as ! assumed the office
which the people of Virginia bestowed
on me 1 went to work and prepared
supplemental brief to that of MhiOr
Anderson, and when the case is heard
i Will appear for the CommOnwe{ 9th.
That is all there is to this mountain.
1 hope the papers which have seen
ut to criticise will do me Justice" i