Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-03-25
The Debt Suit Scheme.


Todays news item about Littleneld's
report TO the court could not have
been better doctored to conceal from
voters the crucial facts which the Wall
st. syndicate wish kept from voters
till too late to rescue this state. The or
dinanee charges West Va. with all
state expenditures within her counties:
viz, with the amount Va. spent for
roads &C., and with just proportion
Of the ordinary expenses of the state
government, and credits the amount
paid from West Va. counties.
Observe first. This newspaper ac-
count most carefully cmits the amount
of state expenditures. Those of us fer
reting out the facts which the Dawson
Machine has SO carefully concealed
know Littleiield could mot have fixed
this amount at less than five and a
half millions and that In all probable
ity he has fixed 1t at exceeding nine
millions. You may safely calculate on
a minimum of seven millions. 0fcourse
you readily see that you cannot APP
proximate the result SO long as the
amount for state expenditures is kept
secret. 1t goes without saying that an
unseen hand doetored this news item.
Observe second. West Va, Is charg-
ed with ',justp proportion OF the or
binary expenses. What proportion is
just proportion? The court will mea-
su re this proportion by one Of three
measures; one, the relative white pop
| ulations of the two sections: or two, by
their, relative federal populations.
Littlefield has filed figures showing,
the average during the forty years
1890 to 1860, on each basis. This
newspaper account makes elaborate
display as to the population In 1858
but carefully omits the figures
which Littlefield has filled and which
s how that, on The basis of white popu-
lations, West Va. will be charged with
twenty-six iper cent Of the ordinary
ex penses on the basls of federal popu-
| lations with twenty and two-thirds
| per cent, and on the basis to total pop
ulations, which IL the most favorable
we can hope for, with pinteen per cent.
fyou look at the phamphlet you re.
fer TO, which / scattered twenty years
ago, you will see that IL says that the
ordinary expenses for the forty years
were not less than forty millions ard
that the court might put them at forty
six millions. You see that Littlefielo
has fixed them at $40, 274, 1856. Again
That phamphlet gave figures proving
our credit must exceed five and hal
millions and possible might be So, ZOO,
900. You see Littlefeld has fixed TIL,
credit ut So, 105 900.
If Dawson &c would disclose th,
amount for stfte expenditures, thar
any business man could take the Gen.
sus and figure with certainty as tt
the minimum for which the court will
bring West Va. in debt by stating the
account. For example,
Put state expenditures at seven
millions and assume that the cour
will measure by relative total pepnla
tions, then West Va. will be charged
with seven million plus ninteen pc
cent of $40, 274 1856 of ordinary expenses
and will be credited with $6, los, 900
This brings her in debt over eight and
half millions. If state expenditure
be nIne millions and the court meas
ures by white populations, then, oharg'
nine million plus twenty-six per cen
of40, ga 1856 and credit IS, lo5, 900 brings
her in debt over thirteen millions.
You observe that nothing is sale
about the tnree or five millions Va.
claims as the value of the property
turned over under the act OF 1863.
You ask why the truth Is kept ou
of the newspapers? Because, If thu
grand.jury class heard the truth abou
this scheme, the public demsnd for
commission of our five best republicans
and five beat democrats would be to,
turbulent tor the Dawson Elkins ma
chine to resist, and then our deb
would be limited to not exceeding fou
millions,
j. NJ. Mason.