The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-20
Proposes to Ask Judg-
ment Against Vest
Virginia.
SUPREME COURT
w A S IGNORED
Attempts Made by Debt Com
mission to Secure Conference
Disregarded by Legislature.
Soon to Meet to Determine
Next Step in Famous
Litigation.

Being convinced that the State of
West Virginia intends to treat the
judgment of the Supreme Court of the
United States on tile debt question
with tho same contempt as that ac-
corded tho claims Of Virginia for forty
Years. it is probable thut tho Virginia
Debt Commission viii shortly take
drastic steps to force n settlement.
The commission will meet In the lat
ter part of September. or carly in oc-
tober. for the purpose Of determining
upon the next move.
II may he said with reasonable GER
tsinty that this next step will be an
application to the supreme Court TO
pass upon the question of interest due
Virginia, and to enter Judgment
against tho Younger state. Having
once done this. little doubt Is ex-
pressed that the court VIII find a way
To- mako West Virginia pay.
Efforts Exhausted.
The Virginia Debt Commission has
endeaNored In every way within It's
power to begin negotiations looking
toward q settlement Following the
decision Of the Supreme Court OF the
United States that West Virginia owes
Virginia more than 5I,00o.Ooo OF prin-
oipal, and recommending that the mat
ter of interest should be anicablv
decided by conference. tho commission
met and took action. \ comminica.
ton was addressed to Governor Wi.
. liam T.. Glasscock asking him to Law
the matter before the Legislature OF
West Virginia. This message was de-
liyered In person in Charleston by
Judge William r. Rhea and IL II
Downing. of the commission The OK
ocutive received the Virsinians cpnr.
teously. and promised to present the
proposition to the law making body.
which he later did. 1t was expected
that commission from the sister
State would be named to treat with
Virginia as to the amount OF Interest
end as to the nature of the settlernen,
TO be made
But the Legislature mot and ad
iourned and took 10 action The claim
cf this State was utterly ignored, as
It was for forty years before the decI :
sion was secured. Virginia was not
even given tho courtesy Of a reply to
her overtures
Mny Cost More.
The patience Of the commission Is
now exhausted. One OF Its members
sold Yesterday that the strong arm
Of the court would next he invoked.
The probabilities are that In the end
West Virginia Will ind It cheaper 10
nave had conference and arranged a
S"sis VI settlement. The creditor State
is not In n mood to listen 10 the adj
monition of tho highest conrt in the
country that there he n compronise.
On March s, OF this wear, the Su-
preme Court Of the United states com
puted that the State OF West Virginia
was under obligation to pay to the
commonwealth of Virginia the sum of
sTls3,SoT.4s of the sS3, 900. 600 debt of
the latter which existed when the new.
State was formed Delivering tho
opinion Of tho court. Associate Justice
Oliver Wendell Holmes suggested that
tho question Of interest on the debt.
which may amount to several times
TIE principal. but as to which there
was something to be said or both sides
should he left to arbitration or nnt,al
agreement
Great states" said Justice Holmes.
have temper superior to private
luEants and 81 Is 10 he hoped that
enough has been decided for patriot
Ism, the fret ernity of tho Union and
mutual c2psideretton to bring 1T to
IN end"
No Superior Temper.
virginia now feels that while this
language is excellent, West Virginia
has failed 10 demonstrate that she
possesses qualities different from those
OF private litigants who desire 10 avoid
rayment OF their obligations. virginia
temper is iust now none Of the best