The Williamson enterprise. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1907-1911, 1911-03-16
WEST VIRGINIA
MUST PAY PART
Supreme Court Says She Must
Pay Seven Millions
INTEREST THREE TIMES AS MUCH
Debt Case Decision Rendered-Inter-
est May Be Waived-constitution
Prohibits Any Debt-How Can
She Pay the Judgment?


Prohibits Any Debt-How Can
She Pay the judgment?
Charleston Sitting in the unusual
capacity OF board of auditors, the SUI
preme court of the United States COM
puted that the state of West Virginia
was under obligation to pay over
s7,000,00o OF the $33,0OO,O0O debt Of
Virginia which existed when the new
state was formed. 1t was the biggest
problem in arithmetic the supreme
court has had to handle in many
years.
How West Virginia is to pay the
debt of $7,182,507 decreed against it
by the United States supreme court
in state debt case, when the state con-
stitution prohibits the creation of a
state debit and limits the taxing power,
is something lawyers here are not pre-
pared to discuss.
The opinion among West Virginians,
however, is tlhat the payment of in
terest win be waived by Virginia, in
the conference between the two states
which is ordered by the court. 1t is
even held that the opinion almost sug-
gests the waisdng of interest. Should
interest for the full amount for the
full period be allowed it would amount
to three times the amount of the jlldg-
ment-
In reaching its opinion, the court
took as a basis of settlement valua-
ton of the real and personal property
of the two states at the time OF their
separation, exclusive of slaves. 1t de-
Quoted $3,000,000 from the total debt,
because Virginia had settled with its
creditors for $4,000, 900 less than the
debt claimed, and divided the balance
in proportion to the property va1uat
ton.
The courts appeal to the patriotism
of the states and mutual considera-
ton in bringing about an agreement
as to the interest is taken to mean
that the interest payment may be
avoided.
Governor Tells "Why."
Il intend to call the legislature in
special session not Later than April %, .
says Gov. Glasscock. THE constitu-
ton confers upon the governor author
ity to specify what business the legis-
lature may consider at such called ses-
sion, and it can not consider amy other
business. intend to limit the bust
ness OF the session to one thing (un-
less S0m0th ing OCCURS in the meantime
to cause me to change my intention,
which do not expectl, and THAT one
thing is the conside ration of direct
primary election Law. providing for the
nomination OF candidates. for public
Office, including United States senate,
by primary elections.
Il shall limit the session to consid-
erabion of this one matter, because /
conceive it TO be, under all the c1rcum-
stances, the most important, and, in
other measures of merit that ought to
be enacbed into law; such as the pub
lie utilities commission, the tax on nat
ural gas, municipal code and an EN-
ployers Inability law, but if we get a
proper system Of primary elections,
these and other good things will come
in due time. This is one reason why
| consider the primary election matter
fundamental
Not Yet But Soon.
Gov. Giasscock has decided not to
appoint a circuit judge for the new
judicial circuit composed of the corn-
ties OF POoa!hontaIs and Greenbrier I'M
till after his return from the south
This new circuit is a part of that now
held by Judge w. r. Bennett of Fay,
cite couaty.
There are but two really active APP
plicants for the place They are ex-
Senator N. c. Mcneil, of Warrington,
and Charles Dice, of Lewisburg.
The following West Virginia post
offices have been discontinued: Lime
stone, Marshall county, effective March
4, mail to be seEt to Pleasant Valley;
Lowland, Nichols county, effective
March 2, mail to be sent to Hoqcomb;
CALAIS Marshall county effective
March 4, mail to be delivered by rural
carrier from Cameron.
Meredith P. Ruffner, aged 67, senior
member of the firm of Ruffner Bros,
wholesale grocers,, died after an ILL
ness of more than year. He was one
OF the pioneer business men of the
Kanawha valley.
Tunnel Type Tow Boat.
For the purpose of ascertaining by
rigid test the worth and the merits
of the tunnel type propeller towboat,
a board OF United States engineers
composed of four members, together
with secretary as we'll as a number
of other men of prominence interest
ed in the Introduction of suitable
style OF steamboat for towing pur-
poses, fully inspected the steamer A.
III. Scott She had every test applied
and proved a surprise.
aA.dv Eor Rusineee