The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-09
Press Regards Debt De-
cision as a Public
Calamity.
MUST BE SETTLED
B Y BOND ISSUE
Z publican Administrations
Blamed With Criminal Misman-
agement-No Doubt About
Settlement of Clairn-Only
Hope Is to Avoid Pay
ing Interest.

Judging from the way in which the
newspapers OF West Virginia Just
arriving In Richmond. handled the de-
cision OF the Supreme Court or the
United States In the state debt matter,
Inc results were vastly more impress
sivc in that state than in Virginia
one or West Virginias leading news
papers devotes practically all OF Its
ront page to various stories ON the
decision, while ali OF the papers speak
OF Its Importance
It Is notable that tho Republican
administrations or the past arc blamed
IN many quarters for the difficulties in
which West Virginia now finds her
sell. The outstanding bonds and GER
t'hcates could have been settled long
ago hy tho payment of a small per
centage OF the par value. according TO
several people who unhurdened them
felves on the subject. and the Legis
laturc. run by Republicans. had per
slstcntly refused TO treat with Viz
Sinia or with tho certificate holders
In any way.
Would Avoid Interest.
The Wheeling Register suggests
possibly because the wish is father
to tho thought that an Impression
exists that "a compromise Will be cf-
fcctcd with Virginia by which all
Claims TO interest Will be abandoned,
following the Judgment against West
Virginia. II Is even held that the
language 0: the opinion Is covert
suggestion to Virginia that it may
give UP its claim to interest"
The Register asks Would 1t moi,
be in order for the coming session OF
the Legislature TO ascertain what
state officials. both past and present.
own Virginia ceriihcates?
Certain X is tina. the announcement
OF the decision OF the court in favor
OF Virginia, BY which the younger
state Is held to owe s7,ise,507 OF the
ANCIENT debt has produced a profound
impression. Discussion IS rife as to
how the amount Is ever 10 he paid. II
was the general belief that the State
Constitution prohibited the issuance of
bonds. but It IS now pointed out By
former Governor ". NJ O. Dawson
who was one Of the attorneys for West
Virginia during tho litigation. tina,
there Is an exception witch covers
this case. The clause which will per
nit bonds 70 be issued in this instance
is as follows:
Covers Back i.fahIlhr.
NO debt shall be contracted bv this
state except TO meet casual deficits
In the revenue, to redeem previous
liability OF the State, 10 suppress IN
snrrcc,ion. repei invasion or defend
the State In time Of war; but the pay
ment of any liability other than that
for The ordinary expenses OF the State
shall be equally distributed over Il
period OF at least twenty years"
Under this section twenty-year
bonds can be issued In series payable
onc-twentieth annually 10 cover "a
previous liability" which would APP
ply to the State debt,
Senator s. V Woods, OF Elkins. com
ments as follows:
THE Republican party IN West Nir-
ginia has made great pretense Of de-
tending that suit. and has appropriated
under the pre,ense of defending the
suit. $4,000 already. At the last scs-
sion OF the Legislature q further APP
plication blythe Board OF Public works
for an appropriation OF $4,000 for tht,
further de fensc Of that suit was made.
Notwithstanding the fact that the suit
supreme Court at that time. and re-
gret 10 say that Democratic I.egisla-
ture appropriated the money. in spite
of tho protest of a few Democratic
Senators.
Bad Management.
The opinion that the suit has been
rler Governor William a. MacCorkle
says: II do not think it has been we'll
managed; but the real bad manage
suit could have been prevented If the
West Virginia attorneys had taken in
+ terest in doing so regard this, as
Virginia politics, In all the campairn:,
! have made since the organization 81
the suit have discussed tic want 81
interest Of the West Virginia autho,i-
ties in not preventing this legislation.
and 1t will be one OF the issues in Tho
coming campaign This is a matter Of
4 red to West Virginia since tho war.
y ] will take experience. good sense and
patriotism to solve for our people this
great question" iT
The Wheeling Register takes II In ri
II says: There is no silver lininc. TO
this cloud, look at is as we may It
IS a terrible incubus that comes IN us
In night like swarm of locusts to
devastate the land and impoverish the
people. The outlook is deeply discour-
aging and the conclusion is that the
csts has been dclusion and a botch--
q failure of such magnitude that 1t has
been almost criminal"
while apparently there is no iudt--
mcnt rendered and the opinion Is only
he finding Of the amount decided bv the
court as proper for West Virginia to pay.
ms final in the opinion Of the Charles
ton Gazette. ..The suggestion that nj
best tho Supreme Court could ONLY
award Judgment. and the plaintiffs in
4 Judgment. would be poppycocl< Whcth-
ers the opinion gives actual iudgmci;t
or Is merely q finding. the decision OF
rs binding. West Virginia cannot be
III the position OF being repudiator
Of valid obligations: Such d position
States credit and would disorgant;ze
y property rights"
This attitude. on tho part OF the West
Virginia nresS is Of much interest here.
It is recalled that for wears that Stntc
has been utterly disdainful Of Wiz
ginia's claims. and at tho beginning.
there was a rush to sec which m iaen,hes
(Copfin,,od ~, n,