The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-21
Notified That West Vir-
ginia Has Ignored
Its Decision.
DEBT COMMISSION
HOLDS MEETING
Debtor State Has Paid No At
tention to Overtures for Ami
cable Settlements nator
Chiffon Attacks Governor
Glasscock's Policy on
This Question.

Attention OF the United States SUI
premc Court was called by the Vr-
e!nia Debt Commission yesterday TO
the negligent attitude OF the State Of
Yves. Virginia, both in regard to non
payment OF the principal OF the debt
and the failure to enter into any arr
bitration in regard to the interest.
The Supreme Court. in deciding the
claim in v!rginiais favor. suggested
that the two States hold a conference
for settlement OF the question CT in.
forest, which. because OF the long pc
Rod. now amounts to several times
the amount OF the principal
Virginia appointed confcrees. who
went to Charleston and laid the mat
ter before the Governor OF West vir-
ginia- The Legislature OF that Sta.e
has met and adjourned without ACTON.
the Governor has done nothing. and
the representatives of Virginia now
feel that they have done their fpi'
part They will so report TO the United
States Supreme Court, stating that ef-
forts TO orbitrate the matter of In
terest have failed. because OF the neg
Iigent attitude of West Virginia. and
attorneys for the Virginia Debt Com
mission Will then proceed to ask for
proper court orders for collection Of
the entire claim, principal and interest.
Debt comminsion In Session.
The Virginia Debt Commission met
yesterday morning a, Room $50. JEFF
ferson Hotel Members present were
Randolph Harrison. OF Lynchburg:
Henry 7. Wickham. OF Hanover; Judge
William F. Rhea. OF Richmond; H. H.
Downing, ., Warren j. Thompson
Brown. OF Nelson; John B Moon. OF
Charlottesville. chairman. and Joseph
Button. secretary. Attorney General
Williams was detained at home on ac-
count OF Illness. but was represented
by Assistant Acknowledgement r. 3
Davis. Former Attorney-General VIII
Ham A. Anderson was also present as
attorney for the Debt Commission.
Major Holmes Conrad and Sanford
Robinson appeared for the certificate
holders. as did W c. LeGendre and
t. u. Brown. Of the certificate hold
ers' committee.
Judge William F. Rhea and H. II
Downing. committee from the Vir-
Ein!a Debt Commission. reported that
they had duly notified the Governor of
West Virginia in Charleston. In per-
son. and had requested that the West
Virginia Legislature take action look
ing 10 settlement of the principal, and
also as to arbitration OF the matter of
interest
The committee reported that West
Virginia had taken no step whatever.
had appointed no conferees and that
It's Legislature had adjourned without
taking any action in the matter.
Under these circumstances the Debt
Commission held that there was bur
one course open-to cali the attention
or the Supreme Court OF the United
States to the failure of the State OF
~
decision as TO the principal and it's
suggestion as to the interest
II VIII BIO recalled that. sitting as a
board OF auditors. the Supreme Court
of the United States. on Monday, March
9, 1911. rendered an opinion written by
associate Justice Oliver Wendell
Holmes, 10 the effect that the State OF
west virginia was under obligation to
pay S7lS2.507 of the total debt of ap-
proxmately s33.oOo.ooo. which the
commonwealth OF Virginia bore when
the new State was formed by the sepre
cation OF certain western counties The
court. after announcing the prooer
amount West Virginia owed as OF the
cate OF the separation into two States.
LETT the matter OF interest to be adiu
oicated. suggesting that the States de-
cioe The matter by conference To this
suggestion West Virginia has failed TO.
conform. In fact. so far as the state
Dept Commission was informed yester-
day' West Virginia has ignored the
whole matter.
Owes Virginia 81 ,OcO, 900.
Ever since the War Between the
etates virginia has been endeavorine to
collect from West Virginia the share
OF that section of the old State In tho
oept which existed when the two were
separated Finally Virginia brought
suit in the United States Supreme Court
lot about one-third of the State debt
as 1t existed on January /, 1861, then
ABOUT SS3,00O,000. The court appointed
CHARLES e. Littleheld, of Maine as sne.
ciai master. and his report was sub
Hlleted TO the court in March. 1910.
y justice Holmes rendered the opinion.
-ooluins West Virginias Just and
qultabie' portion of the debt TO no
;i'lSz'oo1. not counting interest from
anuary /. 1861.
whether any interest is due" said
lstice Holmes in his opinion, land if
" te' from what time 1t should be AL
weu' ana at what rate IT should be
imputed are matters as to which there
serious controversy in the recora
Ssiho concerning which there is room for
"a wide divergence of opinion. There
many elements to be taken into
~, Oh me one side and the other.
Inc Question of Interem.
me circumstances of the asserted
default and of the conditions sur.
rounding the failure earlier to nrocure
determination of the principal sum
payable, including the question of
laches as to either party. would re-
quire to be considered. a long tirso
has elapsed. Wherever the RESPONSE
bility for the delay might ultimately
be placed or however 1t might be
iContfnued on Third ParcN -