The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-09-24
INDICATIONS THAT THE FEEDER.
AL GOVERNMENT WILL
AGREE TO PAY STATES
PORTION.
WEST VIRGINIA MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS HAVE THE MAT
TER WELL IN HAND.
WOULD BE FOLLY TO CHANGE
REPRESENTATIVES, WITH
so MUCH AT STAKE.

There is no public issue of greater
Importance to the people Of West
Virginia than that of the Virginia
debt, and for the first time in the
history of the State the representa-
uves of West Virginia have taken up
in Congress the matter of Its pay
ment with a view to providing for It's
settlement in some manner other
than by direct payment by the
State Of West Virginia
Senator William Il. Chiffon intro
duced bill in the Senate giving
jurisdiction to the Court of Claims to
adjudicate any suit, which may be
brought against the United States oy
any State interested, to enforce a
claim for its portion of the proceeds
OF the old Northwest Territory"
All the territory northwest of the
Ohio river which once belonged to
the State of Virginia was transferred
by Virginia to the United States UNI
der a provision that the proceeds OF
all sales of land from this grant
should be paid over to the States then
IN the Union for their individual use
and not for the use of the United
states as a nation. The proceeds of
these sales, amounting to many mil
lion dollars, have never been distri-
Duted among the thirteen original
states and Senator Chiffon believes
these states have a right to sue the
Government for their proportion of
the proceeds of the sale of this land.
He contemplates in his bill that
west virginia, as portional OF the
original State of Virginia, shall have
right to sue for its share of this
money, and in his speech upon his
bill he explains that any money re-
ceived by West Virginia would be an
onset against this States part of the
virginia debt. Senator Chiffon made
speech in the Senate in support of
his bill and expects to be heard on it
by the Senate committee on the Judic-
larry at the coming session of Con
gress
Federal Government Obligated.
In addition TO this bill of Senator
Chilton's, Congressman John NJ.
Hamilton, of the Fourth West Vir-
GINA District, introduced a resolution
in the House of Representatives pro
Vidfng that the United States govern
ment, having been responsible for the
creation of West Virginia as war
measure, should pay any part of the
debt of the old State of Virginia for
which West Virginia may be found
liable. Mr.. Hamilton made a speech
before the House Judiciary Committee
IN support of his resolution and every
democratic member of the House of
representatives from West Virginia
has taken an active part in assisting
Mr.. Hamilton with his resolution.
The resolution was referred, as is
customary with measures Of special
Importance, to a subcommittee and
letter which amounts in effect al
most to a favorable report on the
hn
gressmen Davis, Brown, Littlepage
and Hamilton, the four Democratic
members of the House from West
Virginia. In this letter the srb-com-
mittee explains that until the total
amount for which West Virginia NAV
be held liable is ascertained 1t would
not feel justified in reporting in favor
or the assumption of the debt by the
Federal Government. The language
or the letter however. is such that
the position of the subcommittee is
seen to be clearly in favor of the
resolution.
Folly TO Change Men Now.
The four Democratic Congressmen
from West Virginia-Mr. Hamilton.
who introduced the resolution. and
Messrs. Davis, Brown and Littlepage.
who assisted him in bringing It to the
attention Of the subcommittee with
such success-are in a position TO
push the measure along to it's adop.
ton by the next Congress. IL they are
reelected. The next House OF Repre-
sentatives Is certain to be Demo
cratic, and if reelected the West Vir.
ginia Congressman will have a good
deal Of influence i'm its deliberations
But if Republican Congressner sbould
be sent from West Virginia to a House
or representatives with a Democratic
majority, they would have about as
much chance OF getting the debt reso-
luton through Congress as they would
have of passing it through the Brit.
ish Parliament
West Virginia will have TO Lay Ger.
tainly as much as $1,000. 900 OF the
Virginia debt. That much has already
been determined. It may have TO pay
S28,OOOOOO. If the people of the state
want the Federal Government to as
sumo and pay this debt, they will re.
turn to Congress the men VINO have
introduced and pushed along the
Hamilton resolution to the poin, where
IL is about ready TO be reported fay.
orably. They have taken care of The
measure and looked after the peoule's
interests. They have the matter well
in hand, with q written comnunica.
ton from the subcommittee which
mas the resolution under consideration
practically TO the effect that if viii
recommend the adoption of the reso.
lullOn when the full amount of tha
debt is ascertaincd The matter is u
good shape. with such excellent pros
poets That these men viii succeed iu
getting the Federal Government I'm
assume West VirgIn.as part of tho
state debt that &c would seem like
iolly 20 send some ono else to Con.
gress jpn place of amy one off the mcu
who have pushed This measure alone
to the position whore success is AL
sured If the case is properly managed
ln the future. The men now repre-
senting the first four districts OF tho
State nm Congress have done SO we'll
Win the matter it would seem that