Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-12-13

n0rS preliminary stttFtH0ht ~ ASAo'N
TO his call for the extra session that
the Virginia debt question Is 70 re-
ceive consideration in the extra ses-
sion. The special session OF the last
legislature was called by the Cover
nor after the Supreme Court Of the
United States had requested Virginia
and West Virginia 20 agree. u posi-
Die. upon the question az the interest
ON the amount tor which West Virgin
Ia has been held liable, but this con
sideratlon OF this matter was not m
cluded in the Governors call and the
matter rir not come up during the
extra session.
II the extra session which viii met
ON January ? should not be asked BY
the Governor IN his call 70 consider
the Virginia debt question L might
be that the Supreme Court OF the
United states would feel that its re-
quest OF the two States TO agree upon
the question OF interest was being
ignored by West Virginia in view Of
the fact that the Governor omitted
the consideration of this matter In
the calls for his two extra session,
and that the Supreme Court might
proceed as II has said Il would do, Il
The tive States failed to agree, and
Ok the interest charges itself, An
amount approximately twentyone mii-
lion dollars Ii involved IN this ques'
tion OF interest and II would seem 20
most people that a matter involving
this sum would be of vastly more im-
portanee to the people Of the state
than d question OF whether the coun.
try officers shall receive salaries or
fees for their services, Should the
Governor call two special sessions Of
the legislature after The order OF the
Supreme Court had been entered re.
auesting action by West Virginia IN
the matter OF interest on tho debt ami
ignore the Virginia debt question en-
tirely In his calls FOR both sessions,
the Supreme Court might be jusii-
fed In assuming that its request TINT
the two states should upon the inter.
est matter was being ignored by West
Virginia and proceed to fix the
amount OF interest without consult
ing West Virginia again.
Important Matter Overlooked.
With such an important matter as
the question OF twenty-one million
dollars OF interest omitted from his
call and with the comparatively trlY
iai matter of % aueation as hetwepii
salaries and fees given as The excuse
for the special session one IL tempt.
ed to look further for the real reas
son for calling It. The calling Of
legislature 10 meet In special session
before 1t has met In regular session
liz unprecedented In West virginia
and many questions might arise az
10 whether the organization Of the
regular session must be the same a.
that OF the special session; when the
proper time for ballotina for Senator
would come and other matters OF stun
liar character,
The senatorship.
Apparently there Ii doubt IN the
mind OF the Governor as 10 whether
the senatorship can be determined Ia
the forty-five days Of the regular ses'
sion and he is endeayoring to add
more time to the session possible date
and threatening to call another spe-
eial session at the end Of the regtil-
lar session IN order that II may be
heightened at both ends. so as TO give
ample time for the warning factions
Of the Republican party to be forced
together la some sort OF agreement as
10 the senatorship Where the Coy
ernor stands In the matter Is subject
to much gupsswork He owed his ap-
poinfment as Internal Revenue Col
Iector and later his election as Gov
ernor to the late stephen y. Elkins.
whose son. Davis, Is now one OF the
leading candidates for the senatorrhip
TO succeed Senator G. w. Watson.
Whether he regards his debt to the
late Senator ElItins paid by his ap'
pointment OF Davis Eikins TO be sen
ator for twenty-three days is not
known. But Ia the view OF many peo-
pie the Governor Is still under obli-
cations 10 the ElIdns family for all
that has ever been done TO advance
him beyond the position OF u country
lawyer In Monongalia county
His Political Changes.
On the other hand Governor Glass
cock has been 40 closely identified IN
the political changes OF the last year
with former Governor Dawson and
Col. William Seymour Edwards that
one would hesitate To think that he
could oppose either OF these friends
for the Senate. Ia whose interest the
calling OF the extra session was in
tended does not seem to have been
made public az yet and both sides are
watching developments with interest
TO see what bearing the special ses-
sion will h aveupon the outcome
Candidates Busy