Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-05-10
THE Chiffon BILL TO
REIMBURSE VIRGINIA
For Vireinia's cession of the North
west Territory to the v. S. Gov
eminent in Trust for 10 States.

/
west Territory to the U. s. Gov
eminent In Trust for 10 States.
Following is the bill introduced In
the United States Senate by Senator
VIM. E. Chiffon to provide for the
bringing of suits against the United
States by Virginia, West Virginia, Ken
lucky, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massa-
chusetts, Maryland, South Carolina,
New Hampshire, New York, North
Carolina, and Rhode Island.
Be it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the Uni
ted States of America in Congress
assembled That Jurisdiction is hereby
conferred upon the Court of Claims to
bear and determine, as herein pro
vided, the joint or several claims OF
the States of Virginia, West Virginia,
Kentucky, Delaware, Pennsylvania,
New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut,
! Massachusetts, Maryland, South Car
DINA, New Hampshire, New York,
i North Carolina and Rhode Island
against the United States arising out
| of the grant and cession by the State
of Virginia unto the United States
made March first, seventeen hundred
| and eighty-four, of the tract of coun-
| try within the then limits of Virginia,
| lying and being to the northwest of
| the Ohio River, and known as the
Northwest Territory, growing out of
the claims upon the part of Virginia
and West Virginia, or any or all of
The said States, that any of the terms
and conditions of said grant and cess
ion by the State of Virginia have not
been complied with by the United
States, and that the just rights re-
served to or belonging to said States
under the terms of said grant and
cession have been violated, whereby
a demand may accrue to any or all of
said States, jointly or seyerally
Section 2. That any one or more
ton hereof may institute in the
Court of Claims any suit against the
| United States upon any legal or equi-
table claim arising out of the grant
and cession made by the State of Vir-
ginia unto the United States, dated
March first, seventeen hundred and
| eighty-four, of the tract of country
known as the Northwest Territory
and in said suit the said court shall
determine the legal and equitable
rights of the parties under said grant
and cession and the manner of eXecu-
ting the trust hereby created by the
| United States
Section g. That if any such suit
shall be brought by a part of the
States mentioned in section one, then
any one or more of such States which
may institute such suit shall make the
other States mentioned in said section
| one parties defendant hereto, and any
State so made defendant shall have
! the right, by answer, petition, or 9th
erwise, to appear in such suit and
present it's claim against the United
States hereunder as fully as if it were
a plaintiff in such suit.
Section 4. That the proceedings
findings, and judgments OF said court
in any case or cases brought under
the provisions hereof, shall be in al
respects, and, except as herein other
wise specified, as provided in the Act
of Congress entitled "An Act provid
ing for the bringing of suits against
the Government of the United States,
approved March third, eighteen hun
dred and eighty-seven. But in the ev
ent that any amount shall be found il
favor of the State of Virginia, theI
such amount shall be apportioned il
favor of the present States of Virgin
ia, West Virginia, and Kentucky upol
an equitable and fair basis, and sucl
, final findings on Virginia's part shall
be in favor of each of the said three
States as the same may be apportion
ed by said court.
Section 5. That the findings of Law
{ and fact in any suit brought hereun
/ der shall be certified and transmitted
to the Congress, and any such find
ings of law and fact by the Court o
Claims, or Supreme Court Of the Uni
ted States, to which any appeal shall
lie as in other cases, shall be binding
upon the parties and shall foreve
5 determine the rights, interests and OF
legations of the parties i'll the entir
? subject matter of the suit. All pre-
t cesses, notices, and other orders il
4 the said suit may be served upon an
III,