Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-04-26
Washington News
From Geo. W. Summers.

Senators and Representatives from
West Virginia as it is possible for them
to be. Under the m ananement Of a
Republican administration West Vir-
ginia has lost in the suit Of Virginia
and will have to pay at least seven
million dollars aud possibly four times
that much. The Attorney General,
who was in charge Of the case and lost
it, is now seeking a nomination on the
Republican ticket for Congressman.
in the meantime Senator Chiffon on
behalf of himself and Senator Watson
has introduced a bill which If 1t should
become Law would bring into the
West Virginia Treasury from the
United States Government more than
enough money to pay any part Of the
Virginia debt for which West Virg mia
may be held to be liable. AT the same
time Congressman Hamilton has
pending and is pushing joint resolu-
ton providing that the United States
government shall pay any portion
of the Virginia debt for which West
Virginia may be liable. Mr.. Hamilt on
holds that West Virginia was in effect
conquered territory being taken from
Virginia during the Civil War solely
as war measure. He shows from
history that the United States has al
ways paid the debts of any territory
acquired as the result of war, and be-
lieves that no exception should be
made in the case OF West Virginia.
The House Judiciary Committee, of
which Congressman Davis Of West
Virginia is a member, has fixed April
"A as the date on which it will give
hearing on Hamilton's resolution.
The two propositions of Senator Chill
ton and Congressman Hamilton are
not antagonIstic at all and the passage
Of one need have no affect at all upon
the other. they merely show that
West Virginia's bankers and congress
man are making every effort on all
possible lines to relieve the State as far
as pOssiuiS Iloli ehS uOoe Whish has
been saddled upou it under Republican
administration.
Word comes from West Virginia to
the effect that Virgil Il. Highland,
Chairman of the Republican state
Committee, is quietly making a fight
for the United States Senatorship for
himself. 1t is stated that while he is
ostensibly working for harmany in
various counties he is in reality con-
ceding the nomination of candidates
for county office to almost anyone in
return for being allowed to select the
candidates for the Legislature. Davis
| Elkins has become SO alarmed by this
situation that he has written an open
| letter to the State Committee demand
ing primary election for the uomina-
tion of candidate for Senator. He
feels that if he could get several can
didates into primary election they
would divide the opposition to him
and give him plurality for the nom
ination.
Senator Watson made all earnest
effort to have the tax on immigrants
coming to this country increased, but
the majority 10 the Senate was opposed
to his plan and tax will remain at $4
as it is now. Senator Watson first
offered an amendment increasing the
tax to 500. This was voted down and
he offered another making 1t $24.
This also was lost and he tried to have
! the tax increased to 81, but the Re-
publican majority in the Senate was
too much for him and the tax will re-
main as it is.
Chairman Ansberry, of the House
Committee ON Elections NUN Der l,
has returned to Washington, after an
absence of several weeks, and expects
to have the report of his committee in
the Wiley-Hughes Contested Election
case prepared within the next few
days While the committee decided
the evidence was not such as to unseat
Mr.. Hughes it is understood the report
will severely arraign the conditions
existing in the fifth Congressional dis
trict, and the Republicans, who main
tain these conditions,
The Supreme Court has granted the
request of Charles f. Littlefield aud
directed that the State of Virginia
shall pay him the $4,000 fee fixed by
/ the Court for his services as special
master in the State Debt case. Vir-
ginia is directed to make this payment
as compliment IN the case, but the
amount is to be charged up as costs in
the case and if the final decree should
hold West Virginia liable for the costs
it would have to reimburse Virginia for
the payment.
Senator Watson has INTRODUCED bill
providing for the establishment of a
hatchery at some point near the fish