Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-04-25
Washington Lettsr.
tFromseso. W. summsr..l
Washington. April %.

ton with the debt Of the State Of Vir~
ginia are being as carefully looked after
by the Senators and Representatives
from West Virginia as it is possible for
them to be. Binder the management
OF Republican administration West
Virginia has lost in the suit of Virginia
against West Virginia and will have to
pay at least seven million dollars and
possibly four times that much. The
Attorney General, who was in charge
Of the case and lost it, is now seeking q
nomination on the Republican ticket for
Congressman. In the meantime Sena-
tor Chiffon on behalf Of himself and
Senator Watson has introduced a bill
which if it should become a 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 Virginia may be held to be liable.
At the same time Congressman Hamil-
ton has pending and is pushing a joint
resolution providing that the United
States government shall pay any por-
ton Of the Virginia debt for which West
Virginia may be liable. Mr.. Hamilton
holds that West Virginia was in effect
conquered territory being taken from
Virginia during the Civil War solely as
war measure. He shows from his
tory that the United States has always
paid the debts of any territory acquired
as the result of war, and believes that
no exception should be made in the case
of West Virginia The House Judiciary
Committee. of which Congressman
Davis, of West Virginia is member,
has fixed April "a as the date on which
it will give hearing, on Mr.. Hamilton s
resolution. Several prominent West
Virginians will be present at the hear
ing and speak in support of Mr.. Ham
ilton's resolution. The two propositions
of Senator Chiffon and Congressman
Hamilton are not antagonistic at all and
the passage of one need have no effect
at all upon the other, They merely
show that West Virginia's bankers and
congressman are making every effort
on all possible lines to relieve the State
as far as possible from the debt which
has been saddled upon it under Repub
lican administration, .44-....a
Word comes from West Virginia tc
the effect that Virgil L. Highland,
Chairman of the Republican State Com.
mittee, is quietly making fight for the
United States Senatorship for himself.
1t is stated that while he is ostensibly
working for harmony in various coun
ties he is in reality conceding the nom.
ination of candidates for county office
TO almost anyone in return for being al
lowed to select the candidates for the
legislature. Davis Elkins has become
SO alarmed by this situation that he has
written letter to the State Committee
demanding primary election for the
nomination of a candidate for Senator.
He feels that if he could get seyeral
candidates into primary election they
would divide the opposition to him ano
leave him plurality for the nominal
ton.
Senator Watson made an earnest eff
fort to have the tax on immigrants
coming to this country increased, but
the majority in the Senate was opposed
to his plan and the tax will remain al
81 as it is now. Senator Watson first
offered an amendment increasing the
tax to $780,. This was voted down anc
he offered another making it $24. This
also was lost and he tried to have the
tax increased to 81, but the Republican
majority in the Senate was too much
for him and the tax will remain as it is.
Chairman Ansberry, of the House
Committee on Elections Number ], has
returned to Washington, after an alb.
sence 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 evil
dence was not such as to unseat Mr..
Hughes it is understood the report will
severaly arraign the conditions existing
in the fifth Congressional district, and
the Republicans, who maintain these
conditions.
Senator Watson has introduced a bill
providing for the establishment of a
fish hatchery at some point near the
mouth of the South Branch River.
The Senate has passed Senator Wat
sons bill providing for the erection of a
public building at Charles Town to cost
$1O5, 900.
Senator Chiffon has returned from q
visit to Wheeling and Charleston, and
is preparing to get ashearing before the
Senate Judiciary Committee on his bill
authorizing certain states to sue the
United States for the value of the
Northwest Territory or so much of it
as was sold by the government
When the Boys Corn Club of Charles
Town was organized recently, Senator
Watson was asked to have some one
from the Department of Agriculture
assigned if possible to address the boys.
Senator Watson undertook the matter
and was informed that an expert from